Book Review of The Little Prince
Look with your heart, and you’ll see the essence.
Between the desert and the stars, encounter the self deep within your soul
Many people view The Little Prince as just an ordinary children’s fairy tale, overlooking the profound essence hidden beneath its innocent exterior. Just like the “hat” the author drew at the beginning of the book, most adults see only the surface outline but fail to grasp the metaphor of “a boa constrictor swallowing an elephant” behind it; We’re always in the habit of judging things by their outward appearance, yet we forget to explore their essence with our hearts. This book is more like a life allegory the author crafted through a fictional story, containing his life experiences as well as biting social satire: The Little Prince comes from Planet B612 simply because adults are obsessed with numbers; No matter how many beautiful scenes you describe to them, nothing will amaze them more than the statement, “This house is worth 100,000 francs”; just as the Little Prince says: “People here would plant five thousand roses in their gardens… yet still fail to find what they’re looking for.”
This fictional story mirrors our real lives: we all experience the innocence of first love, learning to love and be loved in our naivety; we meet all kinds of people whose ideas constantly challenge our worldviews, sometimes even causing us to lose our way; We are caught up in the system, rushing about all day, scrambling to make ends meet, yet gradually forgetting what we truly want; when we feel lost and confused, a voice inside always asks: Is everything I’m doing really worth it? This dialogue with my soul allowed me to see my wandering spirit clearly; yet when difficulties fade and life returns to normal, busyness once again takes over my mind, and my soul seems to fall silent once more—just like the Little Prince’s departure, reminding us not to lose the ability to dialogue with ourselves amid the hustle and bustle.
The Little Prince once said, “Look up at the night sky. Ask yourself: Have the sheep (desires) already eaten that flower (innocent nature)? You’ll find that everything will be different… No grown-up will understand how important this is!” These words serve as a wake-up call, reminding everyone caught up in the hustle and bustle of life: Pause occasionally, look back on the past, and ask yourself if you’ve long since lost your way—if, swept up in desire, you’ve lost sight of your original joy. Unfortunately, too many adults, caught up in their busyness, have forgotten just how important this is.
At the end of the book, the author writes a heartfelt wish: “Please look closely, and please remember this place, because someday you may travel to the deserts of Africa. If you happen to pass through here, I beg you—don’t walk too fast; please pause for a moment beneath that star! If a child comes toward you, if he is smiling, if he has golden curls, if he never answers your questions, you should easily guess who he is. When that time comes, please help him! Don’t make me so sad: please write to me right away and tell me he’s back…” This desert, which seems empty, is actually the place where everyone encounters their own soul. Throughout our lives, we search for the path back to this “desert,” simply to meet that pure, authentic self once more beneath the stars.