One book that really affected when I was 20 is The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler.
I think Richler is my favourite novelist and while this isn't my personal favourite of his (check out Solomon Gursky Was Here), the main character's struggles were easy to empathize with and I've always had a soft spot for the bildungsroman. Full of interesting perspectives on life and some lessons on how to have a good one.
The novels centers on Duddy Kravitz, a poor Jewish kid growing up in Montreal in the 50s. The main plot is about Duddy trying to build something in this world to become a "somebody", basically doing all he can to hustle his way out of poverty. Follows his many entrepreneurial pursuits; from selling porn and stolen hockey sticks to making Bar Mitzvah movies to real estate. Often genuinely hilarious, had me laughing aloud regularly, I've always thought Richler was under-appreciated, he's one of the funniest and most honest writers I've ever read.
There's one quote that really shook me when I first read it, its when Duddy's rich uncle is doling out some advice to him. He tells him "You're two people. The scheming little bastard I saw so easily, and the fine, intelligent boy underneath that your grandfather, bless him, saw. But, you're coming of age soon and you'll have to choose. A boy can be two, three, four potential people, but a man is only one. He murders the others."
It really solidified the idea for me that with all of the options modern life can present to you, you just need to make a choice sometimes. I used to have issues with being decisive and waffling between the direction I should take. This book, and that quote especially, really made me reevaluate that part of myself, which ultimately stemmed from being afraid of choosing wrong. Now I have goals that I'm working towards consistently about where I want to be in life and more importantly who I want to be. Books can really impart some of life's most impactful lessons.
I think Richler is my favourite novelist and while this isn't my personal favourite of his (check out Solomon Gursky Was Here), the main character's struggles were easy to empathize with and I've always had a soft spot for the bildungsroman. Full of interesting perspectives on life and some lessons on how to have a good one.
The novels centers on Duddy Kravitz, a poor Jewish kid growing up in Montreal in the 50s. The main plot is about Duddy trying to build something in this world to become a "somebody", basically doing all he can to hustle his way out of poverty. Follows his many entrepreneurial pursuits; from selling porn and stolen hockey sticks to making Bar Mitzvah movies to real estate. Often genuinely hilarious, had me laughing aloud regularly, I've always thought Richler was under-appreciated, he's one of the funniest and most honest writers I've ever read.
There's one quote that really shook me when I first read it, its when Duddy's rich uncle is doling out some advice to him. He tells him "You're two people. The scheming little bastard I saw so easily, and the fine, intelligent boy underneath that your grandfather, bless him, saw. But, you're coming of age soon and you'll have to choose. A boy can be two, three, four potential people, but a man is only one. He murders the others."
It really solidified the idea for me that with all of the options modern life can present to you, you just need to make a choice sometimes. I used to have issues with being decisive and waffling between the direction I should take. This book, and that quote especially, really made me reevaluate that part of myself, which ultimately stemmed from being afraid of choosing wrong. Now I have goals that I'm working towards consistently about where I want to be in life and more importantly who I want to be. Books can really impart some of life's most impactful lessons.
"The price of being a man is eternal vigilance." - Kareem-Abdul Jabar