'Guy de Maupassant's Bel Ami gives some practical life advice': Artem Login

What book(s) are you reading at the moment?
Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins. Having studied politics and dreamed about being a politician, this book sparked an enormous interest in me. It gives a clearer and a different look on how modern politics was shaped by global US influence and sheds a particular perspective on how the Gulf countries developed so rapidly. The most thrilling thing of all is that the actions described in that book are still employed by the US today in terms of influencing its countries of interest.
Most memorable literary character (and why)?
Charlie Gordon of Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon. The story revolves around him becoming the first human test subject for surgery to treat autism that touches upon a variety of ethical themes. Charlie's reality is shown through the behaviour of a white lab mouse, whose mortality he has to eventually accept and face, symbolising his own identity struggles.
A book that you think is underrated (and why)?
Guy de Maupassant's Bel Ami - about an opportunistic young man, supposedly from a poor background - got the world talking about his leading character Georges Duroy's manipulations in the bohemian world. Although written in 1885, the society, its behaviour and general life customs depicted there are as relevant today as they were back then. Beautiful reading, and gives some practical advice on how to behave in certain situations and achieve your goals through persistence, though not a very common book amongst young entrepreneurs.
- Staff Reporter