What makes people go bad? Why do good people turn evil? The reason we ask is not out of scientific curiosity because psychologists are optimistic. If we know the means, processes, and mechanisms, we might be able to prevent it in the first place, treat it, or minimize it.
They understand the underlying process that makes a good person across that line. Scientists are trying to understand the psychological processes that can make a good person cross that line between good and evil. Reading about the battle between good and evil help you to understand better the concept of morality and how it relates to human behavior. By exploring different perspectives on good and evil, you can gain insight into the complexities of ethical decision-making and the forces that shape our values and beliefs.
7 Books About Good Vs Evil
Anything that becomes possible can get transformed into action for better or worse. So I sense that the whole thing about people born good become corrupted by society. We are all born with a tremendous capacity to be anything. We get shaped by the family and happen to grow up in an accident of birth by the culture in which we happen to grow up.
Every reasonable man and woman is a potential scoundrel and a good citizen. What a man depends on his character? What he does and what we think of him depends on his circumstances. If you analyze the movies and books, most are based on heroes and villains or good versus evil. So, I will discuss 7 books about Good Vs Evil. Let’s start!
1. The Stand
The Stand is long considered to be one of Stephen King’s masterpieces. It was an epic book when it was originally released, and then it got re-released with even more content added back. There’s a very high-profile project of authors being developed. It’s the Dark Tower series that is finally coming to film. There are quite a few connections between the stand and the dark tower.
Stephen King is synonymous with the horror genre, but the stand isn’t about horror at its core. It’s a character drama. Anybody that precedes epic storytelling with a very ambitious scope and message would get a kick out of this. This may be my bias, but anyone who meets said criteria should check this out as long as you can stick through character development. The Stand is one of those accurately regarded as a masterpiece. It deals with the good and evil war.
A devastating virus takes out most of the world’s population, and the tattered remnants must be rebuilt. What caused the outbreak? What was the reason for it? The downfall of society and the struggles that the remaining population have to deal with. Stephen King is great at being scientific and surgically precise in picking the right words to make you cringe and smile. Still, then he’ll smack you with poetry.
The characters are the stars of the stand and what will keep you engaged in this story from beginning to end. These characters have such unique traits, and you care about their backstories. You see all of these characters tested, and you watch in horror as their lives fall apart, as your heart continually sinks. All these characters’ hardships make you realize that this character development was building up for you to be destroyed by how deeply sad this gets. The Stand is a fantastic tapestry of all these characters in the United States.
The book is very slow pace, and it’s very deliberate when you think it’s settled into a routine. It allows you to feel comfortable, pulling the rug out from under you. Then it lets you calm down again. There’s a beautiful ebb and flow to this book. But when big things happen, they are essential, which is why the book’s pacing pays off so well in the very final moments of the book. It’s a prolonged and quiet ending. The last two chapters are incredibly poignant, beautiful, and poetic. You’ve gone on an emotional journey nearly equal to the epic physical and emotional journey the characters went on.
Author: Stephen King
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Horror Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction (Best Seller)
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
2. The Fellowship of the Ring: Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
This is the first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and this book is one of the best fantasy books out there. Bilbo Baggins and his adopted son Frodo live peacefully in the Shire. Gandalf, the wizard, tells them that the ring bluegill found in one of his adventures is not as simple as it seems. They discover the symbol of the ring written in the old language of Mordor and says one ring to rule them all, One ring to find the one ring, to bring them all in the darkness, bind them.
They can confirm that the one ring belonging to the dark Lord was defeated in ancient times. As Bilbo is already old, he transfers the ring to Frodo. Gandalf tells him the dark Lord is rising since his power remains inside this ring. So they have the responsibility to protect this ring. Some evil riders follow them until they finally reach the safety of Rivendell. Also, they form a fellowship to protect the ring and bring it to the cracks of Mount Doom.
There is a huge law in this world that you can explore in more detail in another book called The Silmarillion. It’s incredible to think we’re diverse with different races like humans, Dwarves, Hobbits, etc. It is so thought out and thoroughly detailed that it’s a great world. The magic system is not as explicit as in other modern fantasy books. In the beginning, it is also not as important.
Sometimes, the characters in this book don’t even know what magic is supposed to be. It is because magic for the elves is how they work and do stuff. But there are many magical and mythical things here that we don’t know a lot about. It seems like magic can work through words of power. So magic working through the language makes it a lot more epic.
