You're Allowed Only 5 Books For Ever
You're Allowed Only 5 Books For Ever
But no computer, phone, reading tablets like kindle or any other method that would give you access to literature.
Think of it. The 5 books would be the only books you would ever be able to read for the rest of your life. I know the 5 that I would choose (in no particular order of preference):
Pride and Prejudice , written by Jane Austen. When I was in grade 11. our English teacher, Miss Dixon, required for us to read Pride and Prejudice and submit a book report to her. I was enthralled by that novel, the slightly archaic language, the plot, the characterizations, and the view of the Regency Period in England. No matter how many times I have read it, I still enjoy reading it again.
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Dune , by Frank Herbert. My brother turned me on to sci-fi when I had not yet reached double digit age. I read all of the sci-fi pulp magazines he bought and became familiar with the stories told by classic sci-fi authors. But when I read Dune, the story fascinated me, and the language and names themselves, borrowed from many cultures, made it more unusual than most. It was my favourite sci-fi novel.
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Candide, by Voltaire. This satirical novel was for me to adventure with the optimistic Candide through many difficult complex and negative situations only to finish with a metaphorical ending, i.e. 'one must cultivate their garden' is most simply explained to live a simpler more peaceful life (which is exactly what I'm now doing).
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The bible, both testaments. I believe that there is much to learn and even to be entertained by reading both testaments although much may be fictional.
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A good unabridged dictionary. I left in Canada a great Random House unabridged dictionary that was almost an encyclopedia, and I wish I had brought it with me but it was big and heavy. Note that the title above says "books" not "novels" so both the bible and the dictionary qualify as valid choices.
Which 5 books would you choose?... and why?
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I'll give this concept another try to see if there is any interest, although it won't be visible for long due to the much greater interest in politics considering the election is only weeks away.
scissors
Very Abrahamic choices.
bible
torah
koran
how to book of origami
how to book of 1001 paper airplanes
Gotta luv your sense of humor!
I guess you call all describe his humor as very cutting...
The Columbia Encyclopedia (6 million words in one physical book)
The Last Two Million Years - (The Readers Digest History Of The World (illustrated))
Siddartha (Herman Hesse)
Lights From Many Lamps (inspiration)
something by Carl Sagan, probably Cosmos
Had I known about that encyclopedia I would have chosen it instead of the dictionary, but does it define words? Both the history and Siddartha (which I would put in a similar category with Candide) are excellent choices. I don't know Lights from Many Lamps at all, and the only Sagan novel I know is Contact, but perhaps Cosmos is similar.
I don't know why I bother to ask for explanations for the choices because hardly anyone ever tells them, although I always have on similar articles.
The Columbia Encyclopedia is the best one volume encyclopedia in existence. It is a massive book, which someone gave me for Christmas many years ago and I still have it (although you have to have pretty good eyesight because the type is so small. )
The Last Two Million Years is a history of life on earth, with drawings and photographs. It doesnt really have a point of view, but does cover all the major events of mankinds journey.
Siddhartha is a novelization of the origins of Buddhism and everyone should read it at least once in their life.
Light From Many Lamps was written right after WW2 and is a compilation of quotes, anecdotes and short biographies, all with the intention of inspiring people to attributes of courage, peace of mind , spirituality, etc.
Cosmos was a PBS television series around 40 years ago. It was turned into a book by the series host carl Sagan, one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century.
I didnt put any novels other than Siddharta on my list because I think I would tire of reading them over and over compared to something like an encyclopedia.
I couldn't open the link. I suspect that you didn't copy the image to your picture library and then paste it here after copying in from your picture library, but copied and pasted it directly from google or a site I'm unable to open. However, on reading your explanations it is my opinion that you made brilliant choices, ones I never before even knew about, and better choices than I made myself. You bring to life what Robert Browning wrote: "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" I know I read Siddhartha back when I was a teenager, but I have to read it again because I've pretty well forgotten it, and besides, I'm much closer to Buddhism now than ever before (and Confucius as well).
I did too!
(I think many of our approximate age group did at the time).
