--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine that you are stuck on a long…" description: "\"“Imagine that you are stuck on a long train ride and must choose one of two books to read in order to pass the time: the first is a novel whose main ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/mark-thompson-194516_american-life_imagine-that-you-are-stuck-on-a-long-tra_1409106.jpg" --- # Imagine that you are stuck on a long train ride and must… ![“Imagine that you are stuck on a long train ride and must choose one of two books to read in order to pass the time: the first is a novel whose main character is an office worker who is essentially working to pay his monthly cable bill; the second is about someone who decides to travel in South…” quote by Mark Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/mark-thompson-194516_american-life_imagine-that-you-are-stuck-on-a-long-tra_1409106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/mark-thompson-194516_american-life_imagine-that-you-are-stuck-on-a-long-tra_1409106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/mark-thompson-194516_american-life_imagine-that-you-are-stuck-on-a-long-tra_1409106.jpg) > ““Imagine that you are stuck on a long train ride and must choose one of two books to read in order to pass the time: the first is a novel whose main character is an office worker who is essentially working to pay his monthly cable bill; the second is about someone who decides to travel in South America (and of course encounters various setbacks in the process), but who pushes beyond the boundaries of conventional American life. Which... book would you pick up to read? Indeed, which of the two characters would you rather be?”” [Mark Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing between ordinary and adventurous narratives reflects personal aspirations. **In simple terms:** Pick stories that align with your dreams. Key Takeaway Select reading that inspires your path. Themes choice books adventure career self-discovery Mood contemplative motivational inspirational Type American life:0 Books:1 Fitness:0 Life:0 Main character:0 Office work:0 South america:0 Time:0 Travel:0 Work:0 Book Pick:0 Choose Books:0 Read Characters:0 Pick Read:0 When to use this quote - commuting - vacations - career planning - self-reflection Key Concepts literature personal growth goal setting imagination Questions to Reflect On - What does the office worker represent? - How does adventure shape identity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on escapism may hinder reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-life/) [Book Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-pick-386146/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Choose Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-books-755808/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Main character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-character/) [Office work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office-work/) [Pick Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-read-4961179/) [Read Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-characters-3347505/) [South america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-america/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [When we read, even if the characters are tragic or sad or disturbing, these are our brothers and sisters in the human family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/when-we-read-even-if-the-characters-are-tragic-or-sad-or-disturbing/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Among the older records, we find chapter after chapter of which we can read the characters, and make out their meaning: and as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sedgwick/among-the-older-records-we-find-chapter-after-chapter-of-which-we-can/) [Adam Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sedgwick/) > [I like spaghetti because you don't have to take your eyes off the book to pick about among it, it's all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/i-like-spaghetti-because-you-don-t-have-to-take-your-eyes-off-the/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [There is something wonderful about a book. We can pick it up. We can heft it. We can read it. We can set it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-something-wonderful-about-a-book-we-can-pick-it-up-we-can/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Because here's the thing about a book: when you pick up a story, you put down your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-smale/because-here-s-the-thing-about-a-book-when-you-pick-up-a-story-you/) [Holly Smale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-smale/) > [I travel a lot, so when I arrive in a city, I like to go to good local bookshops and make a selection based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/i-travel-a-lot-so-when-i-arrive-in-a-city-i-like-to-go-to-good-local/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [“Rather than the grey and dreary institutions of public perception, these should be places of innovation and experiment, where readers can take a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-cleeves/rather-than-the-grey-and-dreary-institutions-of-public-perception/) [Ann Cleeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-cleeves/) > [We should choose our books as we would our companions, for their sterling and intrinsic merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-should-choose-our-books-as-we-would-our-companions-for-their/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [I don't like the idea of a book being a test or being used for a test. The way - in my opinion -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-a-book-being-a-test-or-being-used-for-a-test/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [I fell in love with reading when I was allowed to choose whatever books I wanted to check out of the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/i-fell-in-love-with-reading-when-i-was-allowed-to-choose-whatever-2/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [Since I spend such a long time making each book, I only choose books that I'm really interested in and that I really love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/since-i-spend-such-a-long-time-making-each-book-i-only-choose-books/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“Austin cleared his throat. Given the choice between being with books or people, he'd always choose books. You could always tell what a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/austin-cleared-his-throat-given-the-choice-between-being-with-books/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [“If I had to choose between a wall of paintings and a wall of books, I would certainly choose books. When you walk into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-mauson/if-i-had-to-choose-between-a-wall-of-paintings-and-a-wall-of-books-i/) [Timothy Mauson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-mauson/) > [I fell in love with reading when I was allowed to choose whatever books I wanted to check out of the library. