Top 10 Reasons Why Life is Infinitely Better Reading Books

Yeah, people my age are youthful. I'm 16.

Same here. I immerse myself in books about psychology constantly. I love trying to figure out how my twisted mind works, and other people's even more twisted minds work.

kooz wrote:That said: cool deal about the bios; good to know about someone's life. I am in know way insinuating you to be a small mind; you are for certain a great mind with your activities and literary interests, but I know E. Roosevelt said, “Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.”

In that quote, I'd say he [Roosevelt] was mostly referring to people who chat about other people; not those who read about people in professional texts. In any case, I realise now that I actually have only ever read one autobiography: that of Roy Keane; Ireland's 'greatest ever' soccer player.

The other books that are like biographies that I have read were about Green Day and Nirvana; from my grunge / gothic days!

Same here. I immerse myself in books about psychology constantly. I love trying to figure out how my twisted mind works, and other people's even more twisted minds work.

Instead of reading psychology books, immerse yourself in the most complex 'book' of all: your own mind. Maybe you might even figure out a way to improve areas of your life that are lacking. That said, learning about psychology can aid you on your journey to better understanding yourself.

But please, some intrspection is needed every now and then... ...

Instead of reading psychology books, immerse yourself in the most complex 'book' of all: your own mind. Maybe you might even figure out a way to improve areas of your life that are lacking. That said, learning about psychology can aid you on your journey to better understanding yourself.

Ah, the bleeding obvious, as my English teacher would put it. Tis a good bit advice there though.
Yours. Not my English teacher. Obviously. Well... oh, don't worry, I'm rambling. Anyway. Thankies.

It's actually difficult to find time for introspection. When I do, I'm usually too stressed to actually do it. This concerns me greatly. What about you?

~snowbird~ wrote:

kooz wrote:

~snowbird~ wrote:I love Lord of the Flies!...I read it a year before I had to in school Reading is awesome-too bad too many of the people around my age don't read unless they're forced to...and sometimes don't even then...oh well.

Whom are people your age? (If there are a lot of involunatary readers, I'm guessing people your age are youthful.)

By the way, if we're all going to start listing books, the fiction is great, too, but any one have non-fiction authors to share?

Yeah, people my age are youthful. I'm 16.

If it makes you feel more comfortable, I feel 16 -- or younger -- in MANY ways (finances, for one). Staying connected with your youth while progressing as an adult generates a tremendous source of resilience in my opinion. So when I communicate here, sometimes it originate from my 16 year-old voice, sometimes it may sound like a 5 year-old voice, sometimes it may sound like a 30 year-old voice!

Good to hear!

musicandscience wrote:

Yeah, people my age are youthful. I'm 16.

Same here. I immerse myself in books about psychology constantly. I love trying to figure out how my twisted mind works, and other people's even more twisted minds work.

hhhhmmm, interesting. You have 16 years of chronological experience with you, too? I have about 30 years of emotional experience, about 3 years of financial independence, and a few more years in other areas, but in real-life people consider me to be 23. IT's interesting that in almost all other languages, no one says "I AM 16" or "I AM 28", they say "I HAVE 16 years" (Yo tengo dies-sies anos, por ejemplo). That distinction, while subtle, I think proves to be remarkably demonstrative of how one should interpret the meaning of "age"!

About those "twisted minds"... For that reason, I like (to counter-balance the complexity of psychological texts) math, specifically geometry. If you do enough math and geometrical proofs EVERYONE's mind suddenly appears clear!:) But pyschology definitely has fascinating elements.

My criticism of psychology: People can go on "power trips" claiming they diagnose and know other people's problems. That stuff vexes me like no other. Having the ability to clarifyingly contribute to someone's confused and/or twisted mind encourages a lot of positive growth, but simply labelling people with a disorder, just fabricates problems. The disttinciton between those two must be made.

Chucky wrote:In that quote, I'd say he [Roosevelt] was mostly referring to people who chat about other people; not those who read about people in professional texts. In any case, I realise now that I actually have only ever read one autobiography: that of Roy Keane; Ireland's 'greatest ever' soccer player.

