The question itself is kind of absurd if you think about it. But it leads to a nice parade of skimmed and unread books. Sorry, if I'm too cynical. I just have seen these questions about books thousand of times and every time I have the same feeling: that people are grossly overestimating the impact of the books they have read and they are just approval junkies. Surely, no book can change your thinking about almost everything.
It's quite interesting that people love the concept of "favourite books". Any time there is a question about our favourite books we feel the urge to share and tell everyone what great books we have read. It's not important what others have read, main thing is to shout out our title.
I still haven't figured out why we love to discuss books so much. Is it egoism or need for approval? Is it because we have to somehow justify hundreds of books we have bought and never actually read? Books become elements of decoration, just to show off and appear smarter perhaps. If they are stacked on the edge of your desk, that's even better, it portraits you as a restless intellectual adventurer. And when your guests arrive you make sure that they get a glimpse of your amazing "library". And some of the guest who kind of dabble in books themselves, are happy to look at your books, skim them, and make some general remarks. Win-win. I'm sure you guys can relate.
Hmm, not every one is like that, there are some no doubt, I remember seeing an add for books by the meter many years ago to fill up your shelves.
For me, I love books, have since I was a kid. I used to love having books on my book shelf and looking at the books every now and then, and remembering the stories. When having friends over looking through the books was something we did (that and CD's/LP's), likewise going to friends places and looking through their stack was always fun. I'm always keen to discuss books I've read and recommend books I enjoyed, or in this case changed my view of life, there are a few.
Now they're all on my ipad and I can carry my library round wherever I go. In many ways I think people are made of stories, we all have our stories about ourselves and people we know, and the stories we read and share are just an extension of that. The stories are about people we may never know and things that we may never see, or never even exist, to want to share these with others seems natural to me.
Some false assumptions your post has made, may help answer your questions.
>Surely, no book can change your thinking about almost everything.
False, for me. Many books have significantly changed my thinking about one, many, or nearly all "things." If you're curious which ones and in what way, feel free to ask here or on my email address.
>I still haven't figured out why we love to discuss books so much. Is it egoism or need for approval?
I like to talk about the thoughts I have about things, including books. This is a sharing concept with my friends and partners - I enjoy hearing their opinions, bouncing ideas off them, and exploring topics. It gives me pleasure. It is not egoism, nor need for approval (I say with extreme confidence).
> Is it because we have to somehow justify hundreds of books we have bought and never actually read?
I don't have opinions on books I've never actually read, so this is an inapplicable statement. I also don't have hundreds of purchased, but unread, books. I have perhaps 20 purchased and unread, and about 50 on the immediate "want to read list" that are unpurchased and unread.
>Books become elements of decoration, just to show off and appear smarter perhaps.
This is not true for me.
> If they are stacked on the edge of your desk, that's even better, it portraits you as a restless intellectual adventurer.
There is nothing on my work desk but my notebook, phone charger, laptop, monitor, headphones, keyboard, mouse, and an empty coffee cup. At home, it's the same, minus the laptop, plus a bunch of postcards from friends jammed between two plants.
At this point, I'm convinced there is someone in your life you are thinking of, that annoys you, that has books on their desk. Perhaps they are legitimately annoying - it would be sad if this makes you hate all book readers.
> And when your guests arrive you make sure that they get a glimpse of your amazing "library".
My guest library is in the living room. It consists of cookbooks, a Haynes manual on the Suzuki SV650, and about 10 different picture books of cats, dogs, bridges, and infrastructure. Also, a D&D manual.
>and make some general remarks. Win-win. I'm sure you guys can relate.
Do you not discuss topics of shared enjoyment with other people? What makes "reading books" an unacceptable hobby discussed between friends?
Your rant gives me the impression that you believe people do things only to appear smarter, better, than others. I remember I used to think that way, because it didn't seem possible to me that "genuineness" could exist - nope, everyone is guided by primal urges. This isn't true. I hope you come to discover this one day.
The question itself is kind of absurd if you think about it. But it leads to a nice parade of skimmed and unread books. Sorry, if I'm too cynical. I just have seen these questions about books thousand of times and every time I have the same feeling: that people are grossly overestimating the impact of the books they have read and they are just approval junkies. Surely, no book can change your thinking about almost everything.
It's quite interesting that people love the concept of "favourite books". Any time there is a question about our favourite books we feel the urge to share and tell everyone what great books we have read. It's not important what others have read, main thing is to shout out our title.
I still haven't figured out why we love to discuss books so much. Is it egoism or need for approval? Is it because we have to somehow justify hundreds of books we have bought and never actually read? Books become elements of decoration, just to show off and appear smarter perhaps. If they are stacked on the edge of your desk, that's even better, it portraits you as a restless intellectual adventurer. And when your guests arrive you make sure that they get a glimpse of your amazing "library". And some of the guest who kind of dabble in books themselves, are happy to look at your books, skim them, and make some general remarks. Win-win. I'm sure you guys can relate.