Philosophy of books vs. books about philosophy

Every so often, I find myself drifting into my local Barnes & Noble. It’s become a bit of a ritual; I’ll wander the aisles, flip through a few covers, and simply enjoy some solitary time whenever I need to clear my head. I tend to linger in several different sections because my interests are rather scattered. However, I inevitably gravitate toward the philosophy department, which is where I stumbled upon this:



It was quite disheartening. Beyond the fact that they’ve reorganized the layout and reduced the shelf space—and by extension, the selection—there isn't a single volume left in this section. Three thoughts crossed my mind. First, for a fleeting moment, I felt a surge of optimism. I thought, "Well, if everyone is picking them up, people must actually be reading." 😁 Second, I realized that perhaps philosophy doesn't hold much weight in a world where materialism is the prevailing religion and money is treated as one of our highest deities. And third—though perhaps a bit self-deprecating—I suppose it is better to have empty shelves than empty heads, at least in my case. 😁

My own bookshelf is slightly smaller than the one pictured here, but it is packed to the brim. As I look at it now, I am trying to discern how much of it truly qualifies as philosophical study. About a third seems to be children's literature. Honestly, I struggle to find even one physical book I own that could be strictly categorized as a work of philosophy, perhaps aside from the Bible. That said, I belong to that generation that relies heavily on digital formats; on my phone alone, I have at least 200 books that are pure philosophy. On my laptop, the number is even higher. I tend to read whatever captures my interest in the moment—whatever sparks a curiosity about a subject I previously knew nothing about. Sometimes it’s just specific chapters, and sometimes it’s a collection of selected essays, of which I also have many. Currently, I am attempting to instill some discipline in myself—trying to read things "from cover to cover." Lately, it seems my primary preoccupation has become philosophy.

The idea here isn't just about what we are currently reading, but also about what we have read in the past that might have left an impression on us. Or, conversely, what we hope or plan to read in the future. It would be wonderful if you could share how you personally experienced a certain book, along with its title and author. Even a simple recommendation would be just as appreciated.

As for my own goals, the work I am determined to finish is Jeanne Hersch and her introduction to philosophy; I managed to track down a PDF version. This is my primary focus right now, something I try to read "regularly"—though I don't know how you define "regularly." For me, it doesn't mean daily, but rather something I constantly return to in an effort to finally reach the end.

If I may ask a question: on average, how long does it take you to get through a work of, say, 400 to 500 pages? I realize it depends entirely on the material. If the subject matter is familiar, it likely moves faster, whereas a dense text that requires you to constantly backtrack, re-read passages, and pause for reflection will certainly take much longer.

There is no need to limit your suggestions to philosophy alone. There is so much worthy and useful reading out there that can simultaneously contribute to one's philosophical understanding.

P.S. If anyone finds themselves succumbing to the temptations of the modern age and wishes to discuss digital reading, please do not be shy. Feel free to join the conversation. 🙂

So, basically, I really need us to figure out how to fill up this empty shelf you see in the photo. 👍

I was also thinking that maybe some poetry collections could find a nice little home right over in the section we set aside for philosophy.

Anyway, that’s just my initial thought to get the ball rolling, and 🙂 I'm honestly really excited to dive into this topic with you all!

steelridge58 said:So, basically, I really need us to figure out how to fill up this empty shelf you see in the photo. 👍

I was also thinking that maybe some poetry collections could find a nice little home right over in the section we set aside for philosophy.

Anyway, that’s just my initial thought to get the ball rolling, and 🙂 I'm honestly really excited to dive into this topic with you all!

Well, I was just wondering who might actually walk away with the grand prize. 😁

Poetry books could also find a home in the section designated for philosophy.

.

I certainly agree. One simply cannot exist without the other. Philosophy draws its inspiration from many sources, and poetry is undoubtedly one of them.

For now, this is all for the start, and at the same time 🙂 I welcome the discussion!

Fair enough. This thread will likely stay active for quite some time, so please contribute whenever you find a spare moment. And since you are already here—would you mind correcting something I wrote?

It isn't necessary to mention only books from philosophy.

I truly dislike making such clumsy mistakes. It seems one becomes increasingly illiterate due to an excessive (and perhaps harmful) reliance on the internet. 😁 Though, to avoid sounding overly self-critical, I should note that this is actually the very first thread I have ever started exclusively using my smartphone. 😁

Killer topic, props to you

My issue with books is a different kind of beast entirely. I literally have nowhere left to put them. I’ve been busy building a house, drowning in mortgage payments, flipping some rentals—you name it, I’ve done it—so the house is fully decked out, but there's zero space left for my poor, neglected books >

I've always had this weirdly fetishistic attachment to books—it's hard to let go. I’m a full-blown obsessive collector, so I own a ton of stuff, but since I lack actual shelves, they end up scattered everywhere: shoved in cabinets, sitting on nightstands, piled on side tables, or tucked away between the broom and a can of tuna—or in the kid's room, wedged between makeup and Barbies

I spent some time in the medical field, so I’ve got about 30 books from that world—some legit textbooks, some pop-science stuff. Then there's the 80s fiction era... maybe a hundred titles, maybe more. The heavy hitters too—you know those massive multi-volume sets—I've got the collected works of Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Ujevica (a total rarity, white hardcover set), Borges...

Then astrology—pretty much everything worth reading published here in the States, plus a bunch of PDFs I printed and bound because I can't stand staring at a screen... probably another hundred titles

Then theology, dozens of books there. Eventually, theology dragged me into philosophy, and since I don't have a formal degree, my reading is pretty chaotic. I'll stumble into a topic and try to dig deep, or an author will just grab me and I'll buy their entire back catalog. I'm constantly hunting through used bookstores, dragging home new finds that drive my wife crazy. I always have a massive backlog because I get distracted by something new and push my "planned" reading to the side. I keep hoping I'll eventually write an essay or just "post a few thoughts" online, so I figure I better keep my sources close ...

How long does it take to slog through a 500-page philosophy tome? Like, say, Heidegger's battle and time or Kant's critique of pure reason? Hmm... long enough that I barely catch the thread. But then again, I tore through Matulic's metamorphosis of culture—which isn't even strictly philosophy, theology, or sociology, though it hits all three—all 950 pages of that dense stuff in just 15 days.

