Quote:
Originally Posted by bhkad
A postscript in support of these books: Reading for pleasure presupposes a reasonably good grasp of the issues that are being decided in our time. I believe it would be terribly irresponsible or fanciful to spend our time reading for pleasure until we have achieved a sound understanding of the scourge that threatens WWIII. To ignore that would be like Emperor Nero's fiddling while Rome burned or dancing a waltz in the Titanic's ballroom while the great ship was sinking, IMHO.
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Although I can understand what you are saying here, I do disagree as well. Here we are on a forum, where if we wish to discuss the war and politics, we have several forums readily available. As such, the discussions that would be raised by your book references, actually are being discussed already.
It may seem trivial or irresponsible to you that some may want to discuss something other then war in this particular time and place. But for those who have felt buried in discussions about war and politics, doing so in this manner may just turn them off from wanting to participate in this forum period.
Hence the reason the suggestion to start out small and easy...Afterall, this is a new concept to many, discussing books on more then just an opinionated level of 'pro' and 'con' type of discussions.
And the titles you've suggested, although good reading and thought provoking, would be designed to turn the content of discussion into a 'pro' and 'con' side issue like the other forums this type of topic is currently discussed as.
And I do believe the hopes of those that brought up the suggestion of this forum, wasn't to have yet another outlet to debate current topics. But moreso as a way to think about 'what is the meaning of life' and 'how does the words of the author make me think of myself and where do I fit into the meaning of life'.
In otherwords, literature about the condition of self.