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A review by juliannealkire
The Art of Reading by Damon Young
3.0
I finally finished this tiny book because it was due at the library and I couldn't renew it any more. (I think the librarians must get nervous after you've had a volume in your possession for nine weeks?). If that doesn't tell you something about my opinion of this book, well... Keep reading, I guess?
Before I get into my review, though, I should clarify something: this is a philosophical work, and philosophy is not my best genre. It's a little like hip-hop (stay with me), which I try REALLY HARD to like because all the cool kids are into it. Okay, maybe the cool kids aren't into philosophy, but it's a similar phenomenon for me. For some reason, I always walk away from the experience disheartened and a little disoriented. After all, I'm someone who LOVES music- so why can't I like an uber-popular genre? And I like to think of myself as the type of person who is thoughtful and intelligent enough to thoroughly enjoy a work of philosophy, but so far I haven't found the secret formula to help me spurn Billy Joel and cosy mysteries in favor of Drake and philosophy. (What a combo!)
So, when I saw this book at the library, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to dip my feet into philosophical waters again, since it also belongs to a genre that I happen to adore: books about books. I picked it up and was immediately enthralled with his phrasing, his learned references, and the fact that he was talking about Sherlock Holmes and Batman in the same chapter. Lest you think I was charmed all through the book, I'll have you know that my feelings on this book ran the gamut. And now, I am about to disregard all the advice he gave in the book and tell you about my FEELINGS during the 9-week experience of alternately reading it and avoiding reading it.
Stage 1) "I AM SO INTELLIGENT. Look at me LOVING a book about philosophy! I'm learning so much! I'm loving every minute!"
2) "Umm so I'm not really sure what conclusion he wants me to draw from that chapter but okay."
3) "I'm starting to get overwhelmed by all these references to books and authors I've never heard of. This might be more enjoyable if I were actually into philosophy in the regular." This stage is pretty common for me whenever I read this genre, which is what encourages me to keep trying.
4) *accidentally* misplaced book and focuses on more enjoyable reads.
5) *renews first time.*
"I WILL read this!"
6) *two weeks later, actually picks it up*
"Wait, woah, this is kind of anti-Christian. Not sure I like that he's been liberally quoting Aquinas and Augustine while secretly judging their religious beliefs. So, like, it's okay to pick the parts of an author's work that you like and discard the heart of their teachings? "
Full disclosure: I've never even READ either of these great thinkers, so I acknowledge that the author of this book is light-years ahead of me as far as knowledge of their texts goes, since he's studied them carefully. But I'm still huffy about it.
7) *puts book on shelf for a few days as punishment to the author for disagreeing with me on the subject of Christianity*
8) *Book is due again.*
*Considers returning it, then decides to renew and persevere because GOODREADS CHALLENGE BABY.*
9) "He does write beautifully."
*happy sigh*
10) *Encounters slightly dirty joke.*
*Keeps reading without batting an eye because we must sacrifice for Goodreads sometimes*
11) "Erg these learned references are annoying. Why are philosophy people always so much smarter than me?" <- Also a very common sentiment for me while reading this genre, which is what encourages me to not try reading it too often.
12) "I LOVE that he's advocating quality reading, though! It's so important."
13) *Encounters second slightly dirty joke*
"okayyyyyy then..."
14) *notices back cover says this is the perfect book for the voracious readers in your life.*
"NOT IN MY LIFE. The voracious readers in my life would be alternately bored and appalled."
15) *finishes book*
*feels relieved*
16) *re-reads a random page*
"His word skills tho..."
So, in summary, I am not well-qualified to judge this work as a whole. Not did I really come to it with the right attitude (I wanted to like it in order to make myself feel smarter). There were moments where I loved it, but plenty of moments where I really didn't. Three stars it is.
(Also, if anyone wants to recommend a good hip-hop song or philosophical work for beginners, I'd be forever grateful.)
Before I get into my review, though, I should clarify something: this is a philosophical work, and philosophy is not my best genre. It's a little like hip-hop (stay with me), which I try REALLY HARD to like because all the cool kids are into it. Okay, maybe the cool kids aren't into philosophy, but it's a similar phenomenon for me. For some reason, I always walk away from the experience disheartened and a little disoriented. After all, I'm someone who LOVES music- so why can't I like an uber-popular genre? And I like to think of myself as the type of person who is thoughtful and intelligent enough to thoroughly enjoy a work of philosophy, but so far I haven't found the secret formula to help me spurn Billy Joel and cosy mysteries in favor of Drake and philosophy. (What a combo!)
So, when I saw this book at the library, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to dip my feet into philosophical waters again, since it also belongs to a genre that I happen to adore: books about books. I picked it up and was immediately enthralled with his phrasing, his learned references, and the fact that he was talking about Sherlock Holmes and Batman in the same chapter. Lest you think I was charmed all through the book, I'll have you know that my feelings on this book ran the gamut. And now, I am about to disregard all the advice he gave in the book and tell you about my FEELINGS during the 9-week experience of alternately reading it and avoiding reading it.
Stage 1) "I AM SO INTELLIGENT. Look at me LOVING a book about philosophy! I'm learning so much! I'm loving every minute!"
2) "Umm so I'm not really sure what conclusion he wants me to draw from that chapter but okay."
3) "I'm starting to get overwhelmed by all these references to books and authors I've never heard of. This might be more enjoyable if I were actually into philosophy in the regular." This stage is pretty common for me whenever I read this genre, which is what encourages me to keep trying.
4) *accidentally* misplaced book and focuses on more enjoyable reads.
5) *renews first time.*
"I WILL read this!"
6) *two weeks later, actually picks it up*
"Wait, woah, this is kind of anti-Christian. Not sure I like that he's been liberally quoting Aquinas and Augustine while secretly judging their religious beliefs. So, like, it's okay to pick the parts of an author's work that you like and discard the heart of their teachings? "
Full disclosure: I've never even READ either of these great thinkers, so I acknowledge that the author of this book is light-years ahead of me as far as knowledge of their texts goes, since he's studied them carefully. But I'm still huffy about it.
7) *puts book on shelf for a few days as punishment to the author for disagreeing with me on the subject of Christianity*
8) *Book is due again.*
*Considers returning it, then decides to renew and persevere because GOODREADS CHALLENGE BABY.*
9) "He does write beautifully."
*happy sigh*
10) *Encounters slightly dirty joke.*
*Keeps reading without batting an eye because we must sacrifice for Goodreads sometimes*
11) "Erg these learned references are annoying. Why are philosophy people always so much smarter than me?" <- Also a very common sentiment for me while reading this genre, which is what encourages me to not try reading it too often.
12) "I LOVE that he's advocating quality reading, though! It's so important."
13) *Encounters second slightly dirty joke*
"okayyyyyy then..."
14) *notices back cover says this is the perfect book for the voracious readers in your life.*
"NOT IN MY LIFE. The voracious readers in my life would be alternately bored and appalled."
15) *finishes book*
*feels relieved*
16) *re-reads a random page*
"His word skills tho..."
So, in summary, I am not well-qualified to judge this work as a whole. Not did I really come to it with the right attitude (I wanted to like it in order to make myself feel smarter). There were moments where I loved it, but plenty of moments where I really didn't. Three stars it is.
(Also, if anyone wants to recommend a good hip-hop song or philosophical work for beginners, I'd be forever grateful.)