You Don't Need To Read All The Classics - And New Book

[@inlesinlet]

This is So Good! A lesson I learned last summer is to not let my inner Literary Snob stop me from reading a book just because it's on a bestseller list. In Norway (where I'm from) there's this conviction that any book on the bestseller list is Bad Literature... But then I stumbled across "Where the Crawdads Sing", I was seriously intrigued by the summary, and so I caved in and started reading. Then I had to force myself to take breaks, because it was So Good (for me) that I dreaded being finished with it. I wanted to crawl into that book and live it. Hadn't had that experience in years. So: If something peaks your interest, don't dismiss it just because every "non-literary" casual reader happens to love it.

[@rrebecaa]

My co-worker recommended that book to me! Definitely going to read it now...

[@Jaden94]

I read it ! A masterpiece. Felt like reading a long piece of poetry

[@menschfreund]

By the way: same thing with music. I automatically hated EVERYTHING that played in the charts. I still dislike most of it, but some of the artists are popular because they’re, just that good

[@drmodestoesq]

Reinforcing that point...how much prestigious music today started out in the whorehouse? Similarly, a lot of today's classics were at one point popular entertainment. But if you're reading Judith Krantz...

[@inlesinlet]

Niconoclastic Neoc yep, definitely. had to read him in norwegian class. him and ibsen.

[@Teresa-pe4yg]

The whole point of reading a book is not finishing it, is taking something out of it

[@Teresa-pe4yg]

@Queen V thanks!

[@Luka1180]

Sometimes you cannot do that until you finish it.

[@opheliawinfrey9501]

Teresa Wise words indeed, however I know that some people (sometimes I do this) simply HAVE TO finish a book - whether they hate or love it.. I guess it’s totally a personal thing

[@kimtawa8445]

Thanks, It feels like you've taken some burden out of my soul. If I read this comment when I was in university, I would've accomplished so much more... such as not finishing books

[@Singha_S]

I'd say, sometimes, it's not even about taking something out of it. Rather, It could be about being taken away by it. To quote Fran Lebowitz here, "A book is not supposed to be a mirror, it's supposed to be a door". Sometimes we finish a book. Sometimes we don't. Other times we come back to a book left unfinished and start to see things left unseen the first time we picked it up. Sometimes we take something from a book. Sometimes we might not. Other times, it takes years to realise that we have, in fact, preserved the essence of a story we read years ago, in the core of our being, pulsating somewhere inside our chest on its own. Some books change us, some don't, while others, only eventually. A good book (for you) will. But we read and it offers us a journey of a different leaf of a different branch of this tree called existence. And perhaps, that, is enough.

[@Thedeadjoker666]

Abandoning a book is not a failure. It's a favor to yourself in finding a better experience.

[@bookreviews5153]

Well said

[@maggie-n1u3j]

Thanks for this! I always have this fear of FOMO when I know I’m losing interest like what if it gets better? haha

[@Thedeadjoker666]

@@maggie-n1u3j My friend does this because to her, the ending is more important than anything else in the book. If that works for her, sure, but I'm not going to finish a book for a chance to get rewarded. More often that not, you are probably going to be disappointed.

[@VYiscool]

thank you! i’ve always felt guilty about abandoning a book but if i don’t enjoy then what’s the point...?

[@Oriontrollsftw2]

No, I think it is a failure in many cases.

[@Cat-and-Tilly]

I am continually amazed at this Zoomer generation. At 62, I still have a lot to learn, and these are the minds I look to for inspiration and direction. Eighteen? Dear gawd. Perhaps there is hope for the future.

[@christophersurnname9967]

There’s definitely hope for the future, gen Z is full of many many extremely bright young minds, it’s actually quite impressive.

[@butterflypaint4332]

also remember that we are only able to figure these things out faster bc we choose to look back on what we can learn from the mistakes of older generations. So the generations that came before us has still played a role in our development and in that sense we are grateful for them as well. I guess the main difference is that we are more willing to seek those things out and learn from them.

[@antidepressant11]

Same age as you. Agree totally .

[@AI-gd7lz]

it took you 62 years to figure out you should read books you read?

[@AI-gd7lz]

books you like*

[@p00yan]

You're 18 years old? Well I'm in my 30s and I'm learning a good deal from you. Kudos.

[@kelly1567]

I thought he was in his 20´s!!

[@imjusthereok1722]

@Kelly This video was posted a little over a year ago just to let you know*😂 so yes he’s about to be 20 tho

[@The_Study_Bug]

I'm 15 and I think that he's super mature for his age , I want to be this mature too!

[@honeybunny3086]

@@The_Study_Bug same I am also 15

[@nhatlaihoang4318]

he's the same age as me but i feel like a 10 years old listening to a university professor

[@SammieMousie]

He makes me feel the same way but he's younger than me, by more than a decade.

[@MothsAreTheBest]

Y O U ' R E 1 8 ? !

[@tungvu7487]

this guy is so underrated for his humor, guys. Does reading books make you more articulate?

[@barborahalova3514]

Yes, I would say so; learning by imitation, I guess.

[@Niceandshiny]

I would hope so

[@wademayorga9527]

How would it not?

[@methamphetamememcmeth3422]

Yes. It expands your language skills and vocabulary.

[@EzeICE]

Yes it actually does.

[@Kamomilla]

This video is perfect. "Pedestal mentality". When I was majoring in Literature, everyone kept talking about The Odyssey in such an elitist, academic, pedantic way that it was literally the last thing I wanted to read. One year after I graduated I decided to pick it up for myself and I loved it. When you peel off all that "snobbish" foolishness, and actually enjoy it and experience it for yourself, everything makes sense. You are allowed not to like classics, you are allowed to think Sophocles is boring. Do your thing, give every book a chance and be honest about what you like.

