War and Peace

The argument

People should read War and Peace while self-isolating because it helps people get involved in a like-minded community during the pandemic. When face-to-face socializing is not an option, it does not stop people from continually trying to connect with others. War and Peace has become a literary solace for people that want to read but not alone. There are public forums designed for people to read War and Peace together. War and Peace is worth the read because of the deep thoughts and questions raised by the book. These are perfect for discussing in reading communities. War and Peace causes people to think about the causes of revolutions and how leadership defines a nation and the people fighting. Through the deeper questions, people can find plenty to discuss with others while self-isolating. War and Peace features more than historical context and questions. It is also filled with drama, love interests, and the personal conflicts of aristocratic families. Readers that may not find historical contemplation or war scenes interesting can dive into the internal conflicts and love between characters. At 587,287 words, there is at least one scene or line that is worth discussing. By joining others reading War and Peace, people will find a much needed virtual community while self-isolating.

Premises

Counter-arguments

There are plenty of other online book clubs that do not involve reading War and Peace. Readers can find a community for books by interacting with groups that are reading similar genres or by reading along with a club online. Although the War and Peace book club is an option, there are plenty of more well-established clubs for people to join for different reading interests. If a person does not like the idea of reading War and Peace, they will not enjoy being involved with a community dedicated to this book. In addition, some people find War and Peace to be too long. It has a plethora of characters that can be difficult to keep track of while reading. Beyond the plot, the book is filled with confusing philosophical asides that will not appeal to all audiences. Due to this, readers may find it more entertaining to join clubs and read books they know they will enjoy rather than trying something new.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] The reason given is about the reading group rather than the book. If joining a community is the point, any widely read title with an active club serves it, and the counter is right that well-established clubs exist for many books and genres. The premise gives a reader no ground for choosing this one. [Rejecting P2] The features listed are unarguable and generic — a canonical novel has themes, drama and family conflict — while the one specific fact offered, the word count, is the strongest consideration against the recommendation. Nearly 600,000 words is a commitment of months for most readers, presented here as an advantage without acknowledging that it is also the book's principal barrier. [Rejecting C] The conclusion needs the isolation framing to add something, and the premises never show that it does. Nothing in the circumstances makes this novel more suitable than any other classic, and the length that supplies "plenty to discuss" is what makes it hard to begin in a period the argument itself describes as stressful.