The Shining by Stephen King is a haunting psychological horror novel about isolation, addiction, and the slow unraveling of the human mind. The story follows Jack Torrance, a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, a remote resort in the Colorado Rockies. Hoping to rebuild his life and focus on his writing, Jack brings his wife Wendy and his young son Danny to the hotel, which will be completely cut off from the outside world during the snowbound winter months.
But the Overlook is no ordinary hotel. It has a dark and violent history, and its lingering supernatural forces begin to influence Jack, preying on his insecurities, rage, and past failures. Meanwhile, Danny possesses a rare psychic ability known as “the shining”—a telepathic gift that allows him to see the hotel’s disturbing secrets and communicate with others mentally. Danny senses early on that the hotel is alive with malevolent intent.
As winter deepens and the isolation takes hold, Jack’s sanity begins to deteriorate. Encouraged by the ghostly presence of past guests and a phantom bartender, he descends into madness and turns on his own family, driven by the hotel’s will. Wendy and Danny must fight for survival as the Overlook’s evil fully consumes Jack. In the end, Danny’s shining and his bond with his mother offer the only hope of escape.
The Shining is one of Stephen King’s most iconic novels, blending ghost story elements with a deep psychological portrait of a man falling apart. It’s not just about a haunted hotel—it’s about how personal demons and unchecked rage can make someone vulnerable to true evil. The novel explores themes of addiction, abuse, and the fragility of the human mind in unforgettable, chilling detail.
