Bag of Beans

(reprinted from: Boing Boing)

I never watched the program Lost, but I think I'd have enjoyed it -- at least judging by what I've heard around the ol' watercooler and also from Entertainment Weekly's list of books and literary references found in the show. Philip K. Dick's "VALIS?" Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle In Time?" Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland"? What's not to like! I know, I could watch the Lost DVDs. But then again, maybe it's time to crack Castaneda's "A Separate Reality." From Entertainment Weekly:

In the same way Ben was served Valis with a meal during his Dharma captivity in season 4, Sayid was given Carlos Castaneda's 1971 mystical memoir along with a sandwich during his Dharma incarceration in the season 5 outing ''He's Our You.'' His highly literate waiter? Why Young Ben, of course, who claimed to have read the book twice. Obviously, the title should be seen as foreshadowing for season 6's Sideways world storyline. Major themes in Castaneda's work include personal responsibility, transformed consciousness, and waiting patiently for life's purpose to manifest itself -- all central to Jack's season 5 spiritual transformation. Of course, Castaneda also was really big on hallucinogenic drugs, which played a role in Sayid's ''He's Our You'' story. Some people believe hallucinogenic drugs played a pivotal role in the Lost writers' room, too.

"Lost': The Essential Reading List"