My Papa, the Poet

An Austrian college student who was inspired to become a container ship captain after reading "Moby Dick". A translator who kept her sanity in a locked-down Shanghai with the help of George Saunders. A Czech couple who followed a book’s pages all the way to their dream home in Tuscany. These and more than a dozen other true stories reveal one astonishing truth: books can change everything. In this remarkable collection, Roland Schwarz shares unforgettable, uplifting, and surprising accounts of readers of every age, walk of life, and corner of the world whose lives have been reshaped by literature. Martin aus Graz will nach der Lektüre von "Moby Dick" Kapitän werden – heute fährt er als solcher über die Weltmeere. Ada aus Shanghai übersetzt während des Covid-Lockdowns George Saunders, um den Verstand nicht zu verlieren. Michal und Radmila folgen den Seiten eines Buches bis zu ihrem Traumhaus in der Toskana. “One of life’s greatest pleasures is reading a life-changing book. This book is full of stories to lead you to your next one.” – Christy Collins, author of The Price of Two Sparrows