What are you reading, Mr. Leben?
Rainer Leben.
I’m reading two books at the moment.
One is an old science fiction novel by Philip K. Dick — “How We Got Along After the Bomb”. And a novel a friend gave me: Karsten Dusse — “Murder Mindfully”.
The book “How We Got Along After the Bom” by the US-American Philip K. Dick was written during the height of the Cold War in the 1960s and reflects the fear of a nuclear world war at that time.
In the sci-fi novel, the world is destroyed years after the Third (nuclear) World War, and people are trying to recover the technical achievements. However, increasing mutations in humans, animals and plants are also revealed due to the radiation damage caused by the atomic bombs. This dystopia depicts with succinct clarity how the (still) existing civilisation is changing and how one tries to achieve, literally, daily survival. Philip K. Dick’s description here is very simple, but in doing so he makes his reading public painfully aware of how fragile our world is.
That is why I read the book at longer intervals, as it is not exactly one of the life-affirming, but nevertheless moving books.
The other book is a gift and best, black humour. Karsten Dusse – “Murder Mindfully”. A lawyer for dubious characters in society, is quite successful in what he does. However, he is less successful in his private life, so his wife gives him a mindfulness seminar as a present. He follows the tips of the mindfulness seminar, tries to balance work and family and to keep it. When said clients begin to threaten him in the process, they are eliminated, strictly according to the rule of not letting oneself be stressed. It is a book that thinks the mindful life through to the end. In all its consequence. As mentioned: black humour.
So if you enjoy absurd situations and their beautiful description, this book is highly recommended.
Philip K. Dick — “How We Got Along After the Bomb”
Karsten Dusse – “Murder Mindfully”
