Well I ;guess that is the question of the day and the very thought starts my mental salivating glands..well..salivating. The exact prompt is: If you could read a book containing all that has happened and will ever happen in your life, would you? If you choose to read it, you must read it cover to cover.
Why is the consideration of this action intriguing?
I think it comes down to only 2 choices, You cannot just read the past, you are obligated to read the future. For those who believe in fate the reading of the future would not be a difficult choice. You read it and you accept it.
For those who do not believe in fate the reading of the future will simply be entertainment. Let the book say anything for you believe in Free Will.
But there are some, at least there is one – me- who believes there is a certain degree of pre destiny but we all have the free will to follow it or not. Sometimes I think that those with the most successful lives are the ones that recognized choices and felt drawn to one decision or another. When we choose another path other than the ‘right’ one, our lives get a little rockier than needed. As I write this I think maybe there is a dose of malarkey there, except something similar but clearly unexplainable is behind that thought.
For folks like myself who hold this kind of belief we would have no problem reading the whole book, because we would realize that even though our past actions led us down the path to the predicted future, we would still have some choice in changing it.
Regardless of the past, regardless of the predicted future, what we choose in this very moment, and every moment after that, we write the story of our lives and it will never be a straight line leading to a pre-conclusion.
This very thing is what strengthens our hope for the future. We do not have to remain what we have been and what we are. Each single minute or second can change that with every thought.
Yup – I would definitely read the whole book!
bridgesburning 
We can indeed, we do indeed, re-write our story, over and over. It’s what makes life such a grand adventure, don’t you think?
Absolutely Joss. How boring if we did not!
I am enjoying the numerous different takes on this prompt. So many of them are so ….. RIGHT! 🙂 And yet they are so different. I would think I wouldn’t read it because I am so susceptible to the power of suggestion. If I read it, I would most likely make sure it happened that way.
I can’t say “cough” without coughing!
If I don’t read it…. I might still have a chance! 🙂
Great post Chris.
Thanks Colleen it sure is an interesting subject with lots of interesting takes!
If in the preface it stated: “There will be no deviation from the future events–they are written in stone.” then no I would not read it. If there is a chance that these are but shadows of the things that may come (Dickens says it so much better) I would definitely let the three ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future take me for a ride. I think it would be interesting to see at what point in the present I might make a pivitol decision and thus rewrite the ending.
Yes I like ‘the shadows of things to come..how could it be any way else?
I wouldn’tread it asI like surprises!
Now that is because of your own sense of adventure!
Haha I think reserving the right is the best to go! 🙂
I don’t think I could read the book. I mean, I’m not sure I want to know how it turns out just yet. On one hand, I think it would make everything easier – the knowing, but on the other hand, what if the outcome isn’t what I want? I’d be sad for the rest of my life.
No, I don’t think I would read it; however, I reserve the right to change my mind at moments notice. 😉
~FringeGirl