Lewis Carroll would have been 188 years old today. The English fiction writer, whose real name was Charles L. Dodgson, left the world with a body of work to last us many lifetimes.

His most famous work derived from his most famous subject – Alice. The literary versatility of Carroll’s work is yet to be matched and has prompted many discussions and analyses over the years because of his whimsical style, tongue-in-cheek humor, and thought-provoking windows into life. Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass,” rose to become more than just children’s books, but instead carried insights to human behavior and idiosyncrasies.

In the age of social media where the sharing of images, videos and even GIFs without context is a common occurrence, one popular quote from the mind of Carroll in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” is quite poignant today: “And what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversation?” The medium for literary sustenance may have changed quite a bit, but the reason for wanted to absorb information should remain the same – to prompt healthy discourse.

Let’s wish a Happy (heavenly) Birthday to the man who has brought light to our childhoods and understanding to our adult lives.