[@riyamishra280]

I am an English literature student as well. Your words inspired me. I was trying so hard to like the books that other people like but not anymore. Thank you

[@shethewriter]

“You are your own champion of thought.” -R C Waldun

[@calvinwazoo]

There is a time in your life when a book is right, and often we pick up a book we're "supposed" to read too early in our life and it becomes a chore. For example, when I finally read Moby Dick, I was stuck at home, recuperating from surgery. I couldn't do anything much except read. And so I began Melville's classic. And I got into it and really enjoyed it. I was ready. I was in my 30s at the time. And then there are books you read twice at different ages and you take away completely different experiences. In college I read Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse. Really liked it! Hesse was the man! I read all his books then. Now I'm 61 and a year or so ago I read Steppenwolf again. It was a completely different book for me, still great, but my perspective had greatly changed (it is after all about an older man facing questions about his life, questions I wasn't asking myself in my 20s, but was asking now). So I re-read Demian. Loved it in college. But reading now that I'm older, I thought, what a stupid and dull book. And then I re-read the Glass Bead Game. The first time I read it, I felt it was important, but didn't quite grasp it. But now that I'm 61, I found the story magnificent and so revealing, particularly about education forms, as you were alluding to in your video. I ignore most book recommendations, although I make a lot of recommendations to others. Lately, I've been reading a lot of biographies, African American history and Asian history. I've paced myself with Nietzsche, and have enjoyed his material and perspective even though I think he was bat-shit crazy. Books are like music. What someone else likes, you may find irritating. What others view as hugely serious and meaningful, you might find comical. But music and literature and art are the pillars of life.

[@mbw6785]

Well said

[@Fuliginosus]

When I was around 20 years old I made a list of about 100 or so classic books that I felt I had to read as soon as possible in order to put myself on the same footing as well-known academics whom I admired. I ended up not really absorbing much because I was always so frantic to move on to the next book. It's easy to become familiar with all the worlds famous paintings, because you can see them at a glance, but with literature it's just something that takes years.

[@ruo-ye]

I'm 18 years old and doing the same thing now lol

[@24cf648]

Yep, but I think the more you read the more experienced you become on picking up the important stuff. It's clear that when I find something that bores me, I'll skim it through, but if a book captures my attention, I'll devour it and slow down on the parts that I think are important to me (how do I know what paragraphs or quotes are important? I don't know, but I reflect on the passages that resonate with who I am and what I am living). Also, I'd say, not every book we read has that life-changing thing that will blow up your life :/ so it's okay not to feel "smarter" or more """intellectually advanced" after a book

[@SevenFootPelican]

The best thing is to take notes of the book while reading it. Then revisit your notes and comment on your notes, to better understand it. Highlight lines of prose that really resonate with you, highlight key ideas from the texts. It makes it worth it as opposed to just reading it without note taking! I have about 300 books I have on my list. Mostly classics in philosophy (east and west), literature, poetry

[@elroyrebello1712]

I was feeling guilty for not being intrigued about Ulysses, Edgar Allan Poe, War and Peace, Kurt Vonnegut and Virginia Woolf, among others, and this video as such was quite liberating for me. Best of luck with your writing projects.

[@elroyrebello1712]

@@actuallicensedteacher1846 Hey Teacher, I think most canons of literature are overrated, mainly dominated by patriarchy. I choose to chart out my own canon by being inclusive of authors considered to be a part of the marginal and regional literature whilst also following my interests. To each one his/her own 🤗

[@ohohnenyeoo2654]

@@elroyrebello1712 who are some of those authors for you?

[@nassimamro485]

I can’t imagine being this articulate and thoughtful as an 18 year old, I don’t want this to come off as patronizing kudos to you man I hope you realize it

[@thijmevanderburg6104]

Finally, a book guy on KZbin who isn't pushing his opinions or saying stuff like "you have the right to think that, but you're still wrong". Thanks man, was looking for channel like this! Thank you! (I think I said "thank you" one time to much)

[@bhavanishankar8041]

I feel so happy that this came up randomly on KZbin. This indeed was a eye opener man. Just found out how much clouded my mind was with the suggestions and the best books list of all time. Atlast understood the importance of finding our own taste in books. So clearly articulated. Thanks a lot.

[@sarrahalejaga5103]

I really love classics and want to read as much as I can. I just finished Jude the Obscure last night and now I'm starting Tess of the D'urbervilles and annotating while reading makes me feel like my book and I are spiritually connected.

[@christinebihasa6863]

Thank you, youtube, for recommending me this guy.

[@ajr5406]

I had an English teacher who adored talking about books, the same as me. One time I was talking to her about how I wanted to buy a classic--I don't know if it was "Jane Eyre" or "Huckleberry Finn," I can't recall--and she told me: "Why do you only read classics?" I told her that I liked reading classical literature, that there was something so intriguing and fascinating about them and their writers that always caught my eye. To that, she answered: "Reading only classics is such an elitist mentality. You need to read everything." Although I could understand her point of view, I simply couldn't believe she, of all people, would say that. I never told it to her then, but I wanted to tell her that she was wrong. There is no such thing as elitist literature. Never has been. Tell me, where's the elitism in reading "Huckleberry Finn," "Don Quixote," "War & Peace," "Jane Eyre," "One Hundred Years of Solitude," "Moby Dick," "Brave New World," "Beloved," etc. In all of the previously mentioned books, there is not a single drop of elitist mentality; on the contrary, these books attack the very idea of elitism. There is no such thing as elitist literature, there are only elitist people. The same people who flatter themselves on the idea of having read an "old book." In conclusion, it isn't bad to read a classic if you are looking for wisdom and guidance; however, it turns bad when you start boasting about having read a classic to make yourself seem superior to others.

[@runthomas]

she was right....she was not wrong, you need to read everything, you are missing out on future classics, and also new genres. or even history

[@auraa1555]

@@runthomas people should read whatever they like.

[@lazymajou]

I’d say she was right and wrong. Wrong to fraze it like that but right to try to encourage you to read various things. I wouldn’t say that classics are elitist but people reading them might look elitist to others that don’t read at all or are reading other genres. Trying different genres is a good thing tho. It’ll broaden your horizons and maybe you’ll find books that you might love but wouldn’t go for normally.