I also did and also don't remember much about it.
Also at the time my friends were reading "Zen and the Art of Motocycle Maintenance"-- but I never that. (Another book popular with my friends was "the Egyptian Book of The Dead").
I read "Howl" many times-- had much of it memorized.
But unlike some of my friends i never did Acid (LSD).
In no particular order...
1) The Stand - King
2) The Hot Zone - Richard Preston
3) A dictionary
4) It - King
5) Nightmares and Dreamscapes - King
You're REALLY into Stephen King novels. Did my choice of a dictionary influence your decision to choose it?
No, I always have one handy....just in case.
Because of the dictionaries on the web I haven't needed one for a long time, but to comply with the conditions of this article I would definitely want one.
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara
Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
Either I read Catch 22 or saw the movie (not the TV series) - can't remember which, it was a long time ago. As for Don Quixote - think I read that too, but not the other 3.
The Killer Angels is a fictionalized account of the Civil War, particularly the Battle of Gettysburg. Longstreet’s character being particularly compelling.
Heart of Darkness, as an homage to Paradise Lost, and the inspiration to Apocalypse Now, explores the depths of one man’s insanity and the cultish power evil can hold. Rather topical.
Cloud Atlas is a multi-cultural, multi-generational exploration of the human condition and our place in the universe. Incredibly structured dialogue. As is more often the case, the book is so much better than the movie adaptation.
Thanks as always, Buzz, for the fresh distraction from the stale daily grind. Great literature will outlive us all.
"Rather topical" You can say that again. Maybe it was Charlie Manson's bible as well.
Believe me, I'm trying as hard and doing the best that I can, but 2 such articles that I posted recently did not get one comment or one vote up and were both wiped off the Front Page soon after I posted them, didn't last a day. My articles rarely get many comments or likes. It's comments like yours that keep me going and trying. Think of your encouragement as similar to the line spoken in the movie Schindler's List to be quoted from the Talmud that was engraved in Hebrew into the gold ring presented to Oskar Schindler by the Jews he saved: “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire!” I'm no hero, but if what I post gives anyone even a little "distraction from the stale daily grind" then I can feel that it's worth the effort.
As a result of that book, for a long time the phrase:
And there's the catch 22
entered the laguage (as popular jargon).
Either I read Catch 22 or saw the movie (not the TV series) - can't remember which, it was a long time ago. As for Don Quixote - think I read that too, but not the other 3
As a result of that book, for a long time the phrase:
And there's the catch 22
entered the laguage (as popular jargon).
I had read Catch 22-- but it was so long ago I have now entirely forgotten what it was about!
Both To Kill a Mockingbird and Huckleberry Finn are on some critics' lists as a couple of the best novels of all time.
I love both. I have both in hardback and have read them over and over several times.
Surprisingly, some liberal schools have wanted these two books banned from their campus.
I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn when I was a teenager. I never read To Kill a Mockingbird but it's movie adaptation I've enjoyed watching more that once. It's natural that I like movies with trials in them. Have you ever watched "A Conversation with Gregory Peck"? It's worth a watch, and is probably on YouTube.
It sure is hard to have any respect for the American educational system. The toll it has taken on the adults these days is, IMO, the result of it.
Bible
A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawkins
Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
Oh The Places You'll Go - Dr. Seuss
Tom Clancy 12 Book Set
I thought of naming the Anne Frank book, but I was worried it would be too depressing. It is a keynote item in the movie Freedom Writers starring Hillary Swank.
12 book set? That's against the rules. Choose ONE. I would have a tough time choosing one of his novels but it would probably be The Hunt for Red October, which was gifted to me while I was here in China. You could have the whole Encyclopedia Britannica if a whole set were what I meant. I had the whole set with annual updates when I lived in Toronto.
Only 1? OK, rules are rules, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, from 1988.
I don't know that one, but thanks for choosing just one.
I read it long ago. It wasn't full of gory details--- it was very interesting in fact.