Chucky, Totally I agree, man. I wasn't harping on your biographical interests, those are great. i was simply trying to validate reading about others' ideas, too! You made a good observation: roosevent was most likely talking about gossipers and you, someone who reads full-length biographies, would certainly not fall into that trivial category!

This really feels like a fun topic -- this thread.

Green day and nirvana: wow sound like very reads. In regards to rock biographies, I have an interest (and have read some on) steven tyler and mick jagger biographies. A lot of inspiration emerges from their lives!

Instead of reading psychology books, immerse yourself in the most complex 'book' of all: your own mind. Maybe you might even figure out a way to improve areas of your life that are lacking. That said, learning about psychology can aid you on your journey to better understanding yourself.

Yeah, I totally agree with this suggestion. Reading about minds, cognition, behavioralism, etc. contribute greatly to the understanding of your own mind. However, how do you suggest one should go about "reading the most complex book of all: your own mind"? While indeed, reading your own mind certainly nourishes your personal awareness, deliberating setting out a method and a time to literally read your own mind, while not impossible, certainly emerges as a daunting task, does it not? Your brilliant suggestion cultivated a greater sense of urgency in understanding my own thought processes, though!;)

musicandscience wrote:

Instead of reading psychology books, immerse yourself in the most complex 'book' of all: your own mind. Maybe you might even figure out a way to improve areas of your life that are lacking. That said, learning about psychology can aid you on your journey to better understanding yourself.

Ah, the bleeding obvious, as my English teacher would put it. Tis a good bit advice there though.
Yours. Not my English teacher. Obviously. Well... oh, don't worry, I'm rambling. Anyway. Thankies.

Thankies and "bleeding obvious"? Interesting... I do say, my good fellow - right honorable friend;), from where do you come? Bleeding obvious sounds british or irish or something from that vernacular.

Chucky wrote:It's actually difficult to find time for introspection. When I do, I'm usually too stressed to actually do it. This concerns me greatly. What about you?

Hhmmm, a wise point. When you relinquish your external obligations for a moment and set aside some time (and setting asie that time truly reveals itself as the most difficult challenge, rather than the task itself) to deliberately engage in "introspection", the endeavor can be at first, quite daunting, but after learning how to practice, immensely fulfilling. Eventually, at a very advanced point of "introspection", I believe, your internal navigation of your soul (to put it, in a way) transgresses towards learning about others, so that you discover your own essence via the evolution of others' lives, personalities, likes/dislikes, etc. While having the callous excuse of "i don't have time for introspection" is remarkably common, the rewards for such self-awareness far supercede the time spent in other means. What do you think?

Chucky, What causes you to feel stressed? The activites before introspection or the introspection itself? Personally, I think anyone who sits down on the sofa, has a cup of tea, and is all revved up for a nice "bout of introspection" will certainly experience difficulties!('8)'The method of introspection must be defined, don't you think? How do you know that you do not engage in introspection whilst rowing or cycling or jogging (the activities you mentioned)? For some people introspection could be playing a game of chess and discovering how you approach logical obstacles; for others it could be writing a journal. Journaling probably has perpetuated as the most common source for self-introspection because of its inherent referencing to thoughts, feelings, and activities, specific to you. However, introspection has many different forms and flavors, don't you think? Reading a book can be highly introspective.

kooz wrote:While having the callous excuse of "i don't have time for introspection" is remarkably common, the rewards for such self-awareness far supercede the time spent in other means. What do you think?

A wise point too but [perhaps] introspection isn't such a good thing to seek after all. The happiest people in life to me seem to be those who get on with their lives; never looking back.

kooz wrote:Chucky, What causes you to feel stressed?

It's the fact that I get up at 6AM for work, and then do not get home until about 6 or 7PM. Work itself is stressful because I'm working with a bunch of lazy people who don't care about what we do. There are two people that just never answer the phones and other people who are always away from their desk chatting to people.


You're right though; I have just realised that I do perform an introspection whilst jogging (I typically do 2 hours per week) or doing weight-lifting.

What about you?


Kevin.