Ursula K. Le Guin's The Lathe of Heaven is a philosophical science fiction novel following George Orr, whose dreams literally change reality, and Dr. Haber, the psychiatrist who tries to use George's power to improve the world. Through successive reality alterations that go increasingly wrong, Le Guin explores free will, power, and the dangers of utopian thinking. The novel becomes both mind-bending puzzle and Taoist meditation, proving that Le Guin understood that changing reality doesn't solve problems and that some powers are too dangerous to use.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Le Guin wrote the perfect novel about unintended consequences, showing how every attempt to fix the world creates new problems. This philosophical gem reminds us that George's passive resistance is heroic, that Dr. Haber's good intentions lead to nightmare, and that Le Guin's Taoism runs deep.

DETAILS: • Author: Ursula K. Le Guin • Publisher: Scribner Book Company • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: January 31, 2023 • ISBN: 9781668017401 • Edition: Reissue