She thought that people were really good at heart, but she ended up feeling differently. I wonder what her attitude would have been if she were at the Nova Music Festival. In fact, I wonder how all the pro-Hamas protesters and demonstrators would have felt if THEY were the audience at the Nova Music Festival instead of the audience that was.
Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel García Márq
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
Good ones. I almost included Moby Dick myself.
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
Almayer's Folly - Joseph Conrad
The Death Ship - B. Traven
The God of Small things - Arundhati Roy
The Tale of Genji - Murasaki Shikibu
... and for something exciting to annotate, my journal.
“…my journal.”
When my eldest asked to read my journals after we celebrated his mom’s life and shared our loss, at first I blanched, but after the fact, we are closer now than we have ever been.
That being said, there is nothing more therapeutic than writing. And sharing those experiences, thoughts, hopes and regrets when the time is right is priceless.
Perhaps in another life we can share our words, Hallux, as I appreciate your humour and your honesty. Peace!
Not a problem, but fair warning ... I never let my reality control my myth.
I kept a journal myself for a while, but in my case it would bring back some depressing memories from my past. I don't want to spoil how good my life is now, even though at my age my physical health is failing somewhat and my short-term memory is fading a little.
JRR Tolkien. Lord Of The Rings
JRR Tolkien. The Simarillion
Bible. New Testament King James Version
Robert E. Heinlein. Time Enough For Love
Isaac Asimov. Foundation Series in one book
Science fiction and fantasy (including the bible). LOL, Just joshing you - I chose the bible myself but "the bible" includes BOTH testaments. You don't like the Old Testament stories, or are you only interested in Jesus?
Winnie-the-Pooh: The Complete 30 books collection box set - A. A. Milne
The Complete Works of Mark Twain, including novels, short stories and essays
The complete works of William Shakespeare
Bullfinch's Mythology - all 3 volumes
Hawaiian Mythology - Martha Beckwith
I'm way in excess of the limit...
If I had put a 6th one it would have been Mythology by Edith Hamilton. First book on Greek Mthology I ever read as a elementary schooler. I would sit in the library after school for hours reading and daydreaming about Greek heroes. At 70 years old I still have a copy of that book and read it to this day and my 14 old granddaughter reads it as well. My apologies for rambling.
No need to apologize for that. I ENCOURAGE rambling and off topic comments as long as they are civil and not intentionally diverting a discussion.
NO KIDDING!!!! There isn't a library where you're going other than the one you want to create for yourself. It's hard to choose what is the most special to you, isn't it? Well, If I followed the rules and had to choose one of Shakespeare's works, it would still be the most popular one, Hamlet (my ex-wife used to call me that because of my "...thinking too precisely on th' event"), and I acted at my high school play as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night but wouldn't want to be reminded about my acting forever.
I can think of a whole lot more. We haven't even got to Barbara Tuchman's books, Henry James (especially The Portrait of a Lady), the collected poems of Allen Ginsburg, etc., etc., etc.
Of course you can, so can I, and so can everyone who has commented here. But try to think of yourself as Tom Hanks in the movie Cast Away, where all the books you love other that the 5 volumes you, as the only survivor of the plane crash into the ocean, were able to save that were the most special to you as you swam to the shore of the deserted island. It's an exercise for you to try to mentally bargain with yourself to make that choice, and THAT is the distraction from being concerned about elections, and horrific hurricanes and wildfires, and ongoing wars and whatever else is unpleasant.
I'm trying to make NT a better place, a place that will attract more members and cause interesting comments and conversations and education about things we might never otherwise have known because when we stop wanting to expand our experiences and knowledge what's the reason for us to be taking up space on this planet anyway? What REALLY keeps me posting articles, even though what I post may not be of interest to many NT members, I'm aware that if you go down to the very bottom of this page you will see that 434 people who are NOT NT members are looking at this page.
If I were marooned on a desert island I would want just want one thing-- a warterproof cellphone (with solar charging) which could have unlimitesd Internet access!
Yeah, and not only would that be a means for you to be rescued, but it gives you access to Gutenberg, and all the classic books on it.
So far you've made a lot of progress! But its a difficuklt task,there's a long way to go....