[@EMPANAO321]

​@@runthomas nah people need to read what they want to read

[@alcyonae]

What she probably meant is that, by “reading anything” you may develop unique and individual insights that might be lost in a classical education. I happen to believe that those unique insights are achievable also by reading classics alone with a critical eye. Classics are such for a reason. They weren’t all hits in their day, but they stood the test of time because they excelled either at capturing some truth either about the human condition or about a past society. No one person has ever read the same book, and no one person can read the same book, twice. The experience of absorbing and experiencing a book is unique to who the reader is at that point in time when they read a book. So read what you like, and if it’s a classic, you’re probably in for an excellent journey.

[@Moon-lt5bi]

I’m a middle aged high school English teacher, and I love your videos! You are so inspiring and wise. 🌸

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

If I could go back to 2005 me, when I started to really amp up my reading amounts, I would tell myself to slow down, not worry about reading 50 to 60 books a year. It became less about the content and more about the trophy case of books at the end of the year.

[@SpacemanTheo]

Elitism is a human but completely ridiculous concept/practice. I am severely dyslexic and when the school system destroyed my self-worth and left me to drown because I couldn't read all this WWII books they tossed at us kids, and ridiculed me when I took to fantasy books. I found self fulfillment and joy in these worlds and bit by bit I tampered my disability on my own. I became a reader in spite of elitism beating me over the head every day. Fantasy opened the door to other books that I wouldn't have had the skills for. This is not to say fantasy is 'easy/simple to read, just that it enticed me to keep trying and work through my dyslexia. If they want to tell me that 'fantasy is basic/not real literature' they can eat my hairy ass. But with all that said, I'm looking to expand my reading and I'm completely open to suggestions and putting in the time and effort to give that book a try. The key word here being 'suggest', not 'must'. I'm far too old and done with that whole superiority complex for any art form.

[@dredreidel]

Different books, different people. don't conform to what's "popular/renowned/etc." You can try it out, like trying out exquisite food; if you don't like them, don't force reading down your throat. Because at the end of the day, the books you remember are the ones that you remember and had a thrill out of them.

[@j.r.r5863]

You see, I love history. I absolutely love history and have always had this longing to go back in time somehow.With this in mind, I actually really love Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, The Brontë Sisters, Thomas Hardy, etc. I love their books. They are my little time machine, and they take me right into the times and places that I’ve always dreamed of seeing and experiencing. When I was in High School I made the mistake you spoke about and tried to get into books like Brave New World, 1984, and even fantasy books like The Hobbit just because of the bragging rights. I found myself avoiding my books. I really didn’t enjoy reading them, and I felt this heaviness every time I read them that made me almost sick to my stomach. They bored me, but I still felt this bizarre need to pretend to love them. Then one day what you just spoke about occurred to me. I wanted to read for me. I wanted to read because I enjoyed the world the books I read took me to and not because I was trying to get through someone else’s “must read” list. Ever since that day I’ve never picked up a book that didn’t draw me in or excite me, and it has allowed me to never feel that my love for reading gets old or passes away. It’s also taken me to other kinds of reading material that I never thought I would like, but really, really enjoy. Reading should be the most enjoyable form of learning, and if it feels like a chore, it won’t do you any good.

[@alexkozliayev9902]

Often value of classics not only in the book itself, but in the fact that it is probably referenced in many-many other literary (and other) works. Even if you didn't enjoy that book itself, you will have the ability to see the references and understand them. And there are a lot more of them, than you think.

[@antidepressant11]

I only discovered this young guy today. I think he is a bloody superstar. The kind of English teacher we all needed in Year 12 maybe or 1st year of University. What he is saying is so true for me. We need to get past snobbery. It's like the first step. Choose books we like. Don't read books as if they are bitter medicine.

[@mgabrielbenitez]

You have a really captivating way of speaking, I like your videos. In my opinion, the books we don't enjoy are as important as the ones we love: they help us define our tastes and understand why we like what we like.

[@zdoriksandorik]

18 yo???? God i feel old (she said, 24 years of age herself)

[@sami6998]

i'm 17 and when he said he was 18, my jaw dropped. i thought he would be in his twenties.

[@zdoriksandorik]

@@sami6998 its the glasses and the sweaters, I'm telling ya ( and like, you know, the INTELLIGENCE)

[@hopestreet3452]

34 over here and learning so much from these young'uns :)

[@wisehornedowl3699]

No shame in that. I was unlucky not to be exposed on such learning materials when I was young. In fact, I was way behind my peers who are scholars way before kindergaden. Sometimes, I feel dumb conversing with them but that doesnt stop me from trying since I am more in control compared when I was a child.

[@peterprablo1331]

She's 24???? God I feel horny (he said, 69 years of age himself)

[@gkchappy]

just, everything you said in this. all of it. as someone who loves to read, who works in a bookstore and plans to open one someday, it can be so difficult to not just let other people decide your favorites for you. i am a slow reader. i give up on books easily and it takes me forever to get through them, even when i love them. this is very reassuring to hear from someone else - the book reading community CAN get snobby. easily. it’s exhausting.

[@BlakeFrancis]

Your local library is your best friend people... So many books you can try out for free and if you don't like em you just take em back and get another one! A great place to discover your own taste in books.

[@benjones1458]

As a University English Literature student (whatever that really means) I can say the world, indeed the world of literature, needs your mind. Your pure love of literature and Literature with a capital 'L' is really inspiring to me. Not enough people read and those that do are the people you get on Social Media who post about the list of books they've been reading and how its dramatically changed their lives or their perspective, while this could be true of some, it's usually, as you say, just so they can brag. There's a certain prestige associated with reading capital 'L' Literature that I think does more harm than good. People allow themselves to be defined by what people believe a good Literature student, or reader in general, to be. This pressure or expectation is completely damaging. It takes away from the wealth of pleasure you can get from reading a book for the simple pleasure of reading or the lift you get when you connect with an author or their characters. You illustrate this issue beautifully and I'm glad you have brought it to light.

