The Lucky One'sLosing a phone compared to being raped, starved, killed and eaten to bits makes everyday life not so harrowing. Cormac McCarthy was born on July 20, 1933 and is one of the most influential writers of this era. McCarthy was once so poor he couldn't even afford toothpaste. Of course this was before he became famous. His lifestyle ranged from hotel to hotel. He was once thrown out of a $40 a month hotel and even became homeless. This is a man who from experience knows what should be appreciated. McCarthy published a novel that would give readers that very message called The Road. Set in a world of poverty, the story is about a man and his son. They travel to a warmer place in hopes of finding more than the scattered decaying bodies and ashes. Father and son face hunger, death and mistrust on their long journey. Lawrence King, 15, was killed because he was gay. Known as a common hate crime, the killer obviously thought he was superior to keeping his own life and taking someone's life. Believing ideas in a possible, unconditional world is dangerous to that person's immunity to the facts of reality. Novelist Cormac McCarthy believes his dark books reflect the harsh events of human nature. McCarthy had a vision of life that was clear and simple in his mind, making it harder for some readers to accept. In an interview Oprah asks McCarthy where the apocalyptic dream came from and he replies “I went and stood in front of a window and I could hear the trains going by, a very lonely sound. I had this image of these fires on the hill and I thought a lot about my little boy” (New York Times Magazine, 1992). His imagery of loss and disaster pushed McCarthy to write... in the middle of paper... there is no life without bloodshed... The idea that the species can be improved in some way, that everyone can live in harmony It's a really dangerous idea. Those who are afflicted by this notion are the first to give up their soul, their freedom. Your desire for it to be so will enslave you and make your life empty” (New York Times Magazine, 1992). Since the means to suffer are more than people know, these things give people the message to be grateful for the luxuries of society. The characters in Road face places of horror. Ukrainians face similar poverty events such as cannibalism and starvation. McCarthy wanted to inform that the reader's life is quite dangerous compared to roasting on the fire. Appreciating every minute of life without abusing or misjudging life's ills will only push the human population further towards empathy.