A book that changed me: the elusive perfection of For the Time Being | Mark O'Connell

Annie Dillard's 1975 book taught me, a non-believer, that religion can access deeper truths

As lockdown continues, Guardian Opinion is reviving its A book that changed me series, an opportunity for writers to select the very best reading to help get us through these uncertain times, with a new instalment every Monday.

Although Annie Dillard's For the Time Being is probably my favourite book by a living writer, I tend not to recommend it to people, for the simple reason that I am not entirely sure what to say about it.