The next thing I enjoy in this book is the love for details. It is a word crafted wonderfully and explored thoroughly in this book. It amazes me because we don’t see that more in newer books. There are some minor details, like how things are named. Often something will have a different name in Elvish and oarfish. So everybody who reads fantasy books should read The Lord of the Rings.
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
Average Rating: 4.8/5
Category: Epic Fantasy, Classic Literature (Teachers’ pick)
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
3. City of Bones
City of Bones is the first book and the Mortal Instruments series. The story follows a girl named Clary Fray, who one night decides to go clubbing with one of her friends, Simon. When Clary enters the club, she sees three teenagers covered in tattoos commit a murder. The man that appeared to be murdered disappears. Clary, at this point, is perplexed and thinks she’s going insane. But she later discovers that this man is not a man but a demon. The three teenagers that committed the murder were shadow hunters.
So you might be wondering, what are shadow hunters? Shadow hunters are warriors who are dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Clary is thrown into the shadow hunter world when an essential person in her life goes missing. Overall, this story is super entertaining. The characters are super fascinating, and much action is fun to read about. I will give it a shot if you haven’t read this book. Cassandra Clare’s world is fascinating, and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
Author: Cassandra Clare
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Teen & Young Adult Dark Fantasy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
4. The School for Good and Evil
The School For Good And Evil is about Sophie, Agatha, and a fabled mystical school where all fairy tale heroes attended and learned to star in their fairy tales.
People like Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Maleficent, and Captain Hook all went to school and learned to become good villains or good heroes. Periodically, two people from the reader’s world learn to be in their own story. That’s where Sophie and Agatha come in. They live in the land beyond the woods. One night they are taken to the school. They go to classes like how to become a good princess and how to talk to animals. It is so adorable.
What makes this book interesting is the role reversal. Looking at the cover, you would expect Sophie to go to school for good and learn how to be a princess and find her prince. Then you’d see Agatha and think. She’s going to learn how to be a witch and go to the school for evil. But that is not the case. It is self-evident that the second you start this book, they are not what you expect them to be. Once they arrive at school, their roles are reversed. That’s pretty much where our story takes us.
It’s Sophie and Agatha trying to figure out who they’re supposed to be when they never thought they could be this person because nobody ever expected it from them. It plays a lot with expectations they never do. What do you expect these books to do? Whatever you think, the story’s going to zig-zag. The story doesn’t have to end with you finding your prince and that good and evil must balance each other. Also, it is the best book about Good Vs Evil I have ever read.
Author: Soman Chainani
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Self-Help & Psychology Humor
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
5. Midnight In The Garden Of Good and Evil
The book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a novel that revolves around an antique dealer named Jim Williams. He has tried an unprecedented four times for the death of Danny Hansford. Danny Hansford was a hustler prostitute and one of Jim’s employees. It takes place in Savannah, Georgia, and follows the author’s search for what happened that night. Did Jim kill Danny in cold blood? Did Jim kill Danny in a fit of rage, or did Jim kill Danny in self-defense?
John Barrett also meets a lot of colorful characters along the way. They include Lady Shibly, Sorina Luther Sunday, Minerva, the Voodoo Priestess, and Urga, the University of Georgia’s mascot. The most exciting thing about this book is that it is true. The characters are real people, and the events are real. It is fantastic to see Murcer House, where most of the Midnight is in the garden of good and evil.
The book is what Savannah Ends called Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Some of it can get tedious when it gets into Jim’s trials. However, I adore this book. The characters are over the top and eccentric, as they are in real life. Also, it is incredibly detailed and technically a non-fiction book.
Author: John Berendt
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Customs & Traditions Social Sciences, US State & Local History, Murder True Crime
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
6. Eragon
Eragon walks a lot of fantasy tropes, starting with a farm boy. He has his village home intact and family troubles, going away from home and being trained and immersed into a magical world with a paladin-like wiser figure. The farm boy finds the dragon, a giant evil and a bad guy who is this stereotypical evil. Nothing that happens in this story will surprise you. But there were choices that I liked like having Eragon lose a sword fight against an elf was nice.
The world constructed within this book and larger throughout the series was fairly decent. If you want a typical walkthrough of the fantasy process, this series will deliver that to you on a silver platter. There’s never going to be anything that can be off-putting.
