“Filip, why would you spend 20 years working on one book?”

This is why. 👇

Many of us struggle to understand why the world has become so polarized. We violently disagree on politics, wars, science, and relationships. It’s as if every issue attracts at least two absolutely opposing views. And no matter how we discuss them, we only seem to grow more confident in our disagreements.

Looking at this from another angle, it's almost as if the world was a duckrabbit.

Some see a duck, others see a rabbit. And whichever perspective they choose, the world conforms to it. Wherever one looks, this schism causes immense frustration and pain. We feel inadequate to explain ourselves, incapable of understanding others, and isolated in bubbles. This is one of the ideas explored in my novel Flock Without Birds, which comes out today. It tracks this paradox across mathematics, history of art, philosophy, and our daily decisions.

We often assume that one of those opposing opinions must be right and the other wrong. And we merely disagree which is which. But what if this deep conflict is not our (or others’) imperfection, but the nature of reality itself? What if the Universe is a duckrabbit?

Such a heretical idea would show our most sacred beliefs to be mere illusions. It would radically change our conception of truth. We would have to redefine rationality, learn to switch perspectives, and part with strongly held opinions. Our minds would learn a new kind of flexibility. And that goal is worth 20 years of my life.

In the end, I think we might even get a duckrabbit emoji. 🙏🏻

Flock Without Birds is a duckrabbit too. It’s a novel that comes in two volumes, with neither one first or second—it’s up to the reader to choose whether to start with the Story or the Book.

This has been a long journey. After 12 years of writing, the Czech original became a national bestseller with over 10,000 copies sold. It took me another 10 years to make the book available in English. As of today, the English version is available on Amazon and your favorite indie bookstores.

And here is one of the first reviews:

Filip Dousek wrote a fascinating book; one that is thoroughly unique. It’s been a while since I read a book that made me pause and consider what’s being said this much. So far my favorite read of this year. Read this if you crave something challenging that can serve as inspiration for your future.

Enter the duckrabbit reality. Here’s the door: buy the book, enjoy the read, and spread the word.

If you read and liked the Czech version, please consider adding a rating / review on Goodreads and Amazon. It will make all the difference in helping the book reach new readers. Thank you!

10-Year Horizon

Reality Is a Duckrabbit