“Books are published at such a rapid rate that they make us exponentially more ignorant…”
A recent article about the rate of books published seems to insist that because even the most avid reader can not read every book published and therefore exponentially is growing more and more ignorant.
This does not frustrate me necessarily, but it causes me to wonder why? Why are there so many books being produced? It seems like a waste of money.
I have no updates on my family situation. This weekend I’ll be gone for the whole time. I’ll be in Idaho again visiting my extended family. As much as I miss my own mom & sister back home, I am convinced that I need to stick to my convictions and focus on what I am doing right now. No matter how tumultuous it seems, no matter how bored I get, and no matter how bad it gets…it’s something that I can call my own.
Work today was hard. There are a lot of demands on my time at work, which can not be summed up in a mere intelligent sentence. I just have a lot to do, and it’s tedious. Sure I have training on my side, but it seems that no matter what, I am still stuck in the same scenarios of yesteryear, and it bugs me. It bugs me that my advancement on the stupid corporate ladders of the business world has left me longing for something more than what is in front of me.
I am holding onto a vision that I will not have to lead a life that I hate, but rather a fulfilled life without the obsession of riches. I have a hard time though. I want to drop my words and spirit in a ditch and walk life as a zombie. I feel like a ghost to those I love sometimes. A bastard son in some ways because I am not dealing with the same things that my parents are dealing with.
My heartstrings are pulled by many things. I read the tragedies that claim lives in such a silent screaming field, and I am left helpless. I have a love for that which I do not see, but yet I can not make it through my day without wondering if this life has something more than I am leading. I was promised everything growing up. I was told that I could do whatever I wanted, whatever I dreamed. I dreamed big, and now what? I feel that I’ve been given coal in place of riches.
In some ways I’m still trying to claw my way above the ashes of these dreams that have been burned down as I walked away from the longings of the past. I stare out of my window on empty bricks, with people that do not care if I live or die, because I am not their friends.
As much as I’m the fulfillment of the Mexican American dream, I feel the sting of my decisions. The consumerist nature that strangles my being, hurts me in ways that I can not explain. My conscience hurts.
I feel empty sometimes. Hollow. But in the same breath I’m filled by oddities. Understandings from words that breathe new life in my weary bones. Four A.M doesn’t seem so bad once I put things into perspective. Maybe I am training for utopia, or at least for something grander than my current dull moments.
I’m happy at times. I’m joyous at times. I’m sad at times. Yet I’m content in my end of days, the endings are rest. The rest where my eyes are closed.
Red eye ceases.
I’m open. Too open.
6 Comments
Modern historians too have the same dilemma. After von Ranke, the historical analysis norm was established in most academias, and that required detailed analysis of as many sources as possible. Because a neutral historian (generally) wasn’t there at the time, (s)he would read as many sources and find the essential truth from the facts. Post-modern historians would criticize, but that’s a whole lot of confusing muddled up arguments which we won’t go into… ever.
There is actually no possible way for historians in the modern era to analyze all the different sources - simply impossible. Print media, television coverage, journalistic articles, critical analysis from specialists, popular opinion, first person reports, memoirs - etc… imagine all the different voices responding to a simple question.
So why are they still publishing so much? I guess I can put it down to a few reasons. Firstly, a world growing population means that there is a greater nominal number of writers. Secondly, changing social values, in media and technology means that more people are writing (education/advent of blogs) and more media outlets are available.
Books — I guess market demand would explain it. People want to read something, people will write something to fill that want. Economics - yay! Quick fixes to XYZ, more complicated lifestyles (technology/health/new age) requires deeper understanding…
Actually that makes for a great thought. Ever noticed today we know we’re suppose to be happy, we should be happy, we want to be happy, but we never are happy? We learn to live and try to live, but we just forget about living.
I don’t particularly like that quote, it implies that all knowledge and wisdom is to be gained from books. Some knowledge is gained from reading, but I believe the most important knowledge is gained from living life and our experiences.
I don’t really care for that quote either, but I agree with Robbeh. I think economics plays a big factor in the mass production of books. People have different tastes not just with books but with anything. Writers must supply what the public demands.
I had a thought once that as the world’s population continues to grow, each person is becoming, relatively speaking, more lonely as they are connected with a smaller and smaller percentage of humanity. Ignorance would also have to rise.
A very nice and thoughtful post. Thanks for allowing me to find it.
You know what Jorge ? You’re too smart for this world.
I’m a terrible motivational speaker, but I should tell you to get what you really want in life. A great job that inspires you, a family to to take care, drawning like Seb above, photography or anything that makes you create something great with that big brain of yours.
Make the world a better place ! Blogging is a good start, but you can make something better I’m sure
I’ve never read books to learn from them. I read books to enjoy them, like most people watch movies.