[@claytonwatts359]

I quite like the point of this video. Even different authors have different favorites from the Canon, and have certain styles they gravitate to. My only objection is with the Iliad and the Odyssey. It seems silly to object only on the subject of those two, but they are so foundational to Western literature that they are alluded to over and over again, and have shaped our entire literary culture.

[@henrikibsen6258]

For me it's Beckett, Dostoyevsky, Proust, and a few years ago I binged and loved Woolf. And a lot of drama. It's so true, if you don't love it, you don't have to bother.

[@theninjararar]

I've been reading crime and punishment, It's really good.

[@kayabooks2780]

I love Woolf as a person, but I’ve been struggling to read her, as I’m only now getting into classics and sheMs incredibly complex. I read The Lady in the Looking Glass for school and I feel analyzing her in class has helped me understand her writing better, and I could actually understand Mrs. Dalloway this tima around and not put it down. Do you have any tips for reading Woolf? Thanks :)

[@juleskat-5153]

This popped up on my recommendations and I'm so glad I clicked. It's almost midnight, I could feel insomnia coming in, and now his voice has calmed and motivated me to go grab a book.

[@muhlenstedt]

I am 60 years old, graduated in german Literature and I have read The illiad, paradise Lost, Moby Dick, in my thirties...it was a torture and I feel not ashamed to say that.They are great books, just not for me. Many other classics gave me tough the feeling of opening the door to a new world. Thank you for making possible for me to learn so much from an young person.

[@hiebrantsify]

Reading classics is looking at your own history and how you come to be. Where your values originated from. And the evolution of thinking that happened over the years. It puts into perspective your own life. And if you think more deeply if you want to adopt the thinking of your times. If that thinking is correct or not. The Western world classics are an important read to anyone who want to understand those questions. Also the idea of not listening to your elders who are trying to give you guidance is misguided. If most elders who you are looking up to are saying to learn from specific people in history. They ask that you take in the wisdom of the past. The same one they took in and that transformed them in who they are. To discard those valuable lessons is to lose wisdom, knowledge, lessons and efforts of trying to help future generations from them.

[@edmilsoneletrica]

You missed his point. He said you don't need to read ALL THE CLASSICS. That does make sense. You can, if that's really what you want, but you DON'T HAVE TO. Not all of them. Read the ones you are interested in. About the elders. You do sound like you yourself is (or perceive yourself as) an old person and felt like he was dismissing you because of your age. Again, you missed his point. He mentioned elder people just as an example, among other examples. Also, if we're gonna do what you said about being critical of what we receive from society, we should include older people in this critic. First, because older people are not a unified monolith. They are not all wise old men and women. Some are dumb old people and there's plenty of in between. They disagree a lot on what's good and what's bad, so there's no consensus. That alone should be a good reason not to take and elder person word as gospel.

[@hiebrantsify]

@@edmilsoneletrica r/woooosh

[@JohnDoe-bm5lp]

Wish I found your channel a year or two ago Your advice about going for the most impactful book resonated a lot with me, I'm reading Carl Jung now and it's wonderful.

[@WoodlandPoetry]

Amen and amen to your recommendation to read slowly. The worst decision I ever made was to take speed reading when I was 12. I've been paying for it ever since. I so agree with you on not forcing yourself to read a classic when it just isn't saying anything to you. I got stuck on "The Iliad" that same way. I kept with it just long enough to remember the basic style and plot in case my tastes changed and it could jog my memory to come back to it later. But life is too short to read all the wonderful literature that is out there anyway, so why bother with something you don't like. As for "Fahrenheit 451" - true love!❤

[@WoodlandPoetry]

@Niconoclastic Neoc That really was good, wasn't it? I really enjoyed it and have felt horrible that I never was able to read the companion book. Maybe I will make another effort to get back to it now that you've given me your opinion of it.

[@WoodlandPoetry]

@Niconoclastic Neoc I never finished the Iliad, but enjoyed the Odyssey that you liked. Maybe I should give the Iliad another try. I'm up too late to make sense, so probably misspelled everything.😊

[@nooza4229]

This is really refreshing. Most of book tube I've seen always recommend must read books and it's quite frustrating. This is my first time on this channel and I'm intrigued to see more. :) Have a nice day. 🍀

[@Aliyahsarchive]

I’m really looking forward to watching you grow . I discovered your channel 3 days ago and have been watching your videos nonstop. I’m a freshman in high school haha. You’re actually the most intellectual and intelligent person I’ve ever come across on here. Btw We’re reading the odyssey in my English class !

[@meghanpfeiffer]

This video puts into words what I've just experienced. I have been trying to get into classics, with little success. Then I picked up Crime and Punishment and loved it! Afterwards, I heard Master and Margarita was great, and it was also a Russian classic, so I picked it up. I'm currently 80% through and having no fun. It feels like a chore to read right now. But I told myself I would finish it because of the great reviews.

[@wtk6069]

Classics are like everything else; you need to find something that appeals to your taste. I love "Crime and Punishment", too, and then moved onto Gogol with "Dead Souls" and Turgenev with "Fathers and Sons". These are three very different books in different genres (though all Russian), but they all appealed to me. On the other hand, Tolstoy writes about things that interest me most of the time, but I could never get into his work. Like Melville with "Moby Dick", his writing is excellent, but the frequent 20-page tangents make it hard to stay invested in the story.

[@Dangerous0Fairy]

I had to give this long talk to my friends after they saw me rate "classics" like "the catcher in the rye" 2 stars on goodreads . I kept explaining that not all of us have the same taste or will finish a book with the same lessons learned . I had the Illiad on a shelf for 3 years now because the language is too complicated and that is FINE ! From now on i'll just send them the link of this vid 🤣 THANK YOU ❤

[@alexandraamargheoalei9092]

I found your youtube channel yesterday and the more videos I see, the more I begin to have a hunger for literature. During this period I have a lot to read for college and I can say that you made my days easier and more pleasant so thank you.

