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Cake day: June 23rd, 2024
  • Isa@feddit.orgtoBooks@lemmy.world•Unshakable Wealth: The Power of Reading
    4·
    6 days ago

    To the introduction:

    I want to add to “Unlike material wealth, the knowledge gained from books grows over time and shapes one’s character and outlook on life” that the wealth of knowledge even grows when shared and therefore forms a society in which people more likely ally with each other, rather than to compete with against each other!

    About the Journey to Knowledge:

    Yes, that sounds quite familiar, only that I read less and less as I grew older, because live did’t allow me that luxury as it has done in my youth.

    About literature as a mentor:

    I totally agree!

    To the Importance of native literature:

    Yes, one should know where one comes from, should know ones own roots … but it is, I think, far more important to understand the foreigners roots and ways of thinking nearly as good as ones own! For only then one can break down the walls between the so called “them” and the so called “us”! Sunzu wrote in the 3rd chapter about attack by stratagem in his book “the art of war”, that “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” And that, I think, is a lesson, not only valuable in conflict and war. So that if you change “enemy” with “counterpart” and “battle” with “interaction” …

    I think it wise to read as many foreign books (in their native tongue, when- and wherever possible … as well, as those of ones own tongue).

    And to reading as a lifelong companion:

    Yes, just yes!!

    About the battle against cultural degradation:

    Here, for the first time, I totally disagree. Why? Those languages that are well preserved and unchangable, old greek, latin, etc. are also called “dead languages” (at least in my tongue) for some reason, I think. Language is a living and ever changing thing. If you look far enough backwards, you might even realise that many of your precious native term might have come from a, back then, foreign source!

    I nevertheless would like to share your wish to stand up against the cultural degradation of ones language, but in a slightly different way. For better understanding: If an artist lets paint drop from atop on an blanc canvas, names it, for example “a rainbow pouring down” and sells it for more money, then I earn in a living, then that might be art, if — and only if — he does it, whilst being fully capable of reproducing da Vincis Mona Lisa or Kandinskys blue rider. Meaning, the artist has to know and understand and be able to produce art, requiring highly refined skills. Then, and only they, droplets of paint on an otherwise empty canvas might count as art (in my book). It is the same with language and literature, I think. One need to be firm in ones language. Then, I think it alright or even something to welcome, if foreign phrases or “incorrect used” language is used and literature with such even produced. For language, in my understanding is something living,which grows, and changes, as the culture, society, the people changes as well … over the decades.

    …

    Question: Please share the last book that impressed you.

    Educated, by Tara Westover