Thoughts on what to read in 2021

Books read in 2021

1. Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief. Jordan B. Peterson. Started Sunday November 29, 2020 at 2:52PM. Finished Sunday January 3, 2021 at 7:18PM in Austin, Texas.

2. The Master and Margarita — Mikhail Bulgakov started Sunday January 3, 2021 at 7:18PM in Austin, Texas. Finished Saturday January 9, 2021 at 10:58PM in Austin, Texas.

3. The Path to Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson) — Robert Caro. Started Monday January 4, 2021 at 11:37AM in Austin, Texas. Finished Thursday January 21, 2021 at 2:03PM in Austin, Texas.

4. Weapons of Math Destruction — Cathy O’Neil. Started Thursday January 21, 2021 at 2:24PM Finished Friday January 22, 2021 at 6:10PM.

5. Plato’s Republic — Benjamin Jowett Translation. Started Friday January 22, 2021 at 5:52PM.

Thoughts on reading:

· Reading is a journey. Looking back at the books read and the times read, I recall the stories of why I read the book, what decision or series of decisions led to that book. The feelings of the season, some scenes are so poignant to me — such as some in DFW’s Infinite Jest — discussions with friends. I do not know why we read exactly. Harold Bloom wrote “We read not only because we cannot know enough people, but because friendship is so vulnerable, so likely to diminish or disappear, overcome by space, time, imperfect sympathies and all the sorrows of familial and passional life.” I do not know if this true but the sentiment finds some truth in me. I sentimentally feel this might be part of the reason we read so much.

“This was long thought to be the only portrait of William Shakespeare that had any claim to have been painted from life, until another possible life portrait, the Cobbe portrait, was revealed in 2009. The portrait is known as the ‘Chandos portrait’ after a previous owner, James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos. It was the first portrait to be acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in 1856. The artist may be by a painter called John Taylor who was an important member of the Painter-Stainers’ Company.” Image and description from Wikipedia. I claim no ownership.

© Charles Edward Andrew Lincoln IV