In 2001, Jonathan Franzen did what no one had done before, and no one's done since—he won a war with Oprah.

His third novel, The Corrections, was selected to be part of Oprah's Book Club, which is usually a one-way ticket to massive sales. But Franzen worried that the mainstream recognition might alienate readers, a concern he made clear during interviews. Queen O was not pleased (to say the least) and rescinded her invitation. And though she and Franzen eventually made up, it wasn't before The Corrections went on to massive success all by itself.

See, Oprah wasn't the only person impressed by the book. Her book club selection was only one of several accolades the book received, including the National Book Award for Fiction and James Tait Black Memorial Prize.

The warm welcome The Corrections received is perhaps due to the fact that the book is both deeply personal and socially relevant. The plot follows the Lambert family as they struggle to define their identities in a hectic modern world. Chip has been fired from his teaching job after sleeping with a student; his sister, Denise, is questioning her sexuality after years of confusion; and Gary, the eldest brother, is simply going crazy. As their father's health declines, their mother makes an important decision: She wants the family to come home for one last Christmas.

Although this might seem rather straightforward (it's definitely been the premise of a movie or two), Franzen takes readers on so many twists and turns that instead, at times, it's dizzying. Though anchored by relatable characters, the terrain this book traverses is often anything but familiar, whether we're talking about the newly created business-state of Lithuania Inc., where ambitious politicians are using the Internet to con American investors, or a scenic Norwegian cruise that lands readers in one of Alfred's poop-obsessed hallucinations.

Yes, you read that all right.

But this is what makes The Corrections so readable. It's half knee-slapping satire, half emotional family drama, and all together, it's a completely one-of-a-kind book.

We're going to blow the lid off the biggest secret of the adult world, so listen up: Everyone is insecure. See, adults like to pretend that they have everything together, but the list of people who actually do is pretty short. It's probably just the Dalai Lama and Beyoncé, by our estimation.

Trust us when we say that the halls of a high school have nothing on the busy streets of a city. That guy over there? He's playing the role of the businessman but is really just a scared kid inside. That beautiful woman? She's fronting the part of a happy wife but secretly wishing she were with someone else. And that dog? Well, he just wants to be a cat.

As usual, Shakespeare says it best: The whole world is a stage, and we are just players.

While The Corrections tackles many different subjects, the core of the book is all about insecurity—the little lies we tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better, to fit in with our peers, or to achieve our personal goals. But here's the thing: these seemingly insignificant lies always catch up with us in time. The Corrections shows some of the consequences of this and might even help you feel more comfortable in your own skin.

Listen, this book will make you laugh, cry, and think—usually at the same time. This is only fitting, since The Corrections is all about embracing the contradictions, not, you know, correcting them.