[@andreiioangabor1027]

This is sooooo true!! This also goes for movies, series, games and practically any form of art. I see a lot of people committing to a classic and obviously not liking it, but still saying it's fantastic because they want to seem cultured or for whatever reasons. People also say the same things about classics or even mainstream stories that they haven't even read/watched/played, just because of the reputation of that story. Basically, read what you want to read and don't feel ashamed by it. Don't get the impression that you have to read something.

[@thecosmicprime]

Sometimes reading is hard and you have to push yourself, but you make a good point. I think it is about the motive, are you reading for completion or bragging rights then stop, but if you are reading to be apart of the great conversation than continue reading even if it is hard.

[@alpertroncp2198]

Studying literature at university changed my perspectives on classics, because I soon discovered there were classics I loved (Iliad/Odyssey, Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost, Heart of Darkness, Richard III) and then classics that bored me to tears (Romeo+Juliet, Great Expectations, Mill on the Floss - ESPECIALLY Mill on the Floss). And writing on the classics that didn't interest me at all I found to be more laborious - the solution was to be honest about my opinions on them in my writing, and then the product came across as more convicted and authentic. I've learned to judge a 'classic' in much the same way as I would anything else, and not to be embarrassed if I think it's dull.

[@clairobscur1413]

Hm. While I absolutely agree with most of the stuff you've said, there are some books I'm so happy I was forced to read (through school i mean) , because I would have never even thought of reading them, I simply assumed I was going to hate them (actually mostly because I've heard from other people they were awful or whatever) and they ended up introducing me to some of my favourite writers. The issue however is the kind of books school forces you to read, the "classics", which are only classics because enough well read people decided it was a classic.

[@theBakinNoob]

Now don't you make it so suspenseful, lol what were those books called?

[@leonismint]

I think for the benefit of being able to better analyse and more closely read older or more complex works of literature, it's important to strike a balance where you focus on the literary tastes you have developed but also to tackle works that may not align with your reading preferences. You don't have to love a work of fiction to be able to find some objectivity in its own distinct mastery, these differing opinions of understanding the key themes and techniques of a text - whilst simultaneously having vastly different reading experiences furthers engaging discussions about these books in question. Especially so if you are interested in the act of writing itself, this helps us to better identify style, technique, rhythm and explore the use of these in our own writings.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

The reason I don't read rapidly is because I tend to pause often to reflect and truly consider what an author has proposed or distilled. I just stop and what looks to the naked eye, stare into space like a statue. And quite often I do this not just for philosophical reasons but because a memory has been triggered, an idea challenged or the best of all: someone has astonished me with the most magnificently constructed sentences and the most gorgeous use of language that I simply must re-read it and marvel at how beautifully you can articulate the most mundane of thoughts of descriptions. The use of language is getting grubbier and lazier as the years roll on. I read Austen and just want to cry because no human can use English like that anymore. The individual words are still in the dictionary, available for use, only nobody can put them together the way people like Charlotte Bronte or Jane Austen did. The magic is dead. I descend under the bathtub bubbles to cry little sudsy tears, holding my novel aloft to avoid the mountain of fragranced froth, LOL.

[@apfagim]

Wonderful! So right about the snobbery mindset.

[@uniquechannelnames]

Another notion i wanted to mention quickly is, that sometimea you can be hindered from enjoying a book because you have preconceived notions of how a book should flow, how it should be constructed, how the plot works etc... this can happen subconsciously. In this case you need to open yourself up to different ways that a book can tell a story, how a perspective can be presented, how style can be executed. Some of my favourite books i had this kind of annoyance with, that they weren't doing things "normally". But once you discover this, you can open your mind to new possibilities, and maybe new favourite books. I think this is the nuanced line between a book you're truly not enjoying, and one you're having the wrong expectations for. Also there's a strength in being able to say "I don't like this classic book", like he said, it builds your own tastes and carves out who you are as a person. I think R.C (is that how I say your name?) touched on that, that your preconceived notions of a book can constrict the experience that a book can give. Anyways, great video!

[@nyashagrace-clarence]

you were brutally honest and i respect your advice. thank you so much.

[@annamikkonen9778]

this guy should make a podcast

[@saraasauria]

You are right !!!. Neither did I like Dubliners. I read it because it was a recommendation. 🤷 Love your videos.

[@coconutmilch2351]

Your channel is like simultaneously aesthetically pleasing but also genuinely interesting

[@zoramorana7736]

I love this, I always get odd looks when I say I dislike Fahrenheit 451 and Paradise lost. Those particular classics aren’t my favorite, but I love Homers works and I loved of mice and men. I like seeing when people accept that others can have diverse reading perspectives.

[@grayman4239]

Man that was a table full good advice, I'm catching up on my reading, can't wait for your book to come out. I'll be on the look out.

[@Ghost-yk4zy]

Great video. I couldn't agree more with your opinion, a person just accept a book as being "good" just because some other people said they like it doesn't make any sense. Everyone should build their on preferences, and be honest about it. I also love the classics like the 1984 by Orwell or The Lusiads by Camões (ins't a classic in the Anglosphere but here on the Lusosphere is indeed a classic). Of course, it's always great to have at least a clue about the classics, to better know how our cultures, languages, and societies changed through time and influences but isn't actually mandatory. Keep with the good work my man

[@maherhasan4517]

I kind of new to this channel and I find value in every video I've watched here. I wanted to start reading back in 2021 during the pandemic and I kept doing it wrong all the way until I saw this video. From now on I'll stop listening to book suggestions and try to figure out what really interests me. Thank you for this video 👍

[@mypuggames4296]

Some people call me a slower reader but when i can remember what a book is about and why it's important years later and they can't remember what the main characters name is after a week what's the point

[@marypoza_0k]

I am consuming your videos like a tv series and I love it. This is such an inspiring content! I'm just 16 and I'm learning a lot, thank you for doing this!

