Therefore Choose

"Of the many novels written about the Second World War, Oatley's stands out for its sensitivity and insight. Students of both history and psychology will find in Therefore Choose a fresh perspective on a well trod subject." — Malahat Review

"This well-written, intelligent, and even wise book deals with choice, specifically with the consequences of the choices that we make in life. It also shows the horror felt by those on both sides of the conflict that was the Second World War. The trauma is all here. So is the guilt, of both the victors and the defeated. Oatley is a good writer, and this is a fine book." — Scene

"Unquestionably a literary triumph." — Walrus

"A coming-of-age story quietly and compassionately told. Almost between the lines, the force of history bears down on these characters, as they learn what is possible and impossible in a broken world." — Anne Michaels

"A thoroughly thought-provoking read. Oatley is deft with dialogue — big ideas are channelled seamlessly through the minds of his characters. George, Werner, and Anna's every choice — whether to act, react, or withhold action — is imbued with power." — Steven Galloway

Reviewers have compared Keith Oatley's pure, spare prose with that of A.S. Byatt and Umberto Eco. In Therefore Choose, his intimately rendered characters draw us into an intense quest for meaning in a world diving headlong into chaos. Oatley is the author of two highly acclaimed novels: The Case of Emily V., which won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book, and A Natural History. Professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, Keith Oatley has long been fascinated with the way humans communicate ideas and emotions. His numerous publications on the subject include Emotions: A Brief History and Understanding Emotions.