How Literature Saved My Life

By David Shields

Book Overview

Blending confessional criticism and cultural autobiography, David Shields explores the power of literature to make life survivable, maybe even endurable. Evoking his deeply divided personality, his character flaws, his woes, his serious despair, he wants literature to assuage human loneliness, but nothing can assuage human loneliness. Literature doesn't lie about this--which is what makes it essential. This is a captivating, thought-provoking, utterly original book about the essential acts of reading and writing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345802721
• ISBN13: 9780345802729
• Release Date: November 2013
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

“Talk about it, talk about it, talk about it” - Nicole C. Mullen.

It was more of just me and my shadow. It is supposed to be how literature helped the author over the crisis. But it is more like he is writing to see himself write. Unfortunately, it is overwhelmingly boring.