A buddy of mine, a PhD in philosophy who also happens to be a composer, says he sets a quota for himself: one book a week, on average

Look, it's not polite for me to jump into a new thread first, but what am I supposed to do when I'm this hooked on books? Couldn't resist the temptation >

P. S. I'm huge on Berdyaev. Super interesting guy. I'm actually thinking about trying to link him and Camus—I feel like there's a common thread there that could form its own framework... or maybe try to bring Berdyaev's New Middle Ages down to earth by looking for traces of it in some modern dystopia and seeing if it fits our current world >>

There’s something truly exhilarating about traveling with philosophers—whether it’s summer vacations, winter getaways, or just quick weekend trips...
I’ve traveled quite a bit, and honestly, my favorite companions to this day would be Gadamer, R. W. Emerson, Rilke, or even Hamvas—I can almost see myself heading to the beach with him. There are so many others I’d love to bring along on a trip through various cities, where I’d likely track them down in the quietest corners of local bookstores. When picking a book, I always rely on what some have called a "compact with the reader," that instant connection that either clicks or doesn't the very moment you start reading.
Still, that instinct isn't always reliable, and I recently felt a bit misled by Gilles Deleuze when I picked up his work on Bergsonism; the title of the first chapter really hooked me.
Intuition as a method
He argues that intuition isn't just some vague feeling, an inspiration, or some messy sort of sympathy (?), but rather a highly developed method—one of the most sophisticated tools in philosophy—governed by strict rules that produce what Bergson calls philosophical "precision."

That book absolutely kicked my butt.
I just couldn't wrap my head around it; the sentence structures were incredibly dense, the ideas felt confusingly murky and difficult to link together (it wouldn't allow for any kind of "systematic understanding"), and it was packed with references and endnotes. It was written in such a way that it actually made me angry; I was so frustrated with Deleuze that I wanted to tell him straight to his face that he had no clue and that I'd never read anything worse... but then I stopped and wondered (using a bit of that intuition!) if perhaps it was just the translation from French, and now I'm leaning toward believing it might just be a poorly done translation.

p.s. fixed. 🙂

For anyone out there looking to dip their toes into philosophy without drowning in academic jargon, I thought I’d toss this your way:

I found myself getting pretty intrigued by these over the summer, so I ended up downloading them (though I haven't actually cracked them open yet):

-Adam Rutherford: Humanimal - How Homo sapiens Became Nature

-Andrew Krepinevich: 7 Deadly Scenarios - a Military futurist Explores War in The 21 st Century

-Sean Carroll : fra eternity to here - The quest for The Ultimate theory of time

-David Abulafia : The Boundless Sea - a human history of The Oceans

-George M. Young : The Russian Cosmists - The Esoteric Futurism of Nikolai Fedorov and his Followers

-Gernot Wagner, Martin L. Weitzman: Climate Shock - The Economic Consequences of Hotter planet

-James Hamilton : Volcano - Nature and Culture

-Kate C. Langdon, Vladimir Tismaneanu: Putin ’ Totalitarian Democracy - Ideology, Myth, and Violence in The Twenty-First Century - Leonard Susskind : The Black Hole War - my Battle with Stephen Hawking to make The World Safa for Quantum Mechanics

-Leonard Susskind : The Black Hole War - my Battle with Stephen Hawking to make The World Safa for Quantum Mechanics

-Nick Bostrom: superintelligenca - Paths, Dangers, Strategies

-Philip Ball: Universe of Ston - a Biography of Chartres Cathedral

-Richard Holmes: The aga of Wonder - The Romantic Generation and The Discovery of The beauty and Terror of science

-Roy Porter : Madness - a brief history

-Thomas Piketty : capital and Ideology

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Joseph Murphy10 said:Killer topic, props to you

My issue with books is a different kind of beast entirely. I literally have nowhere left to put them. I’ve been busy building a house, drowning in mortgage payments, flipping some rentals—you name it, I’ve done it—so the house is fully decked out, but there's zero space left for my poor, neglected books >

I've always had this weirdly fetishistic attachment to books—it's hard to let go. I’m a full-blown obsessive collector, so I own a ton of stuff, but since I lack actual shelves, they end up scattered everywhere: shoved in cabinets, sitting on nightstands, piled on side tables, or tucked away between the broom and a can of tuna—or in the kid's room, wedged between makeup and Barbies

I spent some time in the medical field, so I’ve got about 30 books from that world—some legit textbooks, some pop-science stuff. Then there's the 80s fiction era... maybe a hundred titles, maybe more. The heavy hitters too—you know those massive multi-volume sets—I've got the collected works of Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Ujevica (a total rarity, white hardcover set), Borges...

Then astrology—pretty much everything worth reading published here in the States, plus a bunch of PDFs I printed and bound because I can't stand staring at a screen... probably another hundred titles

Then theology, dozens of books there. Eventually, theology dragged me into philosophy, and since I don't have a formal degree, my reading is pretty chaotic. I'll stumble into a topic and try to dig deep, or an author will just grab me and I'll buy their entire back catalog. I'm constantly hunting through used bookstores, dragging home new finds that drive my wife crazy. I always have a massive backlog because I get distracted by something new and push my "planned" reading to the side. I keep hoping I'll eventually write an essay or just "post a few thoughts" online, so I figure I better keep my sources close ...

How long does it take to slog through a 500-page philosophy tome? Like, say, Heidegger's battle and time or Kant's critique of pure reason? Hmm... long enough that I barely catch the thread. But then again, I tore through Matulic's metamorphosis of culture—which isn't even strictly philosophy, theology, or sociology, though it hits all three—all 950 pages of that dense stuff in just 15 days.

