Castaway Companion: Choosing Your Desert Island Read

If you could have one book on a desert island, what would it be?

You might have a quick and ready answer, but for many readers, this is an impossible question. How do you pick just one?

At CPL, we compared our choices and what made them so important to us above all others. We hope you are never stranded on a desert island, but just in case, we have compiled some tips to help you find that singular book.

1. Make it last. If you only have one book to read, you should pack a lot of story into those pages. Skip quick reads and focus on epic tales, compilations or complex novels with many pages to enjoy. This is your chance to unravel layers of meaning in Ulysses. If you're feeling mischievous, maybe bend the rules with omnibus editions of your favorite series.
2. Learn a lesson. Though you might not be able to find the exact volume to get yourself off the island (i.e., How to Build an Airplane from Twigs and Leaves), consider using this opportunity to make your situation a little easier. A survival guide or a gardening encyclopedia could help you turn your isolation into a vacation.
3. Travel to far-off lands. If you can't leave the island, your one book may be an opportunity to escape the realities of your current situation. Skip tropical survival in Robinson Crusoe and search for meaning in the snowy peaks of the Magic Mountain. Better yet, leave Earth altogether in favor of the magical realms of epic fantasy, such as Middle-earth or Westeros.
4. Revisit an old favorite. If life on the island is harsh and unpredictable, rereading your favorite book can provide a feeling of comfort and safety as the story unfolds exactly as you know it will. Familiar characters like Jo March or Ford Prefect will remind you of better days on the mainland. After all, if you only have one book to read, it should be one you know you'll enjoy.
5. Find and feed your inner strength. There's an old saying: "If you can't change your circumstances, change your perspective." You may find that island solitude provides an opportunity for personal growth. Some staff members chose a spiritual text like the Holy Bible as their one-and-only read, to find solace in their faith while alone on the island.