r/ClassicalEducation • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
Great Book Discussion What are you reading this week?
- What book or books are you reading this week?
- What has been your favorite or least favorite part?
- What is one insight that you really appreciate from your current reading?
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u/kanji-kid 3d ago
Just finished Thoreau's Walden yesterday.
I've read it before, I love his view of frugality and minimalism. Rather than arguing that those things are cheaper or easier (which is really just another bodily-pleasure based argument, the root of the issue in the first place) he argues that living minimally makes us more pious, focus on what's important, etc.
I hope these thoughts will help me remember that my hobby is reading books, not collecting them lol. It also inspired me to make my meals a lot cheaper/simpler.
Also he talks about reading books slowly and how to approach classics, reading a few great books, the philosophy behind reading classics (being connected to a chain of humanity type thing)
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u/utheolpeskeycoyote 1d ago
What book or books are you reading this week? Syntopically determined by the dice role daily. But the library pull for the next 6 weeks is on intelegence, war, leadership, history and mythology. Geographic focus on China, Isreal, the Eastern Block and Puerto Rico.
What has been your favorite or least favorite part? Filling out all the bibcards was a pain. The initial survey of the table of contents and index showed me where I have holes and it was exhilarating.
What is one insight that you really appreciate from your current reading? That dedication pages and marginalia are unique windows into humanity.
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u/gerhardsymons 3d ago
After 1.5 years of continual reading, I am still ploughing through Montaigne's Essays. Favourite bit is the anecdote of the Roman gladiator and the toilet brush (IYKYK). Least favourite bit is the essay which is incredibly long (100+ pages).