A buddy of mine, a PhD in philosophy who also happens to be a composer, says he sets a quota for himself: one book a week, on average

Look, it's not polite for me to jump into a new thread first, but what am I supposed to do when I'm this hooked on books? Couldn't resist the temptation >

P. S. I'm huge on Berdyaev. Super interesting guy. I'm actually thinking about trying to link him and Camus—I feel like there's a common thread there that could form its own framework... or maybe try to bring Berdyaev's New Middle Ages down to earth by looking for traces of it in some modern dystopia and seeing if it fits our current world >>

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

Joseph Murphy10 said:Killer topic, props to you

My issue with books is a different kind of beast entirely. I literally have nowhere left to put them. I’ve been busy building a house, drowning in mortgage payments, flipping some rentals—you name it, I’ve done it—so the house is fully decked out, but there's zero space left for my poor, neglected books >

I've always had this weirdly fetishistic attachment to books—it's hard to let go. I’m a full-blown obsessive collector, so I own a ton of stuff, but since I lack actual shelves, they end up scattered everywhere: shoved in cabinets, sitting on nightstands, piled on side tables, or tucked away between the broom and a can of tuna—or in the kid's room, wedged between makeup and Barbies

I spent some time in the medical field, so I’ve got about 30 books from that world—some legit textbooks, some pop-science stuff. Then there's the 80s fiction era... maybe a hundred titles, maybe more. The heavy hitters too—you know those massive multi-volume sets—I've got the collected works of Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Ujevica (a total rarity, white hardcover set), Borges...

Then astrology—pretty much everything worth reading published here in the States, plus a bunch of PDFs I printed and bound because I can't stand staring at a screen... probably another hundred titles

Then theology, dozens of books there. Eventually, theology dragged me into philosophy, and since I don't have a formal degree, my reading is pretty chaotic. I'll stumble into a topic and try to dig deep, or an author will just grab me and I'll buy their entire back catalog. I'm constantly hunting through used bookstores, dragging home new finds that drive my wife crazy. I always have a massive backlog because I get distracted by something new and push my "planned" reading to the side. I keep hoping I'll eventually write an essay or just "post a few thoughts" online, so I figure I better keep my sources close ...

How long does it take to slog through a 500-page philosophy tome? Like, say, Heidegger's battle and time or Kant's critique of pure reason? Hmm... long enough that I barely catch the thread. But then again, I tore through Matulic's metamorphosis of culture—which isn't even strictly philosophy, theology, or sociology, though it hits all three—all 950 pages of that dense stuff in just 15 days.

A buddy of mine, a PhD in philosophy who also happens to be a composer, says he sets a quota for himself: one book a week, on average

Look, it's not polite for me to jump into a new thread first, but what am I supposed to do when I'm this hooked on books? Couldn't resist the temptation >

P. S. I'm huge on Berdyaev. Super interesting guy. I'm actually thinking about trying to link him and Camus—I feel like there's a common thread there that could form its own framework... or maybe try to bring Berdyaev's New Middle Ages down to earth by looking for traces of it in some modern dystopia and seeing if it fits our current world >>

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Joseph Murphy10 said:Killer topic, props to you

My issue with books is a different kind of beast entirely. I literally have nowhere left to put them. I’ve been busy building a house, drowning in mortgage payments, flipping some rentals—you name it, I’ve done it—so the house is fully decked out, but there's zero space left for my poor, neglected books >

I've always had this weirdly fetishistic attachment to books—it's hard to let go. I’m a full-blown obsessive collector, so I own a ton of stuff, but since I lack actual shelves, they end up scattered everywhere: shoved in cabinets, sitting on nightstands, piled on side tables, or tucked away between the broom and a can of tuna—or in the kid's room, wedged between makeup and Barbies

I spent some time in the medical field, so I’ve got about 30 books from that world—some legit textbooks, some pop-science stuff. Then there's the 80s fiction era... maybe a hundred titles, maybe more. The heavy hitters too—you know those massive multi-volume sets—I've got the collected works of Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Ujevica (a total rarity, white hardcover set), Borges...

Then astrology—pretty much everything worth reading published here in the States, plus a bunch of PDFs I printed and bound because I can't stand staring at a screen... probably another hundred titles

Then theology, dozens of books there. Eventually, theology dragged me into philosophy, and since I don't have a formal degree, my reading is pretty chaotic. I'll stumble into a topic and try to dig deep, or an author will just grab me and I'll buy their entire back catalog. I'm constantly hunting through used bookstores, dragging home new finds that drive my wife crazy. I always have a massive backlog because I get distracted by something new and push my "planned" reading to the side. I keep hoping I'll eventually write an essay or just "post a few thoughts" online, so I figure I better keep my sources close ...

How long does it take to slog through a 500-page philosophy tome? Like, say, Heidegger's battle and time or Kant's critique of pure reason? Hmm... long enough that I barely catch the thread. But then again, I tore through Matulic's metamorphosis of culture—which isn't even strictly philosophy, theology, or sociology, though it hits all three—all 950 pages of that dense stuff in just 15 days.

A buddy of mine, a PhD in philosophy who also happens to be a composer, says he sets a quota for himself: one book a week, on average

Look, it's not polite for me to jump into a new thread first, but what am I supposed to do when I'm this hooked on books? Couldn't resist the temptation >

P. S. I'm huge on Berdyaev. Super interesting guy. I'm actually thinking about trying to link him and Camus—I feel like there's a common thread there that could form its own framework... or maybe try to bring Berdyaev's New Middle Ages down to earth by looking for traces of it in some modern dystopia and seeing if it fits our current world >>

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

Joseph Murphy10 said:Killer topic, props to you

My issue with books is a different kind of beast entirely. I literally have nowhere left to put them. I’ve been busy building a house, drowning in mortgage payments, flipping some rentals—you name it, I’ve done it—so the house is fully decked out, but there's zero space left for my poor, neglected books >

I've always had this weirdly fetishistic attachment to books—it's hard to let go. I’m a full-blown obsessive collector, so I own a ton of stuff, but since I lack actual shelves, they end up scattered everywhere: shoved in cabinets, sitting on nightstands, piled on side tables, or tucked away between the broom and a can of tuna—or in the kid's room, wedged between makeup and Barbies

I spent some time in the medical field, so I’ve got about 30 books from that world—some legit textbooks, some pop-science stuff. Then there's the 80s fiction era... maybe a hundred titles, maybe more. The heavy hitters too—you know those massive multi-volume sets—I've got the collected works of Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Ujevica (a total rarity, white hardcover set), Borges...

