-On the negative aspects of reading-
point
Read classics and good books rather than new releases.
・Read good books carefully and reread them.
It's better to think for yourself than to read books.
"Reading is letting others do the thinking for you. A diligent person who spends their day reading extensively gradually loses the ability to think for themselves." These sharp observations and scathing aphorisms about reading by Schopenhauer (1788-1860), a first-rate writer and master of aphorisms, are surprisingly refreshing to us in today's world, overwhelmed by a flood of publications. -Book jacket-
"When reading, there is almost no effort involved in thinking. That is why I feel relieved when I stop my work of thinking and switch to reading."
"Only through careful consideration does what is read become to God for the reader."
"You can't read too few bad books, nor can you read too many good books. Bad books are poison to the mind and bring ruin to it."
"The condition for reading good books is to avoid reading bad books. Life is short, and time and energy are limited."
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-186) was a German-born philosopher. His major works include "The World as Will and Representation" and "On Happiness."
This time, we'll summarize Schopenhauer's thoughts on reading. From the beginning, he argues for the negative aspects of extensive reading, stating, "Reading is letting others do the thinking for you. Diligent people who spend their days reading extensively gradually lose the ability to think for themselves." He is particularly harsh on books written solely for sales purposes, arguing that the more you read them, the dumber you become and the more your mind collapses. He asserts that the wisdom born from one's own thoughts and reflections is the most valuable, and that reading books to verify one's own conclusions is acceptable.
Chapter 2, on writing style and style, discusses comparisons between his native German and Latin, which was considered a high language at the time, and touches upon grammatical usage and even the use of articles. He argues that it is sinful for anonymous critics to recommend bad books to the public and exploit their money and time.
In the final chapter on reading, for those who still wish to read, I recommend a thorough reading of classics. I lament the trend of thinking that it's enough to just know the author and the title of the book, rather than obsessively devouring the new releases that flood bookstores. I recommend books that have been read for over a century, because the atmosphere and spirit of a flourishing era change every 30 years, giving way to opposing values.
For my first post, I've chosen to discuss Schopenhauer's "On Reading." I recently decluttered and got rid of a large number of books. From now on, I'll be focusing on classics. As part of my cultural studies, I'll be delving into books that have been read for generations.
First reading completed on 2021/05/10
Thank you for reading. Goodbye for now. Take care :)
Author: Arthur Schopenhauer Translator: Shinobu Saito Paperback: p158 Publisher: Iwanami Bunko
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