A Good Time of Year to Revisit Old Friends in Print
Looking for Gifts? Thinking New Years Resolutions? These Reads Could Help
I had occasion recently to check back in on a book I read long ago. It was like catching up with an old friend. This, in turn, led me to reflect on what other books I have read over the years that are worthy of rereading or at least perusing a bit to refresh my memory of what I learned from these writings and to reflect on why I liked them so much.
No doubt we all have a long list of such writing, but I thought I would keep this list short. I invite you to check out any or all of them – they are most excellent. Feel free to share any of yours in the COMMENTS section.
Any of these would make fine gifts, as well as good nutrition for your mind as you contemplate the New Year about to embrace us. All of these are still available through several outlets. Enjoy!
Human Nature
The True Believer – Eric Hoffer. One of my all-time favorite books. I discovered this one in high school and still have a dog-eared copy that I pick up from time to time. This is perhaps the best writing ever done in revealing what drives the mind of the fanatic and the elements of a mass movement. It could scarcely be more relevant than it is today. That it was written by a working stevedore on the San Francisco docks in the 1940s makes it all the more remarkable. Readable, insightful, powerful.
Working – Studs Terkel. Another all-time favorite that I pick up from time to time to poke around a bit. It is a simple collection of people in all sorts of professions and work talk about their average or extraordinary day and how they feel about their work. The spread of professions is wide indeed – everyone can find someone here that they feel like they know or self-identify with personally. Terkel reminded us how important the dignity of work can be and should be.
Former President Obama has noted how important this book was to him. He recently hosted and produced a short PBS series that was something of a continuation of Working – I highly recommend watching it.
Technology
Future Shock – Alvin Toffler. I became somewhat less of a fan of the Toffler’s (both of them wrote) once they became regulars in meeting with Newt Gingrich while he was busy destroying America as best he could, but there is no denying the impact and insights of Future Shock. Its discussion of the effects and patterns of accelerating change is spot on. The review of how something promising often gets a head of steam in public enthusiasm, only to fall short, and later, to the surprise of many, comes to full fruition later is a pattern we see all the time – if we are looking for it.
I do not think the rest of their follow on work measured up very sell, but Future Shock is a foundational piece to our understanding of what is happening around us today.
Philosophy
Meditations – Marcus Aurelius. OK, we really are going back a ways for this one. Marcus Aurelius was the Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD. During his reign, he kept a running series of private notes, intended to clarify his own thinking and to remind himself of what was important.
Much of his thinking was formed by Stoicism, a philosophy not all that well understood by many today but experiencing something of a comeback in recent writings by others. The emperor’s idea of regularly makes notes for his own self-improvement and to share what he has learned with other is a model I wish more leaders and thinkers would engage.
Fiction
Dune – Frank Herbert. I love my wife for many reasons and one of them is she introduced me to Frank Herbert’s Dune decades ago. I was not a science fiction fan (beyond watching Star Trek), but Dune bowled me offer and made me the dedicated science fiction reader I remain to this day. I think it fair to say that most people who care about such things, Dune is science fiction’s ultimate masterpiece. This is a staggering blend of science fiction, geology, human drama, adventure, mysticism, politics – you name it, Dune has it and has it strongly.
One finds something new every time you pick it up. It is not a short read, but well worth the time. Movie makers have struggled to capture it on film; they are getting there but are not equal to the challenge just yet. Herbert went on to write 5 more books before he died. All are fine, but Dune is the crown.
His son picked up the thread and is doing follow-on books. Again, good stuff, but not the masterpiece like Dune. I remember being angry when I heard Herbert died. I selfishly thought first not of the tragedy but that it meant I would never read another book like Dune. Truly a book for the ages.
Spoon River Anthology – Edgar Lee Masters. Written in the early 20th century, Masters published this book of dramatic monologues about a fictional town called Spoon River and the people who lived there. It reportedly was based at least in part on based on the Midwestern towns where he grew up. Much like Thomas Wolf’s Look Homeward, Angel, people who might have been the basis for characters in the book recognized themselves, not always happily.
The scandals, hopes, and tragedies of Spoon River ring true to anyone who reads them. The writing style floats right on the edge between verse and poetry, to good effect. It is an easy, yet thoughtful, read. To me, the overwhelming message was that you have one life and no clue as to how long it shall run or how it shall end. Seize it as your own and live fully. Heck of a good read.
Here’s an Idea
Go get yourself one of these books, find a fireplace and a good glass of cognac, then sit down and treat your soul and mind to a holiday bonus.
See you next week.
Bill Clontz
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