Art Garfunkel's Library • Hacker News Board

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#121

Post by denton-scratch » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:19 PM UTC

lelandfe wrote: post #74

supersrdjan wrote: post #47

I used to keep a list like this (more modest though) but I stopped once I realized it's demeaning both to me and the books. The problem was that the list had no other purpose except as a kind of trophy case. I felt proud about my list, as if finishing a book is an achievement, as if reading is a sport, as if reading a lot makes you better than those who read less. I was disgusted by my own vanity, and moreover, consi…

Does keeping a record of things necessarily imply vanity? It seems to me that your problem was with your own feeling toward the list - “I felt proud about my list” - and not the list itself. Where does that feeling come from? It might be worth exploring.

Publishing your list on your website does imply vanity. I have long thought that Art held himself in high regard (he was certainly a fantastic harmonist though).

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#122

Post by Wistar » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:27 PM UTC

hamburglar wrote: post #80

supersrdjan wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. I think it comes from school and parents instilling the notion that reading books is virtuous. The idea of being "well-read"

I actually think being well-read is virtuous. Feeling superior about it is what isn't. I think in your position I might have continued keeping the list but under no circumstances let anyone else know I'm keeping it.

Perhaps a public list of what one has not read is the more humble choice?

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#123

Post by ignite » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:37 PM UTC

belter wrote: post #38

With all due respect to Art Garfunkel, whose work I greatly admire...I would suggest to tone it down a little bit :-) and maybe change the text on the page 1968 to 1978 from "We are pleased to present a listing of every book Art has read since 1968." to maybe "We are pleased to present a listing of every book Art bought, opened once, perused, read a few pages and some he read since 1968..." :-)) From 1968 to the end…

What's your point? Do you think 12 pages a day is a high number?

I'm sure I've exceeded that over a similar period. Likely anyone who enjoys reading regularly has.

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#124

Post by gnuj3 » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:43 PM UTC

podviaznikov wrote: post #35

gnuj3 wrote: post #11

I started keeping a text file with all things I read and another one for audiobooks. Since Obsidian came out I use it to edit my file and link books together. I use the following format: [[title]] by [[author]] (date finished) That way I generate a separate file for each book where I can keep notes and my rating. I also keep a separate file for each author so I can easily link all the books/short stories/essays etc b…

I just store them in apple notes now. Also I usually save a bit more info by default. https://podviaznikov.com/readings/what-do-you-care-what-othe...

Having txt files is just more portable for me in terms of any future software changes. It’s a backup for lifetime essentially as I’m not tied to Apple Notes nor Obsidian.

I save more by default too, I have a template that imports when I add new book to my collection and I just fill it with info/tags and my notes/quotes and other interesting stuff related to the book.

My favourite thing about Obsidian is that you can interlink all the notes together. Its super useful if you’re referring to other books in your notes or if you have literature notes on different books.

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#125

Post by gnuj3 » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:44 PM UTC

froh wrote: post #31

gnuj3 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks like The Road by McCarthy (2006) is marked as his favourite but for some reason is not included on the favourites list.

the list has a second page, unintuitively linked from the _top_ of the first one: https://www.artgarfunkel.com/books2.html

Ah, I missed it. Thanks!

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#126

Post by driggs » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

jonny_eh wrote: post #113

supersrdjan wrote: post #47

I used to keep a list like this (more modest though) but I stopped once I realized it's demeaning both to me and the books. The problem was that the list had no other purpose except as a kind of trophy case. I felt proud about my list, as if finishing a book is an achievement, as if reading is a sport, as if reading a lot makes you better than those who read less. I was disgusted by my own vanity, and moreover, consi…

Ever pick up a book and wonder if you've already read it?

If you can't remember whether you've read it or not, then you've forgotten it, and having it on a list serves no purpose other than to "keep score".

You may as well read it again and hope it sticks this time!

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#127

Post by jonny_eh » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:50 PM UTC

driggs wrote: post #126

jonny_eh wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever pick up a book and wonder if you've already read it?

If you can't remember whether you've read it or not, then you've forgotten it, and having it on a list serves no purpose other than to "keep score". You may as well read it again and hope it sticks this time!

If you read it, and forgot it, maybe it's not worth reading again and knowing that you can save some time!

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#128

Post by armadsen » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 5:54 PM UTC

olvy0 wrote: post #42

Did he actually read War and Peace, The Great Gatsby, Catch 22, Candide, The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Malcolm X biography and two other books during the single month of Feb 1969?? I find that a tad hard to believe... But whatever. I'm a pretty fast reader myself, so I'll take that as a challenge / inspiration for myself :)

My wife reads a pretty consistent 200 books per year (not audio books). She's not a very fast reader. She's just very consistent, and reads anytime she has downtime, even in waiting rooms, etc.

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#129

Post by KerrAvon » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 6:09 PM UTC

belter wrote: post #45

kachnuv_ocasek wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In all honesty, 12 pages per day doesn't really seem that much.

Not if you combine those years with Studying Art, Graduating, Studying Law, Helping others Graduate by reading their own works to them, Rehearsing, Touring, Recording, Doing Movies :-) As I said, a career I greatly admire. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Garfunkel

That might explain why he's read relatively few books in all that time.

Re: Art Garfunkel's Library

#130

Post by hybby » Fri, Sep 16, 2022, 6:11 PM UTC

Remarkable that a new book hasn't entered his "favourites" (top 100) in 22 years. And that his favourite books are ones he read longest ago - the favourites ranking tracks with date read fairly consistently!