Toward the Radical Center: A Karel Capek Reader Book

I think this was a great collection of Karel ÄŒapek's work. Having spent time in the Czech Republic, I've gotten quite used to the Czech sense of humor. I generally figured it had something to do with living through and facing up to Communism but now I see it goes even further back. ÄŒapek's plays and short stories were thoughtful, socially critical, and would probably sometimes be downright offensive to those who are a bit too sensitive or close-minded. However, I thought they were also thoroughly entertaining as long as you can appreciate a dry sense of humor.

The collection begins with two very thought-provoking plays. The first, Rossum's Universal Robots, is hilariously written and has clearly become the basis for nearly every sci-fi movie involving robots or the end of the world.

It then ends with The Mother, a play which makes one think about wars, the reasons for them, the reasons those who fight in them do, and the sacrifices everyone makes for them whether knowingly or not.

I highly recommend this collection, if only to get you wanting to read more of ÄŒapek's work. I know I do.