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preciousmist's review against another edition
Rancid vibes and Baldur's Gate came out.
anna_karenina5's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.0
braddy7's review against another edition
3.0
Probably a 3.5ish - There were some great moments in this book, but I expected more. I didn't quite feel like I was taken on the journey I would have expected.
mimela78's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.5
This was very informative and dry. Very slow read.
andersenhannah02's review against another edition
5.0
This book has amazing arguments and points that are beautifully explained and supported. I think everyone should read this, but most especially anyone in the English Literature field, or even anyone who plans to read and study classics.
guk's review against another edition
3.0
This was an academic take on the value of reading old books after our culture has moved on. I think he does an adequate job of explaining the need to judge authors in the context of their time--we are going to them, they are not coming to us. I did find it a bit dry.
emherland's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I didn’t agree with everything Jacob’s argued, but isn’t that we should read things we don’t exclusively agree with part of his whole point?
Things I will take with me:
- temporal bandwidth/personal density (want to marinate on these more)
- attention triage or information triage
- negative selection vs. positive selection vs. something in between
- you can’t understand the place and time you’re in by immersion (we live thinly in our instant)
Things I will take with me:
- temporal bandwidth/personal density (want to marinate on these more)
- attention triage or information triage
- negative selection vs. positive selection vs. something in between
- you can’t understand the place and time you’re in by immersion (we live thinly in our instant)
prijks's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This is a fun little exploration of why we should read books from the past. It makes good points on how doing so can benefit us, and explores why we should be forgiving of the flaws of the past.
I wish there was also a little more “how.” It’s a lot easier to pick up some contemporary fiction. The author does note in a footnote that “no one will do any of the things I counsel in this book without possessing the virtue of stubbornness.” But still there must be ways of becoming more competent at reading old books. Unless the answer is simply practice, in which case maybe stubbornness is all you need.
I wish there was also a little more “how.” It’s a lot easier to pick up some contemporary fiction. The author does note in a footnote that “no one will do any of the things I counsel in this book without possessing the virtue of stubbornness.” But still there must be ways of becoming more competent at reading old books. Unless the answer is simply practice, in which case maybe stubbornness is all you need.