Book Review: Stoner by John Williams

The portrait of an average man

In my experience, people can be most clearly defined and categorized by what motivates them.

Some people are motivated by positivity.

They see an example of what they want to become and it acts as a homing beacon. Every decision they make is motivated by how close it’ll bring them to the idealized version of themself that they see in their mind’s eye.

The other type is motivated by negativity.

Instead of running towards something, they’re running away from it. They see an example of what they don’t want to become and that mental image becomes the fuel they use to get as far away from it as they can.

There’s nothing wrong with either type. There are examples of successful people with both positive and negative orientations to life.

I’m personally one of the latter (motivated by what I want to avoid).

My worst fear has always been becoming a bitter old man whose life is defined by what could have been but never was. I look at the end game of an average life and I don’t want any part of it. My whole life has revolved around avoiding it.

Which brings me to a book I just finished reading.

Stoner by John Williams is the most perfect portrait of the life of an average man that I’ve ever read.

And it’s also one of the bleakest books I’ve ever read.