Does what you are reading affect/inform your opinion of the world?

If so, then what are you reading now? I'll be the first to admit that I don't read political books, novels, or commentary as a rule--they make my head hurt if they are too long and I don't enjoy them. Most of my reading material seems to be about dog training lately, although I've read one of Fr. Jonathan Morris' books recently and am working on Heart of Darkness. Next week I'll start brushing up on my UKC breed standards so I can stand by the ring and pretend to judge the dogs (I'm taking the judge's exam next year).

 

Of course. All experiences do. I try to judge whether that information is more likely (or not) to be true by using my past experiences as a filter. I realize that although I may perceive one thing to be true, it may not actually be true... so I tend to believe in what's most likely to be true and treat it as such until I get further information that either validates previous info or refutes it. As an example: I believe that if it rains outside I'll probably get pretty wet when I get out there, but sometimes the rain is light, or stops altogether before I step outside.

 

I'm reading Between Past and Future by Hannah Arendt. I should say I'm trying to read it. I've always found H.A. kind of rough going but after three or four passes I start to get it. And it's worth it. The rest of the time I'm just reading crap, which probably informs my opinion of the world as much as anything LOL I would like to get a copy of the new translation of The Magic Mountain, which is supposed to be really good. And if I read it slowly and don't rush it, it should last a while. Should be a good winter book.

 

I am reading The Empathic Civilization by Jeremy Rifkin. I am kind of specific in my reading materials anymore since it is hard to find good books anymore. I used to read a boat load of fiction, but I have discovered the I prefer reality based information instead of fantasy. My reading fills out my understanding by providing a firmer philosophical and scientific basis so yes my reading affects my perceptions of the world.

 

Let's see. I read a lot of coin magazines and peruse books and reference materials at work. Mainly because I work in a coin shop and we have a pretty good "library". This helps me inform and give opinions to customers.

At home I still read a LOT of Stephen King. I've read most of his stuff at least twice and several books many times. Contrary to popular belief not ALL of his stuff is designed to scare the bejeezus out of you.
Can't tell you how many people have told me how much they enjoyed a movie like Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile or (my favorite) The Stand and not realized that King wrote the book.
Still he does write some pretty scary stuff but it's fiction and doesn't influence my opinion of the world.

I also read the local newspaper at work when time allows. I live in a pretty industrial area and places quite close to my home have very high crime rates.
The local paper definitely affects/informs my opinion of the world. I see what sells newspapers.
It's crime, fraud, stupidity and politics (which encompasses the first three). Then toss in wars, more crime, stupidity etc. and I think you get my drift folks.

Oft times what is "newsworthy" is scarier than any Stephen King I've ever read.

Wasn't it Robin Williams who said "reality, what a concept."?
How about "reality, man it's scary".

 

Lots of great-sounding books up there. I might be looking into some of them! I have a friend who gives me spy thrillers and things like that--he just gave me a few today, so that takes care of my "what to read after Heart of Darkness" issue. LOL Clembo, I'm a big King fan, too. The Green Mile is one of my favorites, as is The Stand. Approaching The Stand, though, was like approaching a James Michener book (except King doesn't start with the dinosaurs).

I understand the idea of being more into factual than fiction reading. For a long time I read nothing but dog-related books and magazines (clicker training, small dog obedience training, Clean Run, Front & Finish), but then I picked up a few novels and it broke the dam open. I find that even fiction can affect my worldview, since it opens up my mind to other people's perceptions of the world.

 

HM (is it okay if I call you that because it's shorter than HollysMom even though I just wasted a bunch of time typing this question?), speaking of dinosaurs I'll ask about a series that doesn't have any.

It is prehistoric though. The "Clan of the Cave Bear" series by Jean Auel. Clan of the Cave Bear was made into a movie but there were three books to follow. The author did exhaustive research and, of course, had to come up with a story.
Fantastic books that manage to weave in similarities of their society with current society.

Currently I'm reading a series of short stories by King. Just After Sunset.

Gearing up to read The Stand for about the sixth time.

A few books I want to read again or for the first time.

Mein Kampf. Yes, I know that will be scary. I work with a 68 year old woman that is an avid reader and has a copy. I'd like to see just what WAS going on in Hitler's head.

Pensees et Opuscules by Blaise Pascal. I'll go with the english version. I'm not big into philosophy but way back in college I really did like Pascal and Montaigne. You'll notice Pascal in my signature line. It's so true and written so long ago.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I always like to read the book before the movie. No such luxury here.
We've all most likely seen the classic movie at some time in our lives. Couldn't be further from the book.
I read it about 25 years ago and have no idea where it is. Just told my wife I wanted it for Christmas! LOL
The book tells a lot about society and was written by a WOMAN. Unheard of.

 

You can call me HM, if you like, but you can also call me Jo.