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/i-fell-in-love-with-reading-when-i-was-allowed-to-choose-whatever/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [We should always choose our books as God chooses our friends, just a bit beyond us, so that we have to do our level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-should-always-choose-our-books-as-god-chooses-our-friends-just-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More American life quotes > [“As we look over the list of the early leaders of the republic, Washington, John Adams, Hamilton, and others, we discern that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-truslow-adams/as-we-look-over-the-list-of-the-early-leaders-of-the-republic/) [James Truslow Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-truslow-adams/) > [Our families and our homes are the center of American life, Everything we do is to make those homes-and the lives in them-more beautiful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/our-families-and-our-homes-are-the-center-of-american-life-everything/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'm Mexican-American, but I grew up with a normal American life. I don't have a low rider. I drive a Honda. I guess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snow-tha-product/i-m-mexican-american-but-i-grew-up-with-a-normal-american-life-i-don/) [Snow Tha Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snow-tha-product/) > [“The line in the sand that Carter drew along Iran’s Zagros Mountains now stretches from Central Asia through the Middle East and across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-j-bacevich/the-line-in-the-sand-that-carter-drew-along-iran-s-zagros-mountains/) [Andrew J. Bacevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-j-bacevich/) > [Vanity Fair has but two major articles in its editorial creed: first, to believe in the progress and promise of American life, and, second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-crowninshield/vanity-fair-has-but-two-major-articles-in-its-editorial-creed-first/) [Frank Crowninshield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-crowninshield/) > [“The historical periods I like to learn about aren’t so much costume dramas as slasher flicks. The French Revolution is a favorite because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/the-historical-periods-i-like-to-learn-about-aren-t-so-much-costume/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [One of the manifestations of depression for me is that I lose my will. And I thereby lose my ability to focus. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/one-of-the-manifestations-of-depression-for-me-is-that-i-lose-my-will/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [“Football combines two of the worst things in American life. It is violence punctuated by committee meetings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/football-combines-two-of-the-worst-things-in-american-life-it-is/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [I produced a play in New York that got nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best American Play.The play is called Stalking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/i-produced-a-play-in-new-york-that-got-nominated-for-an-outer-critics/) [Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/) > [The final test of Afro-American studies will be the extent to which they rid the minds of whites and blacks alike of false learning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-saunders-redding/the-final-test-of-afro-american-studies-will-be-the-extent-to-which/) [Jay Saunders Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-saunders-redding/) > [In the decade of the 1980s, a massive and comprehensive study of religion in American life was undertaken by the Gallup organization. The results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-the-decade-of-the-1980s-a-massive-and-comprehensive-study-of/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Envy is the central fact of American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/envy-is-the-central-fact-of-american-life/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [A trillion dollars spent, 2,000 American lives lost - Afghanistan is the longest war in American history. But you don't hear a word about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-baumgartner/a-trillion-dollars-spent-2-000-american-lives-lost-afghanistan-is-the/) [Michael Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-baumgartner/) > [Crime and the fear of crime have permeated the fabric of American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/crime-and-the-fear-of-crime-have-permeated-the-fabric-of-american-life/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) [Browse all 344 American life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Imagine that you are stuck on a long train ride and must choose one of two books to read in order to pass the time: the first is a novel whose main character is an office worker who is essentially working to pay his monthly cable bill; the second is about someone who decides to travel in South America (and of course encounters various setbacks in the process), but who pushes beyond the boundaries of conventional American life. Which... book would you pick up to read? 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