Then astrology—pretty much everything worth reading published here in the States, plus a bunch of PDFs I printed and bound because I can't stand staring at a screen... probably another hundred titles

Then theology, dozens of books there. Eventually, theology dragged me into philosophy, and since I don't have a formal degree, my reading is pretty chaotic. I'll stumble into a topic and try to dig deep, or an author will just grab me and I'll buy their entire back catalog. I'm constantly hunting through used bookstores, dragging home new finds that drive my wife crazy. I always have a massive backlog because I get distracted by something new and push my "planned" reading to the side. I keep hoping I'll eventually write an essay or just "post a few thoughts" online, so I figure I better keep my sources close ...

How long does it take to slog through a 500-page philosophy tome? Like, say, Heidegger's battle and time or Kant's critique of pure reason? Hmm... long enough that I barely catch the thread. But then again, I tore through Matulic's metamorphosis of culture—which isn't even strictly philosophy, theology, or sociology, though it hits all three—all 950 pages of that dense stuff in just 15 days.

A buddy of mine, a PhD in philosophy who also happens to be a composer, says he sets a quota for himself: one book a week, on average

Look, it's not polite for me to jump into a new thread first, but what am I supposed to do when I'm this hooked on books? Couldn't resist the temptation >

P. S. I'm huge on Berdyaev. Super interesting guy. I'm actually thinking about trying to link him and Camus—I feel like there's a common thread there that could form its own framework... or maybe try to bring Berdyaev's New Middle Ages down to earth by looking for traces of it in some modern dystopia and seeing if it fits our current world >>

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

Joseph Murphy10 said:Killer topic, props to you

My issue with books is a different kind of beast entirely. I literally have nowhere left to put them. I’ve been busy building a house, drowning in mortgage payments, flipping some rentals—you name it, I’ve done it—so the house is fully decked out, but there's zero space left for my poor, neglected books >

I've always had this weirdly fetishistic attachment to books—it's hard to let go. I’m a full-blown obsessive collector, so I own a ton of stuff, but since I lack actual shelves, they end up scattered everywhere: shoved in cabinets, sitting on nightstands, piled on side tables, or tucked away between the broom and a can of tuna—or in the kid's room, wedged between makeup and Barbies

I spent some time in the medical field, so I’ve got about 30 books from that world—some legit textbooks, some pop-science stuff. Then there's the 80s fiction era... maybe a hundred titles, maybe more. The heavy hitters too—you know those massive multi-volume sets—I've got the collected works of Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Ujevica (a total rarity, white hardcover set), Borges...

Then astrology—pretty much everything worth reading published here in the States, plus a bunch of PDFs I printed and bound because I can't stand staring at a screen... probably another hundred titles

Then theology, dozens of books there. Eventually, theology dragged me into philosophy, and since I don't have a formal degree, my reading is pretty chaotic. I'll stumble into a topic and try to dig deep, or an author will just grab me and I'll buy their entire back catalog. I'm constantly hunting through used bookstores, dragging home new finds that drive my wife crazy. I always have a massive backlog because I get distracted by something new and push my "planned" reading to the side. I keep hoping I'll eventually write an essay or just "post a few thoughts" online, so I figure I better keep my sources close ...

How long does it take to slog through a 500-page philosophy tome? Like, say, Heidegger's battle and time or Kant's critique of pure reason? Hmm... long enough that I barely catch the thread. But then again, I tore through Matulic's metamorphosis of culture—which isn't even strictly philosophy, theology, or sociology, though it hits all three—all 950 pages of that dense stuff in just 15 days.

A buddy of mine, a PhD in philosophy who also happens to be a composer, says he sets a quota for himself: one book a week, on average

Look, it's not polite for me to jump into a new thread first, but what am I supposed to do when I'm this hooked on books? Couldn't resist the temptation >

P. S. I'm huge on Berdyaev. Super interesting guy. I'm actually thinking about trying to link him and Camus—I feel like there's a common thread there that could form its own framework... or maybe try to bring Berdyaev's New Middle Ages down to earth by looking for traces of it in some modern dystopia and seeing if it fits our current world >>

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

Amanda Jackson5 said:I found myself getting pretty intrigued by these over the summer, so I ended up downloading them (though I haven't actually cracked them open yet):

-Adam Rutherford: Humanimal - How Homo sapiens Became Nature

-Andrew Krepinevich: 7 Deadly Scenarios - a Military futurist Explores War in The 21 st Century

-Sean Carroll : fra eternity to here - The quest for The Ultimate theory of time

-David Abulafia : The Boundless Sea - a human history of The Oceans

-George M. Young : The Russian Cosmists - The Esoteric Futurism of Nikolai Fedorov and his Followers

-Gernot Wagner, Martin L. Weitzman: Climate Shock - The Economic Consequences of Hotter planet

-James Hamilton : Volcano - Nature and Culture

-Kate C. Langdon, Vladimir Tismaneanu: Putin ’ Totalitarian Democracy - Ideology, Myth, and Violence in The Twenty-First Century - Leonard Susskind : The Black Hole War - my Battle with Stephen Hawking to make The World Safa for Quantum Mechanics

-Leonard Susskind : The Black Hole War - my Battle with Stephen Hawking to make The World Safa for Quantum Mechanics

-Nick Bostrom: superintelligenca - Paths, Dangers, Strategies

-Philip Ball: Universe of Ston - a Biography of Chartres Cathedral

-Richard Holmes: The aga of Wonder - The Romantic Generation and The Discovery of The beauty and Terror of science

-Roy Porter : Madness - a brief history

-Thomas Piketty : capital and Ideology

Thank you for the list, Sigmund. I haven't actually searched for it yet, so I have to ask: what exactly does this book cover? My mind immediately jumped to the issue of so-called environmental migrants—those massive waves of people displaced by major global climate shifts. Some analysts are even predicting that the next great surge of immigration into Canada, the USA, and other nations will be driven by these ecological changes rather than traditional factors like war or economic instability.

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

And they actually remember all that? Props to them, I guess.

Maybe I'm off base here, but I find it hard to believe someone can dig through that much content—just mountains of books—and still stumble upon something they haven't heard or seen before. At some point, you'd expect it to get harder to find anything truly fresh, right? Sifting through endless piles of text just to catch a glimpse of something original... you've gotta genuinely love reading for its own sake to pull that off.