[@Olga_Observes]

I found your account recently and I really enjoy listening to you. ☺️ I agree that we shouldn’t beat ourselves up for not finishing books and shouldn’t reach for volumes just because they’re ‘classics’. I gave up on Ulisses after about 60 pages (I was reading it in English which is not my first language so the struggle was real 😅) and felt a bit guilty. However, it was pointless to read for the sake of reading without enjoying it. There are so many books out there that everyone can find something for themselves. And it doesn’t have to be lengthy, daunting classic! 😊

[@vieveboelaars9215]

this video reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite books, the starless sea by erin morgenstern: "Not all stories speak to all listeners, but all listeners can find a story that does, somewhere, sometime. In one form or another."

[@Daisy-oe6pt]

Please never stop making your videos. I really live your videos !!

[@victoriah.2083]

Reading is as you say about EXPOSURE to different styles, genres and forms of writing. Being open to try is the main thing. And sampling or having "appetizers" from different authors gives the reader a broader base of learning. If I start a bk I will FINISH. No matter how much I suffer. Lol. I call it "slugging". I may DNFY (yet) but I will finish. But that's just me. I don't like admitting defeat. I was SUPPOSED to read "Moby Dick" in school- but didn't. I used Cliff notes. And had seen the movie. Recently a friend suggested I go back & try again. He loved it! And I hope to get to it this year, though I doubt I will like it any better. But- I love reading so much that I never stop the quest for the next great 📚! LUV YR CHANNEL. ❤️

[@dudybug]

Him: “I loVe Walden but it’s a long and dry book about a guy who lives in the woods” Me: glances nervously at Walden sitting on my desk

[@elizabethyoung5304]

On of the things my mother tried to instill in me, and my brother too (both avid readers), was that I should be the "captain of my own taste". She would tell me that not every she's read would appeal to me and vice versa. My brother's bookshelf had some amazing books and I remember that one of his gifts I gave him one year for Xmas was a copy of Gravity's Rainbow. He introduced me to some really cool writers, Ballard for one and Ballard quickly became one of my favorite writers. My brother also wanted to teach me the importance of not being afraid to explore books and figure out for myself what I liked. For me I gravitate more toward to "difficult", avant-garde, and more esoteric writers and books. I love a lot of Japanese literature. The comparative literature course I had in my senior year in high school was by far the best I've ever taken and I was exposed to so many different writers that I wouldn't have otherwise. Each book I read was an experience I'll always remember.

[@BuilderLemon]

I can’t thank you enough for this video. I’ve always felt like there was something wrong with me because I don’t really like classics although I’m still trying to discover more classic books (after all, I might find a book or an author whose work I really enjoy). I feel like these books are always placed on a pedestal-the best books in literature, the smart books, the ones that just make me feel dumb because I sometimes have no clue what’s going on in the story due to the way the book was written and the difficult language. I mean, I still have to read classics because I’m taking a Literature class and our teacher always emphasizes the importance of ‘wider reading’, but I’m going to focus on finding books I actually enjoy to read in my spare time, regardless of whether or not they’re considered ‘smart books’. Anyways, sorry about my long ramble of a comment. I’m really enjoying your videos and I’m looking forward to watching your future content!

[@nimishasharma9278]

When he said "do I give a damn about Trojan war" n I was reminded of the time when I read Gone with the wind n everybody around me loved it n I was like " Civil war isn't something I am interested in reading".Judge me all you want. But I felt that. Also. I love your content, been binge watching since I found you. Its such a breath of fresh air:)

[@mariakhrustal3315]

Bahaha. A lot of your videos feel like you talking to your past self. And omg. Second book! Hell yeah!

[@niceisricee]

You make some really great points in this video. I was not a big reader in the past. Even today I can't really name any books I've truly spent the time reading except for one. Everything I've read was recommended to me by a teacher or someone notable. I wanted to be smart or cool like them so I tried to read all of those things that they recommended, but I could never remember what I read after finishing the book. I took nothing from it and it didn't impact me in any way except it made me feel like reading was a chore. Yeah, I felt like I could brag about reading it. But thank god I never did. I was more afraid of being embarrassed to start a conversation about something I had no input on. One day I decided I would give reading a shot again. I took a recommendation again, but this time from someone I looked up to. I started it 4 months ago, and I'm still reading it. But each time I pick the book up again, I'm actually absorbing most of the content. Each time I put the book down, I look forward to the next time I will pick the book up again. I guess I got lucky with that one. I feel like reading more, but only after I finish this one. Give me another 4 months. Love your content by the way!! I'm new here, but I find that your wise words mixed with the style of your videos makes for a great watching experience~

[@christinebateman62]

1984 is amazing! I like what you say about finding your own tribe of writers. Thanks for the insights.

[@mette7362]

This! I do love the classics, but I recently tried to read Great Expectations (I know you loved it) and it put me in such a bad mood because I didn't enjoy reading it. When I finally realized I was just trying to get through it, maybe to brag about it, I decided to stop reading - and what a weight off my shoulders that was! Later that year I read A Christmas Carol and really enjoyed it, so I haven't given up Dickens yet. Anyway, I find it very freeing to be able to stop reading books and go on to something enjoyable. Another thing I've realized is to read a few reviews on Goodreads if I'm not sure whether I should try to read a book. Like, Clarissa has a low rating, but when I read the reviews I realized that the things people dislike about it, might be things that I enjoy myself.

[@bewurld]

This is fascinating. The tangents are so insightful? and it was all in one take if im not mistaken, it feels more like a class or lecture (in a good way!) and watching the thought processes as they come to you and watching as you explain them in depth is so cool! excellent job

[@bujnylosos4258]

thank you. you are changing my life with every single video. i owe you.

