The Greatest Anti-War Book

“I’d always naively assumed we were all at peace. Of course I’d see instances of war and conflicts on TV but I never felt proximate enough to those situations. I lived in this tiny bubble of happiness and peace and assumed everyone lived inside the same bubble as me.

But that bubble popped. I had a lot of opportunities this year to research more into international relations. This is really specific but a video on YouTube called “Every Ongoing War Explained” shocked me because I came to realize there was more going on in the world than what was on TV the entire time.

I think the most powerful message was from Slaughterhouse-Five, though. Something about the way how the author had to use humor as a coping mechanism to recall the horrific events in Dresden struck a nerve in me.

Unlike what (name) says, I don’t think writing a book about war is like writing a book about how to stop an iceberg - a futile attempt, but I think it does have the power to change narratives about war and its meaning.

Slaughterhouse-Five may be the greatest anti-war book. It’d be a shame if more people didn’t read it.”

From H.N.

5 July 2024