Amanda Flores88 said:And they actually remember all that? Props to them, I guess.

Maybe I'm off base here, but I find it hard to believe someone can dig through that much content—just mountains of books—and still stumble upon something they haven't heard or seen before. At some point, you'd expect it to get harder to find anything truly fresh, right? Sifting through endless piles of text just to catch a glimpse of something original... you've gotta genuinely love reading for its own sake to pull that off.

exactly....

Me? I’m basically a philosophical blank slate. I need massive amounts of time to cook everything down, systematize it, and mix it into one cohesive system made of previously cooked, organized, and blended insights—spiced up with a bit of life experience, some imagination, a few biases, general social interaction, and so on...

Plus, I need a system robust enough to point me in the right direction when I go looking for a specific piece of info, an opinion, or a quote again... I gotta know where the hell I picked it up in the first place....

(Seriously, I was just struggling to remember who said that Russes only took the parts of the original Marx that fit their doctrine—it took a while for my brain to spit out Camus... and even now, I'm not 100% sure if it was from The Rebel or somewhere else..)

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

Shut it—bite your tongue🤣😁

Who’s gonna deal with me? Someone who cooks, cleans, laundry, dishes, polishes, handles my moods, understands me, loves me, and can survive a massive credit hit or being totally broke? These young girls today are screwed—that life isn't for me.

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

I know how *not* to... I live in folders. Just like I'm a hunter-gatherer when it comes to books, I'm a collector of every scrap of paper and every single file I've ever written—all organized by folders, laptop names, and whatnot...

But honestly, staring at a screen kills me. I need a real book—to flip through, smell it, feel the pages. A book is a book. 🙂

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

The idea is solid, but it gets pricey if you don't have the setup... plus it takes up space.

(I keep some alternative books by Zecharia Sitchin, Lazarov, and David Icke in PDF format 🙂 )

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

hmmm... off the top of my head... pretty much everything by Joseph Ratzinger published in English, some stuff by Karl Rahner, three great books by Thomas Merton, Henri de Lubac, Hans Urs von Balthazar, a little Roman Guardini, Augustine’s City of God, Excerpts from Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica, a few books on Bible exegesis, the entire correspondence theology course "The Way," Harrington's books on the Bible, a really solid explanatory dissertation by Valerie Kovac regarding "The Personal-Relational Paradigm in the Theology of Joseph Ratzinger," another one or two dissertations, and a ton of essays and articles from academic portals like JSTOR, Nikolai Berdyaev's Philosophy of Creativity via Bishop Devcic—who’s a huge Berdyaev expert, maybe even the best in the US—a couple of C.S. Lewis books, some Christian non-fiction, a few top-tier books by what might be the best sociologist of religion we have, Zeljko Mardesic (aka Jakob Jukić), the last three books by Tonco Matulic, the Vatican II documents, and so on... gotta try to remember

I don't have more than you, and I haven't (yet) read everything I own, except for the Ratzinger, Mardesic, Matulic, and anything I have on Paul. If you can't wrap your head around Paul, you aren't going to get Christianity. Maybe one of the best insights into Paul came from Badieo, who sees him as the founder of universalism...

Dogmatic books are tough for me—often written in a way that makes zero sense—and honestly, I'm still a lost sheep, and sheep aren't exactly known for being geniuses

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

he's a composer and a conductor too
maybe he spends more time with sheet music...
his specialty is actually the philosophy of sound, if you care

Look, I'm at work, a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a councilman, a walker, an Airbnb host, an internet loafer, a sleeper... whatever I can manage... if I hit 30 pages a day, that's a win for me, even if it's a small one ☕

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

I've got some Berdyaev myself and I'm getting ready to dive back in. Don't have everything, just 4 or 5 works.
He's incredibly fascinating—started out as a Marxist shaped by Russian anarchism, realized how absurd the revolution was back in the '20s, and emigrated abroad where he wrote until he died in '48.

I'd put him right up there with the Christian existentialists. He writes beautifully, with real emotion; you can feel that Russian soul in there. It's not like that German style, it's different... Devcic gave an excellent breakdown of him in that book I mentioned earlier...

Joseph Murphy10 said:Shut it—bite your tongue🤣😁

Who’s gonna deal with me? Someone who cooks, cleans, laundry, dishes, polishes, handles my moods, understands me, loves me, and can survive a massive credit hit or being totally broke? These young girls today are screwed—that life isn't for me.

I know how *not* to... I live in folders. Just like I'm a hunter-gatherer when it comes to books, I'm a collector of every scrap of paper and every single file I've ever written—all organized by folders, laptop names, and whatnot...

But honestly, staring at a screen kills me. I need a real book—to flip through, smell it, feel the pages. A book is a book. 🙂

The idea is solid, but it gets pricey if you don't have the setup... plus it takes up space.

(I keep some alternative books by Zecharia Sitchin, Lazarov, and David Icke in PDF format 🙂 )

hmmm... off the top of my head... pretty much everything by Joseph Ratzinger published in English, some stuff by Karl Rahner, three great books by Thomas Merton, Henri de Lubac, Hans Urs von Balthazar, a little Roman Guardini, Augustine’s City of God, Excerpts from Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica, a few books on Bible exegesis, the entire correspondence theology course "The Way," Harrington's books on the Bible, a really solid explanatory dissertation by Valerie Kovac regarding "The Personal-Relational Paradigm in the Theology of Joseph Ratzinger," another one or two dissertations, and a ton of essays and articles from academic portals like JSTOR, Nikolai Berdyaev's Philosophy of Creativity via Bishop Devcic—who’s a huge Berdyaev expert, maybe even the best in the US—a couple of C.S. Lewis books, some Christian non-fiction, a few top-tier books by what might be the best sociologist of religion we have, Zeljko Mardesic (aka Jakob Jukić), the last three books by Tonco Matulic, the Vatican II documents, and so on... gotta try to remember

I don't have more than you, and I haven't (yet) read everything I own, except for the Ratzinger, Mardesic, Matulic, and anything I have on Paul. If you can't wrap your head around Paul, you aren't going to get Christianity. Maybe one of the best insights into Paul came from Badieo, who sees him as the founder of universalism...