[@allisonquirosvargas5671]

Emm, i think i am a little bit in love with you, this is embarrassing and all. Thank you for giving me this clarifying perception, I've felt in times that i don't deserve to be called a reader because i didn't like big books, i fucking hated pride and prejudice, for God's sake, i am a girl, is supposed that i like that kind of shit. But well, i didn't, and you just end up with this bizarre feeling of not being good enough for this kind of tremendous ' chef d'œuvre'. The only thing you need to do, like you said, is knowing what type of genres you are into. Es normal, no todos los libros deben de ser de tu interés. Carajo, todos somos distintos, tenemos el derecho de tener diferentes gustos. Ah, y eres increíblemente atractivo, sé mi amigo. Tú me puedes ayudar con inglés y yo con español hahaha

[@RCWaldun]

Desole, je ne parle pas Espagno mais merci pour le commentaire. :)

[@WoodlandPoetry]

@@aronflip9353 He said, in French, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish but thank you for the comment." I don't understand Spanish very well, so can't help too much with the end of her reply. I'd probably get it completely wrong. (I think she says we all have different taste in books, and thinks he can help her English and she can help his Spanish. But don't quote me! )

[@criptideancia]

@@aronflip9353 she said: "It's normal, not all books should be of your interest. Damn, we're all different, we have the right to have different tastes. Ah, and you are incredibly attractive, be my friend. You can help me with English and I help you with Spanish hahaha" I don't speak Spanish but BR-Portuguese is close enough to understand it lmao

[@Realisticallyliteral]

I read Farenheit 451 and The picture of Dorian Gray (books recommended to me by "academics") I frankly disliked both. The plots of both just felt... boring? Anyway, last month I read Pride and Prejudice, and I loved it. It was hilarious, things actually happened, there were multifaceted characters. I went on a bit of a rollercoaster from thinking that old=good to old=bad and finally accepting that old books are just old. Just like the books released today there's so much variety that it's impossible to say whether the classics are worth your time, because these "classics" are published by so many authors over so many years and you will most likely hate one or two. But you will also probably love one or two.

[@whatspoppin11326]

LITERALLY THE SAEM, I STARTED OFF FEELING LIKE OLD BOOKS ARE A CHORE TO GET TRHOIGH BUT I RECENTLU FINISHED PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND IVE BEEN OBSESSED, loved it

[@soakedinbleach7614]

I read the picture of Dorian Gray and this is one of my favorite books. And it’s okay to dislike some books ( I mean everybody has different taste you know. Like you don’t like the picture of Dorian Gray but I don’t care ) but I disagree with the fact that you said " the plots are boring ". Well I disagree because in this book there’s not only the plot which is important ( I mean yes it is but there are other things like all the thoughts put in the book ). So it’s just my opinion. Perhaps you already know that but I just wanted to say that. Idk if my comment is comprehensible so sorry if it’s not

[@sibylle1927]

@@soakedinbleach7614 yes, the picture of dorian gray is in my opinion one of the top 10 best english classics. The plot is immensely creative and the ending made me a different person.

[@catcityyy]

Honestly my taste lies within dark stories. Most of the books I’ve read that I’ve enjoyed are classics and I hate when people assume I’m pretentious for not enjoying genres like fantasy or sci-fi. It’s all up to ones taste- don’t let anyone tell you what you’re reading is “fluff” or tell you that you’re “trying too hard to be smart”. If you like it and it stimulates you then that’s all that matters!

[@Natalia-ve7qw]

That's cool. I like dark literature as well. I would be very grateful if you can recommend some books to me

[@catcityyy]

@@Natalia-ve7qw omgggg totally! I just finished reading we have always lived in the castle. Honestly it might be my new favourite book I was so deeply invested. Lord of the flies, 1984, and Room are some of my other favourites which I always recommend. Happy reading:)

[@runway5338]

@@catcityyy I enjoyed Lord of the Flies and I’m currently enjoying 1984. For some reason, they didn’t register as dark literature to me. This is my first time hearing Room though. Who’s the author?

[@catcityyy]

@@runway5338 Room is by Emma Donoghue! Really great read

[@luisfernandocuestasanchez4343]

Totally agree is not about fast reading or how many books you read a month. I all about how much you can interiorized

[@vajranarasimhan6230]

i hate when people feel ashamed of the book theyre reading. Its okay. No book is BAD. BE PROUD OF YOUR TASTE. its okay if your taste is twilight or wimpy kid. Atleast you read

[@Maren617]

"I don't like Science Fiction"...says he loved 1984 and Fahrenheit (two Science fiction novels) in the very next sentence... ;-D But seriously, this is a wonderful video, thank you. ❤

[@whahala555]

I was thinking the same thing. I wonder what other science fiction he has tried to read, I have a feeling he might enjoy the Foundation Trilogy.

[@blendermen1070]

these are anticipation novels, a particular kind of scifi, it's not space opera or alien nd robots like some people might think scifi is about. It's more relatable to reality and i think it's the reason this particular genre sticks to non scifi lovers.

[@Maren617]

@@blendermen1070 It's a huge subgenre of SF. It's okay to just correctly say "I really like this SF subgenre, but not necessarily all the other subgenres, instead of arbitrarily claiming that all the SF you like cannot be SF because you're not the kind of person who likes SF.The latter is just a dick move trying to put down geeks. Near-future, dystopian and alt-history SF has always been a large part of the genre, published in its anthologies, and condemned by mainstream literary types for decades. Now suddenly those same guys are claiming these for themselves, while still maintaining their "better than you" attitudes by simply re-defining them to no longer be SF, even though they were published as such, won SF awards, etc. So tired of this attitude.

[@EzeICE]

Those booths are more dystopian in nature, however with sci-fi elements. I think most likely what he is referring to is hard science fiction, much I the realm of Orson Card or Philip K. Dick. Although ironically those authors also have dystopian elements in their work as well lol.

[@kylacruz2888]

SUN WARRIOR Do Android Dream of Electric Sheep and Ubik by Philip K Dick is so good

[@mact8190]

I think we can listen to suggestions, just not to a point that we get heavily influenced by these "tastemakers".

