Learning the less of The Old Man and the Sea
Ilchi Lee believes that personal development is one of the keys to a better life, and perhaps no book better demonstrates that than Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.
This short novella is typically thought of as one of Hemingway's best works, and tells the story of an old fisherman attempting to catch a gigantic marlin. The aging man seems to have no chance against such a massive creature, but he never gives up or despairs throughout his journey.
"If you think, 'it's not possible,' and count up the reasons why, you will never be able to do it," says Ilchi Lee, and it appears the old man took this sage advice to heart. Persevering against countless odds, the old man is eventually able to hook the fish, thanks to his years of experience on the water.
At this point, the story shifts – it's about the old man bringing the fish back. Attaching the marlin to the side of the boat, the fish quickly attracts a number of sharks, who devour the fish almost instantly.
When he gets back to shore, the man has only a carcass left – the fish will ultimately be worthless to him. Yet in the end, it doesn't matter. All the other fisherman marvel at the massive skeleton. The fisherman wasn't able to sell his prize catch, but he was able to conquer something that seemed impossible, which was an achievement in its own right.
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