summer reading
Every year I devise a book list for summer reading. It's developed into somewhat of a habit or passive hobby of mine. Last year's list was primarily light reading due to my endeavors out in Brooklyn and Thailand, because sometimes the best knowledge comes from life experiences instead of textbook knowledge.
This year I've decided on some heavier readings, largely in part of my working up here at the University. In spite of my few feeble attempts at student life in academia I still consider myself an autodidact. While I can appreciate the knowledge and wisdom which can be imparted from another I believe that that knowledge does not come without bias. The other large part in my decision of this specific list has to do with me taking my writing in a more serious direction.
Right now I have three manuscripts floating around in my head: one a light but necessary novel that I plan on creating just to capitalize on my 15 minutes of fame and get me started on my journey as a professional novelist and the other two are geopolitical in nature and are a critique on the human condition. As such I am turning toward philosophy this summer. I know, I know, the last thing a fatalistic existentialist needs is more philosophy, but I think recovering some favorites and broadening my horizons will do both me and my writing some good.
As such, here's my list thus far.
Finally I think I will re-read my favorite play, Waiting for Godot. Most people who stumble upon the book find it boring, because it is essentially a book about nothing. Any college student that has found themselves assigned to read this play abhors it, but to an existentialist such as myself it is truly delightful... in a sometimes macabre way.
So this year's reading list is light in terms of quantity and heavy in terms of quality. If anyone recalls 2007's list I had over 30 books listed, and I got through over 20 of them too. This year should be interesting.
This year I've decided on some heavier readings, largely in part of my working up here at the University. In spite of my few feeble attempts at student life in academia I still consider myself an autodidact. While I can appreciate the knowledge and wisdom which can be imparted from another I believe that that knowledge does not come without bias. The other large part in my decision of this specific list has to do with me taking my writing in a more serious direction.
Right now I have three manuscripts floating around in my head: one a light but necessary novel that I plan on creating just to capitalize on my 15 minutes of fame and get me started on my journey as a professional novelist and the other two are geopolitical in nature and are a critique on the human condition. As such I am turning toward philosophy this summer. I know, I know, the last thing a fatalistic existentialist needs is more philosophy, but I think recovering some favorites and broadening my horizons will do both me and my writing some good.
As such, here's my list thus far.
- Georg Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit or Walter Arnold Kaufmann's Hegel, a reinterpretation
- Karl Marx's The Poverty of Philosophy
- Immanuel Kant's first critique (The Critique of Pure Reason) and his Metaphysics of Morals
- Lastly, and begrudgingly, The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley
Finally I think I will re-read my favorite play, Waiting for Godot. Most people who stumble upon the book find it boring, because it is essentially a book about nothing. Any college student that has found themselves assigned to read this play abhors it, but to an existentialist such as myself it is truly delightful... in a sometimes macabre way.
So this year's reading list is light in terms of quantity and heavy in terms of quality. If anyone recalls 2007's list I had over 30 books listed, and I got through over 20 of them too. This year should be interesting.