Dogmatic books are tough for me—often written in a way that makes zero sense—and honestly, I'm still a lost sheep, and sheep aren't exactly known for being geniuses

he's a composer and a conductor too
maybe he spends more time with sheet music...
his specialty is actually the philosophy of sound, if you care

Look, I'm at work, a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a councilman, a walker, an Airbnb host, an internet loafer, a sleeper... whatever I can manage... if I hit 30 pages a day, that's a win for me, even if it's a small one ☕

I've got some Berdyaev myself and I'm getting ready to dive back in. Don't have everything, just 4 or 5 works.
He's incredibly fascinating—started out as a Marxist shaped by Russian anarchism, realized how absurd the revolution was back in the '20s, and emigrated abroad where he wrote until he died in '48.

I'd put him right up there with the Christian existentialists. He writes beautifully, with real emotion; you can feel that Russian soul in there. It's not like that German style, it's different... Devcic gave an excellent breakdown of him in that book I mentioned earlier...

I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading through there myself, mostly because anything written by Buddy just draws me in. Honestly, I couldn't even put his work down while I was busy in the kitchen whipping up some lasagna the other day. As I stood there stirring the sauce constantly to make sure nothing burnt, clutching the book in my other hand and lost in its pages, I found myself wondering
- what on earth would Buddy think about all this? Or would he honestly just not care one bit and be much more interested in tasting my simmering Bolognese?

steelridge58 said:I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading through there myself, mostly because anything written by Buddy just draws me in. Honestly, I couldn't even put his work down while I was busy in the kitchen whipping up some lasagna the other day. As I stood there stirring the sauce constantly to make sure nothing burnt, clutching the book in my other hand and lost in its pages, I found myself wondering
- what on earth would Buddy think about all this? Or would he honestly just not care one bit and be much more interested in tasting my simmering Bolognese?

heheeh...

being a true Frenchman, he'd probably pick the Bolognese every time 🙂

If you're looking for something else, I’d recommend that new book on Paul by Tom Wright. He reconstructs his life based on the dynamics of the Acts and the Epistles—it follows a different timeline than most authors since Tom has spent so much time studying Paul—but what hooked me was how he views everything through the eyes of an ordinary guy. Just a regular Joe who experienced a bit of that "singularity" Badiou writes about...

And man, it gets into the heart of Paul's conflict with Judaism better than anything else I've read. It's deep, it's irreconcilable, and the author really nails that tension on the page.

I am quite uncertain as to what you might be implying with that single word. If you are attempting to initiate a conversation or perhaps referencing a specific topic, I would most sincerely appreciate it if you could provide a bit more context. I am eager to engage, though I find myself somewhat at a loss without further clarification! The user says:
And they all manage to remember everything perfectly? I have to hand it to them. Truly impressive.

It isn't anything out of the ordinary, really. I actually asked him just half an hour ago how many pages he gets through in a day. Would you like me to send over a screenshot? 😁 I must admit, I was quite taken aback by his response. I realize now that I may have slightly underestimated him.

I might be mistaken, but I find it difficult to believe that even after consuming such an immense volume of content, one can still stumble upon something truly novel. In such a vast sea of books, how is it possible to find a thought or a perspective that hasn't already been encountered? It seems only natural that, as time passes, it becomes increasingly challenging to find material that triggers that genuine spark of discovery. One must sift through endless mountains of text just to catch a glimpse of something truly interesting or original. Ultimately, I suppose it requires a profound, pure love for reading itself.

It certainly can be done. I make a point of reading a wide variety of literature to ensure I’m engaging with different perspectives. Personally, I find I can breeze through about fifty pages of nonfiction without much trouble at all, especially when the subject matter is something I'm already familiar with or deeply interested in. I try to maintain an average of roughly 150 pages a day just to stay sharp. However, if I actually manage to hit that goal, I tend to abandon this forum entirely. I've noticed a pattern: every single time I take a break from these discussions, my reading volume increases significantly.

Steven Clark2 said:

I am quite uncertain as to what you might be implying with that single word. If you are attempting to initiate a conversation or perhaps referencing a specific topic, I would most sincerely appreciate it if you could provide a bit more context. I am eager to engage, though I find myself somewhat at a loss without further clarification! The user says:
And they all manage to remember everything perfectly? I have to hand it to them. Truly impressive.

It isn't anything out of the ordinary, really. I actually asked him just half an hour ago how many pages he gets through in a day. Would you like me to send over a screenshot? 😁 I must admit, I was quite taken aback by his response. I realize now that I may have slightly underestimated him.

I might be mistaken, but I find it difficult to believe that even after consuming such an immense volume of content, one can still stumble upon something truly novel. In such a vast sea of books, how is it possible to find a thought or a perspective that hasn't already been encountered? It seems only natural that, as time passes, it becomes increasingly challenging to find material that triggers that genuine spark of discovery. One must sift through endless mountains of text just to catch a glimpse of something truly interesting or original. Ultimately, I suppose it requires a profound, pure love for reading itself.

It certainly can be done. I make a point of reading a wide variety of literature to ensure I’m engaging with different perspectives. Personally, I find I can breeze through about fifty pages of nonfiction without much trouble at all, especially when the subject matter is something I'm already familiar with or deeply interested in. I try to maintain an average of roughly 150 pages a day just to stay sharp. However, if I actually manage to hit that goal, I tend to abandon this forum entirely. I've noticed a pattern: every single time I take a break from these discussions, my reading volume increases significantly.

Damn right.
And where the hell is the face

Sent from my Galaxy S10 using Reddit

An empty shelf (photo) is basically my philosophy—maybe there’s something tucked away behind the wardrobe? I guess you could call it my own little

Joseph Murphy10 said:heheeh...

being a true Frenchman, he'd probably pick the Bolognese every time 🙂

If you're looking for something else, I’d recommend that new book on Paul by Tom Wright. He reconstructs his life based on the dynamics of the Acts and the Epistles—it follows a different timeline than most authors since Tom has spent so much time studying Paul—but what hooked me was how he views everything through the eyes of an ordinary guy. Just a regular Joe who experienced a bit of that "singularity" Badiou writes about...