Some of the earliest books i read were in Winnie The Pooh series. Just two-- the first one (which IIRC was titled Winnie the Pooh, and the next one (titled The House at Pooh corner?)
I loved the origtinal ilustrations as well (those by E. H. Shepard). When I later saw the Disney illustration I thought that was a step backwards.
It was long ago. The two books had a very nice binding. (I don't know for sure but they may have been first editions?) Anyway I later gave them away.
I realize now that I didn't save a lot of things I had many years ago, like some snail-mail correspondence, souvenirs, etc. i.e. things I felt I would never need, but now, so many years later, I would have enjoyed the memories they would conjure.
30 different Winnie The Pooh titles? I hadn't realized there were that many! (I only knew of two-- which I read over and over as a young kid!)
For me, when I was a young kid, it was the Freddy the Pig books. My mother would take me to the public library and I would read some there and with her library card bring some home to read. Walter R. Brooks wrote 26 of the Freddy the Pig books, and I loved them.
When I got a little older I started reading the Sci-Fi pulp magazines that my brother, who is 4 years older than me, would buy and read. They contained lots of great stories by authors such as Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, Edward E. "Doc" Smith, etc
When I was a kid the Freddy the Pig books were my absolute favorites. My mother took me to the library and I checked them out to read at home. I read every one they had.
Something ELSE we have in common.
I used to be a fanatical reader of Sci Fi!
(For some reason I had never read (or even probably never heard of-- the Freddy the Pig series.
My brother was more fanatical than you. He even attended a sci-fi convention in Chicago where he met Edward E. "Doc" Smith, author of the Skylark series and Lens series, and he autographed one of his books for my brother. As for the "Freddy the Pig" books, they were superb reading for kids, if not for being able to follow Freddy on his many adventures, but because the camaraderie of all the various Engish-speaking animals was lesson to kids about being comfortable with people of many colours, religions and backgrounds. But then 'Animal Farm' did teach us that some are more equal than others.
Now that I think about it, IIRC I used to really like books about a fictiona; Dr. DoLittle, who could also speak to animals. But other than the fact that I liked them I don't remeber much about them.
I don't remember the storylines or dialogue from the Freddy books either - it's been an awful long time.
I was always extremely curious, and liked to keep learning new things. In that MBTI theory of Pyschology series I posted a while back, there are two types that are like that-- and often have the most knowledge.:
1. ENTP which keep exploring many things, often moves from one to the next,-- of any of the 16 types has knowledge of the most number of different topics! (But often jumps from one topic to the next)
INTP is similar-- but has the most in-depth knowledge o f a few topics.
I am an ENTP-- go into something usually in depth-- but not for long. Soon leaves it and moves on to another topic!
In that MBTI theory of Pyschology series I posted a while back,
That's Part I.
Part II lists the types of people on NT who took the test. Here are the ISTJs:
ISTJ - Sandy, Buzz, Freefaller?, Nowhere Man
Actually I was thinking of posting another "Which Personality Type Are You" type test. This one has a test thats much shorter than the MMPI- IIRC its only 10 questions, and its quicker & easier to decide what answers you want to pick. And its really accurate.(Actually the types have names rather than 4 letters, and you get to be one primary and one secondary type.)
Example: in that sytem my primary type is a "Visionary"-- my secondary type is a "Teacher".
(I was surprised how accurate that is!)
Some of the types are defined differently than one might think--especially the way they define "Visionary" may be hard for most people to understand. (Unless you're an actual "Visionary" type-- then you probbly know what that's like.)
You should post that test.
Probably tomorrow.
Its a lot simpler than the MBTI But its surprisingly accurate. (IIRC There are only 10 questions). Most people really like it-- and find it to be pretty accurate.
Good. I'm looking forward to finding out who I really am. I've had some doubt about it lately.
I have the opposite problem. Over the years I’ve become pretty clear about who I am— it’s some of those other people that I’m wondering about!
A few members on this site DO know who I am.
Assuming an external imposition of a 5 book limit, such as the collapse of society...