[@manu_archive]

For me its hard to get into classics... but what really interests me is, what people see in them and think is so fascinating about them. I really wanna read more classics but its just so hard reading them „the right“ way cause I cant read them the same way like I read a fantasy novel. In a classic you just have to appreciate totally diffrent things and its more about Interpretation than just simply reading an easy sentence. That maybe made no sense to you but its kinda hard to explain.

[@klc3rd]

One thing I’ve told a lot of friends is that you should never have to force yourself to read something, if you do you may end up thinking you hate reading in general.

[@jlg3315]

thank you for your channel. you are verbalising the ideas i have been unable to.

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

Never mind not reading all the classics, it would be great if seemingly 90% of freshmen had a favorite book other than The Handmaid's Tale.

[@madisonl.607]

lmaoo im a freshman and im planning to pick that book up soon to see if it was worth all the hype, we will see

[@amyn2227]

i really like this video. i can apply it to any media i consume. be it eastern or western animation, books, music, theatrical pieces, movies and series. in the end if i don't enjoy something, i'll drop it. maybe i'll come back to it later. but i won't force myself to consume something i don't enjoy

[@YunisRajab]

In what world does an 18 year old speak/think like this?

[@TheRealJanKafka]

This world. I don't have very extensive social connection but I still know at least half a dozen young people of this caliber.

[@Nicky.Slunsky]

@Niconoclastic Neoc I just love your references xD

[@LittleMew133]

Australia, apparently

[@MilkyAndStuff]

Reading a lot probably.

[@bang_rik]

I'd never thought of book recommendations that way. Really intriguing!

[@bousmahakenza6787]

18 y o for bloody hell u r amazing like i am literally getting alot of information from u and I am 23 well I think there's a hope in the next generation

[@roelbasco6511]

Thanks for this! Exactly what im feeling right now, im new to reading still finding my taste but have read many recommendations until i decided not to read cuz everybody says it sucks.

[@drmodestoesq]

Re: Recommending books. I have recommended books to my friends that turned out to be their favourite authors. However, I say to them..."Just read the first 30 pages. If it doesn't appeal to you...ditch it. No novel that I've ever read had a massive improvement after the first 30 pages."

[@Scottlp2]

The way I look it is that in really the first coupla pages you get a feel for the writing style and whether you like it/it works for you or not. Plot is trickier and you need to be patient sometimes.

[@Luka1180]

SOME novels I've read had a massive improvement after 30 pages. The Fallen Angel by Kenneth B. Andersen being one of them.

[@TheRealJanKafka]

The first sentence usually does it for me. Maybe I'll stick around for a paragraph...To me, it's obvious from the initial sentences that *Fifty Shades of Grey* is execrable garbage and that *Pride and Prejudice* is brilliant.

[@jesusdelcanto9715]

Outstanding video. I've been thinking of the same problem for a long. I have the theory that the double thinking kicks in because of our need to belong, in this case, to some sort of imaginary "well read" community of readers. I tried Odyssey twice and just couldn't with it. I left Jane Austen's Persuasion in the middle because altough I was in with the story, I wasn't just engaged with the style. I loved Anna Karenina 1984. Thanks for putting into words many ideas some of us have.

[@sirhenry4634]

Yes I understand my favorite genre is fiction- thrillers but i feel like if i don't read outside of my comfort zone I cannot expand and grow and maybe perhaps find another genre or author i love.

[@NintenRetroGamer]

To me I saw reading the classics as a right of passage into literature. To me the classics are the epitome of literature.

[@toothsweet5839]

I think it's dangerous to look at reading as involving any form of gate keeping. I too felt like i wasn't allowed to not enjoy the classics, but there's a lot of good stuff out there that isn't part of the traditional literary canon.

[@MrSunglasses]

I read Dante’s Inferno when I was 15 and didn’t understand it, so just read whatever you want folks. Don’t force books into yourself just because they’re classics.

[@kylacruz2888]

Is it bad? I've been looking forward reading The Divine Comedy

[@MrSunglasses]

Kyla Cruz I’m Albanian so I read it in Albanian and the language is very old in that translation, so it’s difficult to understand. Maybe it’s not that hard in English. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@kylacruz2888]

Mr Sunglasses Probably. I'm still giving it a try though. As well as Shakespeare which I found hard to read when I was younger.

[@MrSunglasses]

Kyla Cruz Shakespeare is not that hard in my opinion (but who am I to say, I read it in Albanian 😅). I think we should always give classics a try and if they’re not for us then we can walk away from them without feeling guilty.

[@kylacruz2888]

Mr Sunglasses Yeah, saw some videos on youtube on how to read Shakespeare. Apparently there are different editions and publishers, it depends on what works for you.

[@MrH347]

Just discovered a love for fantasy books. Just finished Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, its the longest book I’ve read that I actually really, really enjoyed. The prose, the plot and the over all themes were amazing. Looked into the author and learned what inspired him now I’m looking into Cyrano de Bergerac, and now I’m finding how much I enjoy plays. Now I’m about 60 pages into Don Quixote and as difficult as it is, I’m actually enjoying it. Probably going to take me three months to get through it, I am thoroughly interested in it. Keep an open mind.

[@wtk6069]

There's no doubt the quality of fiction today is much lower than it was fifty or seventy years ago, and I say this as a writer myself. There were many pulp stories (considered throwaway fiction in the 30s) better written than most published literary fiction today. Sure, there was garbage back then, too, but if it were averaged together, the mean quality would be well above today's.

[@aliyah2845]

you open up my mind to so many new perspectives, wow.

[@richardlopez4318]

Dude, read "Hopscotch" by Julio Cortazar. The most important work from the Latin American boom. The story skips chapters like a hopscotch game.

[@Pantano63]

"The most important work from the Latin American boom." Eh, debatable.

[@arturobelano6243]

Borges Borges borges