The Three-Body Problem

The Three-Body Problem reads like a McKinsey presentation. 🤯

I rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This week, I finally finished reading the Chinese sci-fi novel “The Three-Body Problem” by Liu Cixin. This was only the first part of a trilogy. I have to admit, it gave me Sapiens feels. But I eventually got through with it, and I am proud to say I understood a good majority of it.

Like a McKinsey presentation that you need to wrap your head around, The Three-Body Problem demanded complete focus and dedication.

SCIENCE + PHILOSOPHY

It’s one thing to pretend to understand the science and go with the flow of the book (Interstellar as a movie did just that). But add on Chinese philosophies and history and it becomes very convoluted. I had to keep going back to the translator’s note for reference of Chinese history and how it was used in the book. So while reading it was intellectually stimulating, it was also daunting.

Just like a McKinsey presentation which is usually crammed with models and theories that need you to engage with each slide deeply.

NON-LINEAR NARRATIVE

Navigating The Three-Body Problem was like a presentation with too many slide dividers. When you just start getting a hang of the story, it switches to a new one, and then another.

Like a McKinsey presentation where it all comes together later in a slide called Actionable Insights, but by then you have already struggled to remember how it all started.

And unfortunately, since the book has been translated, the writing seems kind of straight and not crafted. Which, like a McKinsey presentation without visual breaks, makes you savour the book a bit lesser.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD

There’s data and jargon that McKinsey presentations overwhelm with. Just like that, the book made me feel like a first-year science student. Ultimately, I just did a ‘nod and wave’, knowing that there was no chance that such long narratives would have an intended message at the end.

And don’t get me started on the confusing Chinese names:

BUT, BUT, BUT!

I thoroughly enjoyed the concepts and complex ideas of the Three-Body Problem. Although I am not committing to read the sequel anytime soon.

Next up, Lessons in Chemistry!