I loved the first four books of the Clan of the Cave Bear series. The fifth one, I did not enjoy as much, so I stopped reading. Jean Auel brought that world to life and it was absolutely amazing. Please let me know what you think about the Just After Sunset stories--I like short stories and would love to read them. The only thing that keeps me me from enjoying King more is his penchant for profanity. *blerg* The people I know don't constantly use bad language and it bothers me a lot to read books where they do. I've also read Frankenstein--I was an English major! I've also read The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which in addition to being unlike the movie was also an interesting commentary on society as it existed at the time. I think that literature can be almost as important as non-fiction works in understanding our world, since authors of fiction work tend to focus on one aspect of society or another and isolate it for the purpose of telling a story.

 

My spouse loves the Earth Children Series by Auel. I got tired of super blonde woman really quick. By the end of the Mammoth Hunters I was really tired of the Super Ayla creator of all things and master inventor of prehistoric times.

 

While Ayla is indeed a prototypical "Mary Sue," the books put forth a good yarn. Moreover, if your mother has all of the books in the series (at the time) and you are engaged in 12 long weeks of recovery from a broken back, then they are a great way to pass the time. One of the things that I remember distinctly from one of her books is the description of using a birds own eggs as stuffing when she was being roasted. I always wondered how Ayla could be brave enough to risk eating those eggs if she didn't know whether they contained yolks or chicks.

 

Love the Stand not sure just how many times I have read it LOL tried the Clan books coudnt get into them after book #1
At the moment I am reading some European crime writers Inspector Salvo Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri, Marshal Guarnaccia By Magdalen Nabb and The Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo
If you ever looked at my book shelf you find everything from Coin/Medal/Stamp/Banknote/Trading card books to Sci-fi/Westerns/Crime/Thrillers/Horror all sorts of History books, to Batman comics

 

OK. Looks like there are six books to the "Clan" series. I seemed to have missed The Mammoth Hunters. Hey, they're my wife's books. The sixth being Land of the Painted Caves. Came out in march this year.

Yes, Steven King can be profane. I deal with it just like I deal with Auel's writing about every time Ayla and Jondalar share pleasures.

I've read the Just After Sunset book a few times. I enjoy King's short stories as they fill in time before I jump into a major book such as The Stand. The short stories don't require as much intensity I would say.

I don't have nearly the time to read as I used to. The first time I read The Stand it was a paperback. I plowed though it in a weekend. No such luxury now. I tend to read in my library. My library involves porcelain. You figure it out.

I may have to check out The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Sounds interesting.

One I won't read again is Robinson Crusoe. Read it many years ago and the one thing I really did not like was paragraphs that were two pages long. I'd get to the end of a paragraph and forget what it was about.

Hey, at least we have some readers here and we can share. I've also been known to read the occasional Star Trek book and back in the day Dr. Who.

Read on folks.

 

Talking of Robinson Crusoe this year is the 300th anniversary of the return of Andrew Selkirk to Erith (were I live) and they had a little celibration in his honour

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/lifest...der_Selkirk_returns_to_Erith_after_300_years/

 

Very cool!! You've now inspired me to learn more about Andrew Selkirk (in all my spare time). LOL

 

In this distinguished company of readers I'm a bit ashamed to have to admit that I'm not reading any book in particular at the moment. As a matter of fact, I can't be said to have ever been in a state of reading any book in particular. Yet I consider myself a bookworm.

This may sound strange but it must be at least twenty years since I read any book from cover to cover, or read any one book for any length of time. I read sporadically and eclectically. I might pick up any book at random and just open it at any point, I'll read for a few minutes, and then my mind will be off into its thought journey. By the time I come back to earth I might not want to continue with the same book. I'll either pick up another, or just wander off into sleep.

But the question was: Does what I'm reading affect or inform my opinion of the world? My answer is, nothing else does except my reading. I'm a complete hermit. Whatever I am; whatever I know or think; is all derived from books. And, by the way, I don't read fiction; not any more.

 

What a shame. Don't you permit yourself any means of decompressing?

 

I'm not sure if I really want to. For me, to think is to be quintessentially human. Thinking is my mysticism. Everything else is a distraction. Despite being an atheist, I consider myself to be as the monks used to be. I feel I'm in the same search as they were.

To put it briefly, I'm actually enjoing myself. To depart from this would cause withdrawal symptoms.

 

Play is an essential part of the human experience. The brain needs time to process things in the sub-conscious and the free form of play promotes that. In all honesty, it sounds like you are trying to be Vulcan and live only in extreme rational thought. This is a danger. The brain is composed of various parts and to ignore some parts in favor of others will eventually lead to illness. If not of the body then of the mind.

 

Yet the reality of the situation is that you are not a complete hermit Now before you start to say this is untrue take a moment to think about how you and I are interacting (how many hermits do you know use the Internet LOL)

 

I just read a love story by O.J. Simpson called "If I Did It". Well, he considers it a love story...me? Not so much.