How Literature Saved My Life - Vintage Author:David Shields Blending confessional criticism and cultural autobiography, David Shields explores the power of literature to make life survivable, maybe even endurable. Evoking his deeply divided personality, his character flaws, his woes, his serious despair, he wants ?literature to assuage human loneliness, but nothing can assuage human loneliness. Literatur... more »e doesn?t lie about this??which is what makes it essential.? A captivating, thought?provoking, utterly original book about the essential acts of reading and writing.« less