Have you ever experienced your own epiphany while reading?

Question

What did you suddenly see clearly?

Answer 1

On The Road by Jack Kerouac.

I suddenly realised that the world is a huge, amazing place and that seeing it all is the truest pursuit.  

Answer 2

Many, many times. I read a lot. Most are too nebulous to really express in a few words. But, Demian by Hermann Hesse had a huge effect on me as a child, as did the Iliad, both helped to frame the way I see the world. Recently I read Obama's memoirs and learned more about myself than I expected to. It gave me a new perspective on my own work, and helped me to see some more personal issues clearly.

Otherwise, The Brothers Karamozov - Dostoyevsky, The Prince - Machiavelli, Les Mis... In Cold Blood, Life of Pi gave me some terrific insight into religion, an excellent book. I highly recommend that one.

I also recently reread Betrand Russell's Why I Am Not A Christian, a collection of his essays. I had read it years before, but I think I gained a lot by opening it again. I saw that for all the reading I do, all the wisdom I attempt to gain, I still have a long way to go. And my petty frustrations with the world are detrimental to that wisdom. I should learn to accept the world for what it is, wasting my energy brooding about the stupidity or unfairness of it all is useless. I'm trying to keep that in mind, but it can be pretty tough. Especially when I feel that I'm surrounded by so many problems that could easily have been avoided if people would only THINK. But, they don't. And if history can teach us anything, its that they never have and likely never will. Time to let it go.

That's probably a much longer answer than you wanted. Sorry!

Answer 3

All the time when I read the Bible.  I've read certain passages many times and never really could comprehend what the meaning behind it was.  Then I'd be reading the very same passages and the meaning would be revealed to me and I'd be truly blessed by the understanding.  I know that I didn't get any smarter in between reading those passages I just think certain things are revealed to us when we are ready; fiction books as well.

Answer 4

Not an epiphany but i have had some real good ideas and have felt different about life after reading a book.