Finished reading Maugham's "Of Human Bondage" yesterday. I had long wanted to read it. Finally found time over the last weekend to start reading.
I identify with many of the emotions, experiences, insights, disillusionments, and realizations of the protagonist. It is an autobiographical novel that draws much from the author's life.
I doubt if reading such a book would prevent anyone from taking a course of action or following a path that would eventually turn out to be a waste. I guess things can only be analyzed logically in hindsight. Therefore, even if teens read it, they may not benefit from it. They would nevertheless go on and make their own mistakes.
You only explain the decisions, mistakes, and thought processes of your first youth only after you have passed it by. I guess this is a book meant for people who passed their first youth.
As the protagonist shows, introspection helps you discern patterns in life and learn from your experiences. I feel there are no failures in life; there are only experiences. And how you use them to become a better person and make the most of the situations in life is all that matters.