You’re going to be walking down that line. That’s why it is an excellent injury for so many young teens in the fantasy realm because it is an immaculate cut. If you are a parent who loves fantasy and wants to introduce your child to fantasy, I think this series is best for you.
Author: Christopher Paolini
Average Rating: 4.8/5
Category: Teen & Young Adult Fantasy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
7. Good Omens
Good Omens is a satirical Christian fantasy book that focuses on a demon and an angel. These two have been living on Earth for thousands and thousands of years. They like Earth and don’t want it to go anywhere anytime soon. They discover that the Antichrist has been born and the world will end next Saturday. So they decide to stop the end of the world. The first huge positive is that it is super fun, and the author is responsible for its humor. The humor plays well into the satire.
Plenty of scenes will have you thinking about things from our real world. This book was published over 20 years ago. But it still feels like many of the themes and satire here are relevant to our time. This book has a beautiful beginning and ending section, but not great in the middle section of slowness. Overall, you will get a great combination of exciting plots and entertaining situations.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Humorous Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
Philosophy Books About Good Vs Evil
Here are some classic and contemporary philosophy books about the concept of good vs evil:
The Republic by Plato: This is one of Plato’s most famous works. He explores the nature of justice, the ideal state, and the relationship between good and evil.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: This classic work of Stoic philosophy contains reflections on the nature of good and evil and practical advice on how to live a virtuous life.
Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche: This influential work challenges traditional notions of morality and suggests that good and evil are subjective concepts that can be reinterpreted.
The Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Nietzsche: In this book, Nietzsche examines the origins of morality and argues that the concepts of good and evil have evolved.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky: This novel explores the nature of good and evil through the story of three brothers and their interactions with their father, a wealthy and influential landowner.
The Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato: This book is about the nature of justice, morality, and the relationship between good and evil.
The Concept of the Political by Carl Schmitt: This book explores the relationship between politics and morality and argues that the distinction between friend and enemy defines the political concept.
These books provide different perspectives on the concept of good vs evil and offer insights into how this dichotomy has been understood and debated throughout history.
Good Vs Evil in Literature
Good vs Evil is a common theme in literature, and many books explore this dichotomy in various ways. Here are some examples:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: This classic novel explores the nature of good and evil through the eyes of a young girl growing up in the segregated South of the 1930s.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: This Gothic novel tells the story of a scientist who creates a monster and struggles to deal with the consequences of his actions. The book raises questions about the nature of good and evil and the creator’s responsibility for the creation.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: This novel explores the concept of good and evil through the story of a young man who remains youthful and handsome while his portrait reflects the ugliness of his soul.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: This series of fantasy books feature battles between good and evil in the magical land of Narnia and explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and free will.
Dracula by Bram Stoker: This Gothic novel follows the battle between good and evil as a group of characters attempts to defeat the evil vampire Count Dracula.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: This dystopian novel features a battle between good and evil as the protagonist fights against the oppressive government of her world.
Good Vs Evil Stories in the Bible
The Bible is full of stories that explore the concept of good vs evil. Here are some examples:
The story of Adam and Eve: In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve are created by God and live in paradise until the serpent tempts them to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This act leads to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the introduction of sin and evil into the world.
The story of Cain and Abel: In the book of Genesis, Cain, and Abel are brothers who offer sacrifices to God. When God favors Abel’s sacrifice over Cain’s, Cain becomes jealous and murders Abel. This story illustrates the destructive power of envy and the consequences of giving in to evil impulses.
The story of Noah’s Ark: In the book of Genesis, God sees that the earth has become corrupted and decides to wipe out all living creatures with a flood. He saves Noah and his family, as well as a pair of every kind of animal, in an ark. This story illustrates the importance of righteousness, obedience to God, and the consequences of sin.
The story of Job: In the book of Job, Job is a righteous man who suffers a series of tragedies, including the loss of his wealth, family, and health. Despite his suffering, Job remains faithful to God. The story explores the nature of good and evil, the problem of suffering, and the importance of trust and faith in God.
The story of Jesus’ Temptation: In the Gospels, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Satan offers Jesus power and wealth in exchange for his allegiance, but Jesus refuses, choosing to remain faithful to God instead. This story illustrates the power of temptation and the importance of resisting evil.
These books that explore the theme of good vs. evil feature complex characters who are neither wholly good nor wholly evil. They are inspiring stories of heroism and self-sacrifice. Also, they offer thrilling plots, memorable characters, and powerful messages.
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