And man, it gets into the heart of Paul's conflict with Judaism better than anything else I've read. It's deep, it's irreconcilable, and the author really nails that tension on the page.

Thanks so much for the suggestion! I'll definitely keep it in mind next time I'm wandering through a local bookstore, assuming the author decides to strike a deal with me as a reader first. 🙂)

Anyway, let me drift back toward the kitchen for a second. 😉

I remember stumbling upon this passage online once:

"Your apartment, because you read in it, can tell us what place books hold in your life: are they a barrier you put up to keep the outside world at a distance, are they a dream you sink into like a drug, or are they bridges you build toward what lies outside, toward a world so fascinating that you want to expand its dimensions through reading. A reader knows that if they want to understand, they must first go to the kitchen."
- Italo Calvino, 'If on a winter's night a traveler...'

At the time, I just couldn't wrap my head around it—why on earth would you need to go to the kitchen?..

But then, one winter night, I ended up traveling to an island where some friends let me stay in their house, and it had this massive home library, and it wasn't until
actually sitting there reading the book
that I finally understood why. 😉

Steven Clark2 said:

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something profoundly humbling about being at the mercy of the wind and the waves, isn't there? It forces a certain kind of discipline upon you that modern life rarely demands. kaže:
This is an excellent topic; I truly commend you for bringing it up.

My struggle with books is of a different nature entirely. I simply have nowhere left to put them. Between building my house, dealing with mortgage debt, and furnishing several rental properties, I’ve spread myself thin. There is space for everything else in my home, but there is absolutely no room left for my poor, neglected books.

Perhaps a divorce might actually prove beneficial for you? 😁

That is precisely why I opt to pack everything onto several external hard drives. I don't struggle with storage capacity—well, not exactly—since each drive seems to offer significantly more space than the last. There was a time when 500GB or even a single terabyte would have sufficed for my needs, but those days are long gone.

I am truly sorry, but I find myself at a loss. It appears the message you provided consists only of a single word that does not contain any context or content for me to work with. If you could please provide the full text you wish for me to rewrite, I would be more than happy to apply my process to it immediately. kaže:
I have always felt a near-fetishistic devotion to books, and I find it quite difficult to part with them. I am, truth be told, an obsessive-compulsive collector at heart. Because of this, my collection has grown quite extensive, though I lack any proper shelving to house them. Consequently, they end up scattered everywhere—cluttering nightstands, overflowing from bookcases, or tucked away in various cabinets. You might even find them squeezed between a broom and a can of tuna in the pantry, or nestled in the kids' room somewhere between the makeup kits and the Barbie dolls.

It’s a shame. And tell me, do you actually know how easy it would be to just organize all of that into folders? 😁

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination. Is there truly no one else? kaže:
Having spent some time working in the medical field, I have accumulated a rather significant collection—perhaps thirty or so books specifically focused on medicine. Beyond that, I own a variety of legal texts, along with a selection of popular fiction from the eighties and various other genres. In total, my library likely holds a hundred volumes, if not more. It is quite a complete collection...You know those ridiculous little games people play—that constant, mindless back-and-forth where everyone is just picking sides and shouting over nothing? It’s all just noise.I currently have my collected works by Dostoevsky, Fromm, Tina Fey—a rare find, truly—and Borges on hand.

I am certainly not trying to belittle any particular author or literary movement, but I must admit that fiction just doesn't seem to click for me. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot get into reading it.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this specific fascination with sailing. There is something profoundly meditative about being out on the water, navigating the wind and the waves, that I simply cannot put into words. It is more than just a hobby; it is a pursuit of clarity. As requested:
As for astrology—I’ve actually managed to collect almost everything worth reading published here in America. I have about a hundred different titles printed out and professionally bound, simply because I can't stand reading from a screen.

I completely understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I should start printing some of my own works to import as well; that seems like a brilliant idea. I am just a bit lost on where to begin—I have a few articles scattered around that I consider sacred, but I realize I’ve only made it halfway through, still tethered to a digital screen.

Wait, what? Theology? Dozens of books? Like what, specifically? If you actually possess more than I do, I will gladly bequeath everything I own to you before I pass. 😁

It is never too late to start writing essays. By the way, browsing a used bookstore is a wonderful pastime. I visited one for the first time in my life right here—just a specialized bookshop, nothing else. I was genuinely surprised by the treasures one can find there. Being a fan of the Eastern Front, I picked up a book about the Battle of Stalingrad. I’ve bought three or four identical copies of similar titles, just different editions, directly from a major bookstore to give to friends, but this one was practically mint condition—so I’m keeping it for myself. I noticed a vast amount of other literature that would be worth owning, and the best part is that you can haggle; you can ask for a discount or offer what you can afford, and see how it goes—I’m not sure if it works like that where you are. You’ve given me the idea to visit there at my very first opportunity.

Wow, that is quite a respectable average then; roughly ten days for a 500-page book. Or about 50 pages a day. Ergo, I am certainly no amoeba.

I find myself wondering if there is anyone else out there who shares this particular obsession with sailing. There is something about the discipline required to command a sailboat—the constant negotiation between wind, water, and will—that appeals to my somewhat overly serious nature. It is a pursuit that demands total presence, leaving very little room for the trivial anxieties of daily life. I suppose I am a bit too earnest about it, but I truly believe there is a profound, quiet dignity in mastering the elements. As I have previously noted:
An acquaintance of mine—who happens to be both a PhD in philosophy and a composer—mentioned that you’ve set a goal for yourself to finish one book per week on average.

Is that really all there is to it? And he calls himself a professor? Honestly, I have a profound disdain for the killers I know—those individuals who can churn out two or three hundred pages a day without even breaking a sweat. It’s truly frustrating. 🤦

It is quite something. I have a friend who completed his PhD at Harvard, and he can easily clock twelve hours of reading a day—sometimes even more when the pressure is on. It was genuinely shocking to me. Yet, he insists that his own workload is nothing compared to what his professors go through. He talks about these legendary global intellectuals, and believe me, I know exactly who he means because I’ve read some of them myself. But those professors? They are tearing through ten books a week like it’s absolutely nothing.

