Reading

I've been reflecting on the importance of certain books in the course of one's life. Certain books come along at certain times, and often we aren't "ready" for them until the puzzle-pieces of our life come together.

Books fall into different categories for me: a) books that I’ve been wanting to read for years, b) books that are required reading for certain genres of thought/work that I do, c) books that are creatively and conceptually synthesized with events and experiences in my every day life.

There’s often overlap in these categories. I very rarely, if ever, just pick a book off of a shelf to read. My spiritual reading currently comes from several main areas:

Buddhist philosophy/sacred text
Contemporary Buddhism (usually the Dalai Lama)
Sufi Mystics (poetry, mystic of music, etc)
The occasional Hindu or Koranic reading
Joseph Campbell’s study of myth

There’s other books that creep in from time to time. I prefer non-fiction, but the occasional fiction novel, like Stranger In A Strange Land, is an important diversion and sometimes even those lead to insights.

I rarely act solely on suggestions from friends about books to read. Usually a book needs to go through a stringent pre-study before it gets opened on my lap. A book is more likely to get on my wish list if it has as its source some verifiable authority or depth. This self-censorship isn’t intended to shield me from new ideas or potentially uncomfortable material, but it does serve to weed out certain works that are not really worth the valuable investment of time. Since I read rather slowly, but attentively, I’ve always felt I needed to maximize my reading time, and optimize the value and character of its content.

I’m more likely to read a book that has been referenced by multiple, independent sources, such as a professor, magazine article and respected writer/artist. The higher the number of serendipitous events that involve a particular work, the more likely I am to seek out a book.

The most recent example of this is George Orwell’s 1984. A classic by most standards, it is a book that I have often considered reading, but never made time to check out. Over the past two years in particular, I’ve been drawn to the possibility of reading it, so now I am. Working in the information technology field is a primary reason for wanting to read it, but my recent rhetoric class also came into play when deciding to read it now. I’m particularly interested in the arguments generated by the book, how it spoke to the age that first read it, and how it speaks to us today. Having grown up in the fastest-growing technological age we’ve seen, I’m enjoying the process of identifying the things Orwell foretold.

Had I read 1984 a few years ago, I’m sure I would have enjoyed it, but being more involved in the technology industry now, and having studied rhetoric and social influence to some degree, I think I’m better equipped to process the message. My studies in cultural anthropology and intercultural communication, particularly as they relate to homogenization as depicted in 1984, are giving me a much better appreciation for the book.

Even the order in which we read books can make a huge difference. I think other works that I’ve read recently, such as Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance are playing a part in how I interpret the books I’m reading now.

Next on my list is Zen & The Art of Rhetoric, which I hope to start before the next semester. I’ve chosen that book mainly because it combines two things that I’ve had a great deal of exposure to the last few years, and it comes recommended. I’m also interested in non-confrontational rhetoric, since I’m often required to mediate between people or groups. So we’ll see where the journey goes from here.