Summer words in Snowmass: Reading and writing enrich our lives

Books have influenced or inspired virtually every significant social movement over the past few centuries, says Will Schwalbe, author of the New York Times bestseller “The End of Your Life Book Club.” He is leading this year’s Summer Words’ Readers Retreat, which explores how books shape people’s lives.

“I believe that books change us not only after we read them, but while we are reading them. At the end of a book, we are different people than at the beginning, even if we don’t believe a book changes us or don’t know exactly what it’s like – even books we don’t like,” he said. “If you spend many hours listening to what someone else has to say, it will change you.”

But, as he points out, people today don’t spend much time reading – at least, “perhaps not as much as they should.” Yet just by reading a single book, we are exposed to dozens or even hundreds of other books and ideas, since most authors are well-read and influenced by literature.

“Books that have shaped the author’s worldview are present throughout the book,” he said.

He is convinced that they continue to be the best way to seriously criticise society and advocate for better approaches to challenges.

“That was the case when Thomas Paine wrote ‘Common Sense’ – yes, technically a pamphlet – and it’s still true today. There is still no better way to advocate for something you believe in, make an argument and encourage action than in a book – especially on a complex or controversial issue. And I’m not just talking about nonfiction; novels and poetry do that too,” he said, adding that if this country ever bans the death penalty, “it will be thanks in part to the nonfiction of Bryan Stephenson (‘Just Mercy’) and the novels of John Grisham, who dealt with this issue so powerfully in his novel ‘The Confession.'”

Being well-read means not only reading authors whose opinions we share, but also those who do not share our worldview.

“If we make the effort to read books that challenge us, by serious people who happen to see the world differently, and if we choose to read books that we are not sure we care about, then we may find that we learn to understand viewpoints that once confused us,” he said. “One of the best things books can do is help us ask better questions and give us a common language for discussing them.”

He turns to “Bartleby the Scribe,” a short story by Melville, when he feels like giving up or ending something in his life. He reads Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s “The Gift of the Sea” to remind himself to pause in the constant busyness of everyday life, to re-center himself, and to take stock of what is good for him.

“In this book, which is over 50 years old, she asks questions that are even more relevant today than when she asked them,” he said. “As the famous verse from Ecclesiastes says, ‘There is nothing new under the sun.'”

Books not only provide an understanding of social contexts, but also offer the opportunity to engage with one’s own life.

“Books give us access to a wide range of real and imagined lives,” he said. “Plus, studies have shown that reading novels increases our capacity for empathy and allows us to put ourselves miles away from others. Books also slow us down and help us focus. And they give us a common language when we want to connect. We are an increasingly lonely society, and yet the persistence of book clubs is a bright spot.”

In the age of social media, books help us focus on our own experiences – they don’t automatically bring “likes” or “comments”. In them, one person speaks to another, and that’s why Schwalbe describes reading as radical listening.

“I cannot change the words on the page. I cannot interrupt the book; I can only interrupt myself while I am reading it. A book leaves you no choice but to absorb the words the author has given you. Of course you may disagree, and you may skip between the lines if you want; but if you read the book at all, you will have the experience of absorbing the words in the order in which the author put them on paper.”

And books don’t always have to be great literary works to inspire or influence a person. He believes that every genre contains some kind of wisdom.

“I’m always sad when I ask someone what they’re reading and they apologize because they’re reading a book they fear others might find irrelevant. In my book, Books for Living, I write about books that have greatly enriched my life, and I was excited to include books from a variety of genres: Homer’s The Odyssey is one, but Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train is another. I include self-help books, cookbooks, poetry books, and children’s literature. There are romance novels and science fiction and fantasy titles that I would have included,” he said. “I’m not saying every book has the same amount to offer, but there is wisdom to be found in almost every book.”

He particularly enjoys leading the Reader’s Retreat because he believes he, too, will be a better reader after spending three days in Aspen with other readers – or, as he calls them, “my people.”

“I believe the more you read, the better a reader you become,” he said.

While book lovers immerse themselves in the Readers Retreat, writers meet their “people” by connecting with like-minded individuals in special workshop tracks.

“(Summer Words) offers a wealth of knowledge through workshops and panel discussions, valuable industry insight and the opportunity to receive constructive feedback,” said Adrienne Brodeur, executive director of Aspen Words. “The friendships and networks built can provide lasting support and inspiration, while exposure to diverse ideas and perspectives broadens creative horizons.”

Just through the public discussions, authors can learn more about how they overcome obstacles, what approach they take to writing, and what techniques they use to captivate readers.

“This (the latter) can include creating characters that readers can identify with; introducing conflict or tension that readers want to know how it is resolved; creating emotions – joy, fear, sadness, excitement – to connect readers to the stories; building in plot twists … and my personal favorite, using a distinctive narrative voice that captivates readers and makes the story memorable,” she said. “We hope the panels will expose diverse perspectives and provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions, network, and better understand the writing process and trends in the publishing industry.”

The Aspen Words team selects authors based on their contributions to the literary field and their teaching ability, reviewing their work, qualifications, and recommendations from their network of literary experts.

“Our goal is to build a diverse and dynamic team of teachers who can both inspire and offer practical skills and advice,” she said.

Course offerings change or remain similar depending on demand and feedback from past participants. This year, Summer Words features a special workshop on author branding with Lisa Sharkey, senior vice president and director of creative development at HarperCollins Publishers. A screenwriting workshop is also offered. Kelly Fremon Craig, who wrote and directed the film adaptation of Judy Blume’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” and was the original writer/director of Brodeur’s memoir “Wild Game,” leads the workshop.

“Although she ended up not staying on the project, I was impressed with what a collaborative and excellent screenwriter she is,” Brodeur said. “We are lucky to have her.”