Since there are only five allowed, I can't include a book on practical chemistry or practical engineering.
I chose the bible myself, mainly because it would provide spiritual guidance and solace, besides its entertainment value My comment just above yours indicates my feelings about the limitation - many could easily choose multiples of it, but my reason was to determine what was most important, and I think you have indicated what is most important to you.
The one I forgot to add was "The Universe In A Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking.
LOL. Too late, you're already "Cast Away".
Awww man!
LOL
I have always loved reading-- very a very early age. I loved reading both non-fiction as well as fiction. I especially loved to read Science books-- on almost any topic. I also read a lot of Science fiction. (As a little kid I fantasized myselfslef as a scientist working in a secret lab deep below ground!).
I've read so many books that its impossible to pick a few favourites. SDo I'm afraid I havNow I have no need to own things like the Bible, A Dictionary, or an Encyclopedia because its so much easier to do reference work online.
For enjoyment (and less serious reading) when I have time to do it, I like good mysteries and good spy stories.
But I'm afraid I can't accept this challenge-- books (and other sources of information) play such an important role in my life I can't choose only 5!
Nobody can. That was the challenge. What this article might have done is make you think about what you COULD choose, and that was a distraction from being concerned about the trials and tribulations of the moment, such as wars, and the election, and gun violence, and the ravages of the weather, etc. That was also the purpose of my posting the riddle, but it seems that most members have been cognitively imprisoned by the election.
Actually I've thought a lot about what books I'm forced to throw out-- I used to have so many. They filled my many bookshelves-- every shelf had books being horizontal on top of the others!
At the time I realized the criteria for reference books would be easier-- would keeping them be more useful than looking for the info on the "Net. (I kept only a few of those-- maybe 10 or so that I consult almost daily for work).
For fiction it was a more difficult decision-- as I enjoy a fictional book more in the "hardcopy" version (rather than on something like Kindle). So would I ever want to read that fiction book again? And if so-- how many times?
I didn't bring books with me when I came here because of the weight, but the bookstores here do sell English language books as well as Chinese, so I've been able to buy a few i really wanted, like P&P, and one of the most famous Chinese classics, Journey the West. Virtually every Chinese person in China starting with childhood is familiar with the major character, The Monkey King. Movies, TV series, stories about him are extremely popular. Journey to the West is a story about the Monkey King, and his travels and adventures, and it's very long - three volumes.
People argue over whether Hinduism is monotheistic or polytheistic. IMO some sects are perhaps polytheistic, others really monotheistic. The reason I mention this is that some sects have numerous gods-- one of the more important ones is Hanuman:
Hanuman is a Hindu god whose shape is half-monkey, half-human. He is the most devoted follower of Prince Rama, so he features a lot in the Ramayana as well as lots of other traditional Hindu stories and artworks. Hanuman has special powers and qualities that he uses to help Rama rescue his wife .
I googled some more and found this:
Outside India, however, rather different tales are told of him. Although steadfastly chaste in the Sanskrit tradition, for instance, he has wives and children in other traditions. He has been identified as the inspiration for the monkey hero of the great Chinese poem Xiyouji (“Journey to the West”). In India Hanuman is revered by the nationalist Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , and he has been depicted as a fierce superhero in a popular series of comic books.
I learned a little about Hindu gods but had to stop-- there are so many! And many of them have long stories...lol!
I believe we discussed this a bit; you said you liked Guan Yin. There are only two I relate to are Guan Yin and the Hindu Lakschmi. As I believe I mentioned in my Feng Shui I have a Lakschmi. (I am also thinking of getting a Rendition of St. Michael for "protection"-- he's the dude with the sword. Traditionally people often place a likeness of him inside, right by the door.
(Of course I'm not in any way superstitious, religious, etc-- but these things really work!)
I've read a few of his books-- wonderful author! But don't remember much about them it was long ago.
