No Time but the Present
harpers.org
harpers.org
Books remind me what substantive, rich, thought-provoking writing feels like. As opposed to the mostly shallow, pithy and often sarcastic or angry content that passes for writing on the internet.
I think reading books is overrated, especially for something like what the author is trying to “cure”.
My biggest gripe is that you’re reading an interpretation filtered through the eyes of someone else. You will never form the kind of tacit wisdom needed if all you do is listen to things other people have done with their lives.
I strongly recommend to instead pursue a vocation. A calling. I don’t have anything to recommend in particular. Take up something artistic and creative and allow yourself to experience different dimensions of existence for yourself, as an example. Your life will be more enriched if you write your own story.
That's not entirely true. If you read 10 books and do nothing, you are right. But if you read 10 books and tried once, you would understand your experience in 11 different ways. Books gives you perspective.
For me this was kind of an eye opening article.
Let's say I liked some historical novel by that one author. I searched for some similar books. Maybe I read some detective story on similar theme with some deeper meaning that uncovers human nature. Did I try to find books that oppose these ideas? Or did I try to search for a third book with similar message?
Let's say suddenly I am leaning far right. I read so many books on that topic and I know that this is actually a human nature and world is like that and so on.
But is it? Or I just saw what authors wanted me to see? Did I become more intelligent or brainwashed?
Love when a piece like this helps put things into perspective, but also a good reminder to put this phone down and replace it with a good old book :)