Disturbing the Peace: A Conversation with Karel Hvizdala Book

I most likely would never have read this book if it hadn't been given to me as a gift. I have never seen or read any of Havel's plays, have spent all of 3 days in the Czech Republic, and knew of the Prague Spring primarily through Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being and Stoppard's Rock and Roll--I basically have no strong connection to Havel and had never even heard of this book.

Disturbing the Peace is, however, quite a wonderful read. Havel, who says so himself at the end of the book, had a pretty entertaining life: Absurdist playwright, political dissenter, prisoner, president. While Havel filled the last role after the book was published, the first three provide quite enough to bring a certain excitement to the work.

Yet the events themselves aren't what makes this book special. Rather, it is Havel's personality that brings the book its uniqueness. While not quite a true autobiography--the book is one long interview between Havel and a friend--Havel is very open about his feelings and thoughts. He comes off as a very good man, one who wasn't bombastic or aggressive, but rather one who stood up for his beliefs and his friends. He actively pursued what was right but was never sanctimonious about it. His humility is quite extensive; I would like to see an American president talk with the same candor about his own foibles as Havel does.

I'm not going to say that book is explosive or exhilarating--there are a number of boring patches. But knowing that such a person like Havel exists and succeeded is inspiring. He wasn't some kind of Ghandi superhero but he still managed to help bring down a repressive regime. You finish reading the book not just wishing there were more Havels in the world but thinking maybe I can do more with my own life.