The reader learns from the novel In Cold Blood that family is an important factor in a person's state of mind and development throughout childhood. Additionally, the reader understands how the concept of self-image affects the human mind. In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, the reader recognizes the inequality towards women who live in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban. They are also aware of the racial conflicts that Afghanistan as a whole is experiencing. Overall, each of the novels explains life situations that many people living on earth encounter.