Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Old books

One of my friends reads the classics with an incomprehensible vigor. She prefers the Russians.

But, aside from your personal satisfaction, why read books that don't have direct impact on your life. We could discuss how there is much to be learned about current politics in Plato and Aristotle, social policy in Smith and Mill, etc. but I think there is something more important in these readings.

These books that have survived the ages aren't the toothless artifacts you'd expect. They are presently human. They aren't dingy or dirty things dug out of the ground. Their pure form has been left intact.

They are like the old gods still playing at the same intrigues. These are the transcendents of human culture. There is a glamour in these survivors. It is considerably exciting.

That said, I'm still never touching Dostoevsky again.

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