Member-only story
The One Book That Literally Made Me Want To Stop Reading All Books
I first learned about “quake books” during a COVID reading frenzy.
Back then, I read at least three books a month (a lot for me, considering how slowly I read).
The writer and economist Tyler Cowen coined the term to describe a book that fundamentally changes your perspective — a book that shakes your worldview so profoundly that you’re never quite the same.
“Of course, I’ve read a quake book.” I thought to myself. “I read a lot. I’m certain I’ve read at least one book that changed my perspective.”
I was wrong.
I read the book I’m about to discuss six months ago, and now I know what a quake book feels like.
This book hit me like a knockout punch. I would fall asleep thinking about it. I consumed all the lore on YouTube. For weeks, my friends couldn’t get me to shut up about it.
The book drained me so much that I had to take a break from reading. I thought books were messing with my head.
The book literally made me stop reading books!
The quake book in question is Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.