Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Favorite Quote

“‘Hope,’ he said. ‘Damn thing never leaves you alone.’” — Kazuo Ishiguro

The Book in One Sentence

Klara and the Sun follows the story of an android companion to a genetically engineered human, first from the window of her store, then from a front-row seat to humanity’s struggles, exploring fundamentally human questions through non-human eyes, such as what drives us, how we find purpose, and what it means to love.

Why should you read it?

Written by a Nobel Prize winner, this book might be the most empathetic, human title of the year, despite its protagonist not being human at all. The book explores themes like social integration and connection, enhancing humans with technology and genetic modifications, and the tradeoffs both of these things come with. If you enjoy dystopian sci-fi classics like 1984 or Brave New World, you’ll love this book — and if not, perhaps this might be the best, modern title to get into the genre.

Key Takeaways

1. Many of our desires have social roots — without other people’s influence, we might want a lot less.
2. Everything in life, including technological advancement, comes with a price.
3. Sometimes, you’re not ready to say goodbye, but it’s still the right time to do so.