The recursive discovery described here applies beautifully to re-reading too. Great books seem to grow alongside us, offering new insights with each return visit.
Wise words. I read Brower’s essay last year because you mentioned it and it definitely changed my relationship with literature. I think most people need to learn how to appreciate things in themselves; reading just for the sake of reading
Such an important topic. We cannot let our attention spans be rewired so much that we must speed read everything. You have lovely, eloquent words when speaking of reading!
I love this so much, Adam. We're slowly, slowly reading *Middlemarch* this summer in my Substack book club, and so many of the revelations are precisely of this kind: that books open up a kind of wonderful discourse (with the text, with ourselves, with each other) when we slow down and savor them. Thanks for this essay!
The portrait of Johnson is fabulous. I especially love the way Reynolds has given as much weight and attention to the hands gripping the pages of copy, as he has to Johnson's face.
The recursive discovery described here applies beautifully to re-reading too. Great books seem to grow alongside us, offering new insights with each return visit.
Wise words. I read Brower’s essay last year because you mentioned it and it definitely changed my relationship with literature. I think most people need to learn how to appreciate things in themselves; reading just for the sake of reading
I found his book on internet archive!
Such an important topic. We cannot let our attention spans be rewired so much that we must speed read everything. You have lovely, eloquent words when speaking of reading!
I love this so much, Adam. We're slowly, slowly reading *Middlemarch* this summer in my Substack book club, and so many of the revelations are precisely of this kind: that books open up a kind of wonderful discourse (with the text, with ourselves, with each other) when we slow down and savor them. Thanks for this essay!
The portrait of Johnson is fabulous. I especially love the way Reynolds has given as much weight and attention to the hands gripping the pages of copy, as he has to Johnson's face.
Love the concept of reading and companionship
Great post, Adam! I’m trying to adopt slow reading into my life and I’m happy Substack showed me your post.
Thanks for the post Adam!