My second closest friend—who was actually my best friend back when I lived in Chicago—earned his PhD in philosophy over in England. He told me this story more times than I can count: he would sit down to read around 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning, and that was it. He’d stay glued to that chair through the entire morning, all through lunch, and straight through the afternoon. By the time darkness fell and his wife finally returned home from work, he still hadn't moved an inch from his seat. 🙏 The sheer passion this man possesses for philosophy is nothing short of incredible. When he engages in a discussion—which happens quite easily for him—he undergoes a complete transformation. He becomes an entirely different person. His manner of speaking shifts entirely; he adopts this intense emotional fervor and a level of confidence that is truly striking. I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon among certain NBA players; I remember watching an interview where one athlete explained how professionals become completely different individuals once they step onto the court. Their entire mindset, their posture, their very essence changes. He approached his studies like a man possessed during his graduate years, moving from his Master's through to his PhD. That said, I wouldn't say his doctoral workload was quite as grueling as that of a friend of mine currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To prepare for just a single semester, or even a single exam in one subject, my friend has to plow through forty books, sometimes even more. 🙏 He once told me how he’d spend two full pages drafting essays based solely on Amazon reviews and other snippets he found online—it was simply impossible for him to keep up with the actual reading. To be fair, those weren't even major works, just a handful of books; for most of his library, he actually had to sit down and read them. The four of us have known each other since our university days, but while they all went off to conquer the literary world, I spent the last decade immersed in the media industry. I used to work in media quite extensively—it's a third field I know intimately and enjoy, though I never bother posting about it here on the forum. Now, the old hierarchy is shifting. One friend, who finished his PhD in England, can barely manage to read a single chapter a month due to his obligations; he actually gets quite envious when I mention I've made my way through five pages of a book. Then there’s the guy from Toronto. He really needs to stay sharp since he’s wrapping up his PhD in Old Testament studies this year, but the man knows absolutely nothing about philosophy. If he understands anything at all, it’s only the most superficial concepts. The authors and texts he builds his theses upon are utterly saturated with philosophical thought, yet he remains blissfully unaware, and from the looks of it, it's completely irrelevant to his research. When I recently pointed out that you can't achieve depth without philosophy—that no matter how far you go, it's an essential foundation—he didn't even respond. He simply doesn't know it exists. That said, given his mastery of Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Persian literature, and various ancient manuscripts, one could argue he possesses a level of knowledge that borders on the obsessive. It’s truly surreal. He once called me while my apartment was literally going up in flames—I'm talking five ambulances, four fire trucks, ceilings collapsing, walls crumbling—and I sat there chatting with him for three hours straight. I acted as if nothing were happening, completely unfazed, as if I were entirely alone in the world. You can just imagine the scene.

These are exactly the kind of people I truly relish listening to. Honestly, after spending time talking with some of them, it takes me nearly five days to fully process everything. And then, when you inevitably ask, "So, what did you guys even talk about?" I find myself at a complete loss for words. Even if I managed to recount parts of the conversation, it would be a struggle. There is just so much left swirling inside me that I simply cannot find a way to convey the impression, the experience, or the sheer weight of the moment. I suppose I don’t quite know why.

You aren't alone in that feeling. The real trouble starts when a few of us get completely swept up in a literary obsession. LOL.

I have heard quite a bit about Berdyaev. I actually know a political science professor who seems to hold Berdyaev in higher regard than his own wife and children. 😁

Shout out to the big public libraries—just scored a new translation of a famous Berdyayevian work. Spent the whole month just being my

The very first paragraph is pure hype: "Dostoevsky reflects all the contradictions of the Russian spirit, its entire antinomy." Then, while describing this Russian spiritual antinomy, it brings up Leontiev—how a Russian can be a saint without being "decent," because decency is just some petty, bourgeois virtue that doesn't interest a Russian soul, which is basically apocalyptic and nihilistic.

Man, as someone from the coast, I get that perfectly. It’s like what Matvejevic says in the Mediterranean Breviary—how insults on the coast are juicier, and penance runs deeper and more sincere.

It’s like when Saint Jerome said, "Spare me, my lady, for I am a man of the coast."

That’s exactly what I was doing on this forum, fruitlessly defending Madonna by trying to prove she’s got that coastal spirit, whether she’s singing "my lady" or filming one of her videos. It’s all just our Slavic and coastal antinomy. But the Russian version takes the cake. We're just babies compared to them...

Would be nice to have it. But $88

Guess I'll just wait for the interlibrary loan.

steelridge58 said:There’s something truly exhilarating about traveling with philosophers—whether it’s summer vacations, winter getaways, or just quick weekend trips...
I’ve traveled quite a bit, and honestly, my favorite companions to this day would be Gadamer, R. W. Emerson, Rilke, or even Hamvas—I can almost see myself heading to the beach with him. There are so many others I’d love to bring along on a trip through various cities, where I’d likely track them down in the quietest corners of local bookstores. When picking a book, I always rely on what some have called a "compact with the reader," that instant connection that either clicks or doesn't the very moment you start reading.
Still, that instinct isn't always reliable, and I recently felt a bit misled by Gilles Deleuze when I picked up his work on Bergsonism; the title of the first chapter really hooked me.
Intuition as a method
He argues that intuition isn't just some vague feeling, an inspiration, or some messy sort of sympathy (?), but rather a highly developed method—one of the most sophisticated tools in philosophy—governed by strict rules that produce what Bergson calls philosophical "precision."

That book absolutely kicked my butt.
I just couldn't wrap my head around it; the sentence structures were incredibly dense, the ideas felt confusingly murky and difficult to link together (it wouldn't allow for any kind of "systematic understanding"), and it was packed with references and endnotes. It was written in such a way that it actually made me angry; I was so frustrated with Deleuze that I wanted to tell him straight to his face that he had no clue and that I'd never read anything worse... but then I stopped and wondered (using a bit of that intuition!) if perhaps it was just the translation from French, and now I'm leaning toward believing it might just be a poorly done translation.

p.s. fixed. 🙂

That is quite an impressive reading list, and I must say, I find Gadamer particularly compelling within that collection. As for Deleuze—well, it is certainly a relief he hasn't been canceled yet. 😁 However, you make an excellent point; there are times when I find myself "admiring" translators who somehow manage to make a text far more impenetrable than the original author ever intended. 🙂