Yes, Goodness and Courage Exist. Here are 10 Books that Taught Me So.

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When I was an undergraduate in psychology, we learned some less-than-pleasant things about human nature. We learned about how “bad barrels” (situations) can produce “bad apples” (behaviors/people), about how people frequently stand by and watch atrocities without intervening, and how pressure to conform can cause people to do terrible things you would never think them capable of.

Ultimately, fear of personal risk, pressure to conform, a feeling of powerlessness, and a belief that someone else will handle the situation (passing the buck) lead otherwise good people to allow horrific things to happen, or even participate in making such things happen. I found all of this to be useful in helping me understand the world we live in, one in which people do terrible things… all. the. time.

In that same class, we debated whether altruism (doing something for purely selfless motives) even exists, since we benefit via warm fuzzies and in other ways when we help people.

I come out firmly on the side of yes. Yes, altruism exists. Yes, people can do what is right. I have seen it in person, and I have read of it happening.

The books below instilled in me a sense of courage, a courage and a hope that, despite personal risk and tremendous obstacles that I may or may not face, I can be brave too.

Without further ado: my list.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, with John and Elizabeth Sherrill:

Corrie Ten Boom, the real-life main character of The Hiding Place, was put in such a test of principles when living in Nazi-occupied Holland and faced with the decision of whether to risk her own life to help her Jewish neighbors. She survived, and emerged believing as strongly as ever that faith and love persist in the darkest night. Speaking of trust and surrender, this woman had both in spades. If you read one book from this list, I recommend this one.

Tisha: The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness by Robert Specht:

Anne Hobbs was 19-years-old in 1927 when she moved far north to Chicken, Alaska (yes, that is the real name of the town) to teach in the town’s one-room schoolhouse. She ignites anger in the small town when she accepts Alaska Native children into the school, and the situation intensifies when she falls in love with a man who is half native. This woman knew how to stick to her guns, in the midst of intense pressure to conform.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl:

Dr. Frankl’s famous account of his time in Auschwitz, and the life philosophy he took away from the experience. I may or may not have sat in the desert sand crying my face off while reading this book.

“It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life—daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual.”

 

Wild by Cheryl Strayed:

After losing her mother, her marriage, and her family, a young woman sets off to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Only she has no idea what she is doing. Cheryl Strayed’s story is messy, raw, and vulnerable. She demonstrates the courage needed to overcome environmental obstacles, but also to wrestle with our inner demons. I recommend this to anyone who can tolerate (or enjoy) a large quantity of f-bombs in these superb memoirs.

Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado with Vince Rause:

This book is not for the faint of heart or the queasy of stomach. It chronicles the true story of Nando Parrado, who awoke deep in the Andes Mountains after being unconscious for three days, only to discover the plane he and his rugby team were flying on has crashed. This is a survival story, yes. It is also a meditation on life and death, finding meaning in suffering, courage, and redemptive love. In contrast to the dark implications of the (fictional) Lord of the Flies, Miracle in the Andes is true, and resoundingly hopeful. (Ha! Take that!)

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien:

In a mythical sense, good fiction or fantasy is as true as what we read in the papers, sometimes more true. This is how I feel about Lord of the Rings (and the Harry Potter series for that matter). The young hobbit, Frodo Baggins, must set off on a journey to destroy the One Ring of Power, a weapon of great evil. There have been numerous times my sisters and I have quoted some of the scenes at the climax of the story only to find ourselves choking back tears around the dinner table. It’s totally normal.

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling:

Maybe you’ve heard of it? A young orphan discovers he’s a wizard…ring a bell? But for real, if you haven’t read Harry Potter, now is the time. Unless, of course, you don’t have a couple of months to devote to tearing through the novels in every second of your free time, (including trips to the loo) because these books are extremely difficult to put down once you’ve begun. I felt as empowered and inspired during and after reading Harry Potter as I did after unmedicated childbirth. Or at least almost. Plus I was not in physical pain after finishing the last book. Just emotional pain because it was over!

Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman:

A fictionalized account of the (real life of) Kathy O’Flannon, her life in the Canadian wilderness, and her marriage to a Canadian mounty, this book will make you warm and fuzzy and other times, make you weep. This is a love story, a story of overcoming tremendous obstacles, and of choosing love despite it all. This is a fast-moving book, and I find it particularly delightful to read with a warm cuppa or near a fire (yes I know it is August right now) since the descriptions of the far north of Canada are apt to make one desire such cozy comforts.

The Empty Pot by Demi:

A beautifully illustrated children’s book telling the story of young Ping, who is given a seed to grow by the emperor, who is seeking a successor to the throne. But alas, the seed will not grow! Ping must decide whether to use a new seed to grow something beautiful or present only his empty pot to the emperor. This is a delightful tale for children and adults alike.

These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner:

This book is gritty, inspiring, and at times, painful to read. The main character, Sarah Prine, is inspired by the author’s own grandmother, who settled in the American West in the late 1800’s. Read this when you are prepared for an emotional journey. Also, there is love. Why is love a central part of each of these books? Because love is central to being human. Which presumably we are. 😉

What about you? What books or movies have taught you courage? Restored your faith in humanity? Do you believe in altruism?