I don't remember Hinduism figuring into the novel. I think it was mostly about Buddhism. "The novel is based on the actual 7th-century pilgrimage of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang (602–664) to India in search of sacred texts." In fact, Buddhism was brought to China from India by 3 monks on white horses, and the Emperor was pleased by that, and gave them land to build their Buddhist temple, which I visited more than once in Luoyang, in Henan Province. It is called the White Horse Temple. I met with a "drummer" monk there:
GuanYin is the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. A statuette of her graces our small Buddhist shrine in our living room. She is the one my wife prays to on special Buddhist days by lighting and planting in front of her 3 sticks of incense, then bows 3 times with her palms together in prayer - yesterday was such a day, when there are certain dietary restrictions, such nothing cooked with oil.
I've read a lot of them, and being a lawyer, I particularly enjoyed reading them. Many have been adapted into movies, such as A Time to Kill, The Client, The Pelican Brief, Runaway Jury, The Firm, The Rainmaker, and others that I've not seen.
Thinking about it-- I decided of one of the five! An amazing book: The Web That has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk. It fairly long and very, very thorough. And carefully researched footnotes which in total seem to be as long as the text!
I used to go to get Accupuncture at an Accupuncture school. When I mentioned to some students that I read this book they were impressed-- and mentioned it was required reading for beginning students at the school! An introduction to what's usually called TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine),
Not recommended unless someone want to understand TCM in depth!
Description fromAmazon:
The Web That has No Weaver
Author: Ted Kaptchuk
A Doody’s Core Title for 2024 & 2022!
The Web That Has No Weaver is the classic, comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of Chinese alternative medicine. This accessible and invaluable resource has earned its place as the foremost authority in synthesizing Western and Eastern healing practices. This revised edition is the product of years of further reflection on ancient Chinese sources and active involvement in cutting-edge scientific research.
Not surprisingly Wikipedia gave it a very negative write up-- they hate anything that's not super-conventional! (Those idiots think Astrology, Psychic abilities, Homeopathy & other forms of alternative realities . . even reincarnation..are hoaxes!!!
Ignorant Muggles..the lot of them!
I've used TCM, sometimes it was successful, sometimes not. I do take both western and TCM pills every day to maintain my health.
I believe I mentioned that my cousin is an Accupuncturist. She has worked with Ted on a project. (IIRC it was at the NIH in Bethesda MD)> She said she thinks he's a true genius!
P.S: My cousin is also quite brilliant. A while back her situation changed and she had lots more free time. She wasn't sure what she should do with it but I suggested she do one of the things she loves-- translating ancient Chinese manuscripts into English! (She's a real Sinophile-- she has studied and is pretty good at Chinese calligrapy.)
One of the differences between conventional Western medicine and much "Alternative Medicine" is that tradition medicine tend to focus on treating the symptoms (and "named diseases")-- TCM and alternative Western medicine treats the underlying energy imbalalnce.
Traditional madicine often seems to work faster but often has negative side effects. Most alternative medicine is usually gentler with fewer side effects but may take longer.
And of course the most important thing IMO is...to do what works.
ONe example-- Accupuncturists will tell prospective patients that it can't cure Cancer. However its excels at curing "incurable" pain.
Good for her. I'm sorry I didn't try harder to learn Chinese. Although I know a few basic words and phrases, such as: hello, goodbye, I know, I don't know, single digit numbers, happy new year, thank you, names of some vegetables, and not much more. It's so much easier to learn a language when you're younger, but I was almost 70 when I came here. Fortunately, English is used a lot on signs along with Chinese, and many people can speak English well enough to be able to understand me (and for me to understand them), and some speak it quite well, like the dentist I've used and a doctor friend of mine here whose young daughter I helped with her English and now she is going to school in Canada.
Germanic and Romance languages are easier for English speakers to learn. Words from other language families can be very difficult.
And those that use different written forms pose additional challenges (Chinese, the Semitic languages, etc).
In high school I did have classes in Latin, French, and German but foreign languages were not my strength, although English was. My brother, who skipped grades in Public School and is Mensa (I never made it to that level) went through university on a scholarship in foreign languages. Interesting that we had different abilities, but then, we weren't twins we are 4 years apart.