Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher of the 19th century, had distinct views on reading and books, which he expressed in his work “On Reading and Books” (“Über das Lesen und die Bücher”). Here are some key insights from Schopenhauer on this topic:
Quality over Quantity: Schopenhauer emphasized the importance of quality over quantity in reading. He believed that it’s better to read a few good books thoroughly than to skim through many books superficially. He argued that a person who reads too much without proper reflection gains little real knowledge.
Original Thinkers vs. Readers: Schopenhauer made a distinction between original thinkers and mere readers. He regarded original thinkers as those who derive their knowledge from their own reflections and observations, while readers are those who rely on the thoughts and ideas of others. He valued original thinking more highly.
Solitude and Contemplation: Schopenhauer praised the solitude and contemplation that reading offers. He saw reading as a means of withdrawing from the noise and distractions of the world to engage in deep contemplation and self-reflection. Books, according to Schopenhauer, provide a refuge for the mind.
Classical Literature: Schopenhauer had a strong preference for classical literature. He believed that timeless works, often found in the classics, contain profound insights into the human condition. He recommended spending more time with such enduring works rather than chasing after the latest publications.
Selective Reading: Schopenhauer advocated for selective reading, advising individuals to be discerning in their choice of books. He suggested that one should focus on works that have stood the test of time and have enduring value, rather than being swayed by popular trends.
Reflection and Application: Reading, for Schopenhauer, was not merely about acquiring information but also about reflecting on what one reads and applying it to one’s own life. He believed that true wisdom comes from internalizing and applying the insights gained through reading.
Balance with Observation: While Schopenhauer valued reading, he also stressed the importance of direct observation and experience. He believed that a balanced approach, combining reading with real-life observation, was essential for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the world.
Ignorance is degrading only when it is found in company with riches. Want and penury restrain the poor man; his employment takes the place of knowledge and occupies his thoughts: while rich men who are ignorant live for their pleasure only, and resemble a beast; as may be seen daily.
When we read, another person thinks for us: we merely repeat his mental process.
It is the same as the pupil, in learning to write, following with his pen the lines that have been pencilled by the teacher.
For to read in every spare moment, and to read constantly, is more paralysing to the mind than constant manual work, which, at any rate, allows one to follow one’s own thoughts. Just as a spring, through the continual pressure of a foreign body, at last loses its elasticity, so does the mind if it has another person’s thoughts continually forced upon it.
And just as one spoils the stomach by overfeeding and thereby impairs the whole body, so can one overload and choke the mind by giving it too much nourishment. For the more one reads the fewer are the traces left of what one has read; the mind is like a tablet that has been written over and over. Hence it is impossible to reflect; and it is only by reflection that one can assimilate what one has read if one reads straight ahead without pondering over it later, what has been read does not take root, but is for the most part lost. Indeed, it is the same with mental as with bodily food: scarcely the fifth part of what a man takes is assimilated; the remainder passes off in evaporation, respiration, and the like.
From all this it may be concluded that thoughts put down on paper are nothing more than footprints in the sand: one sees the road the man has taken, but in order to know what he saw on the way, one requires his eyes.
As the strata of the earth preserve in rows the beings which lived in former times, so do the shelves of a library preserve in a like manner the errors of the past and expositions concerning them. Like those creatures, they too were full of life in their time and made a great deal of noise; but now they are stiff and fossilised, and only of interest to the literary palaeontologist.
According to Herodotus, Xerxes wept at the sight of his army, which was too extensive for him to scan, at the thought that a hundred years hence not one of all these would be alive. Who would not weep at the thought in looking over a big catalogue that of all these books not one will be in existence in ten years’ time?
Wherever one goes one immediately comes upon the incorrigible mob of humanity. It exists everywhere in
legions; crowding, soiling everything, like flies in summer. Hence the numberless bad books, those rank weeds of literature which extract nourishment from the corn and choke it.They monopolise the time, money, and attention which really belong to good books and their noble aims; they are written merely with a view to making money or procuring places. They are not only useless, but they do positive harm. Nine-tenths of the whole of our present literature aims solely at taking a few shillings out of the public’s pocket, and to accomplish this, author, publisher, and reviewer have joined forces.
There is a more cunning and worse trick, albeit a profitable one. Littérateurs, hack-writers, and productive authors have succeeded,
contrary to good taste and the true culture of the age, in bringing the world elegante into leading-strings, so that they have been taught to read a tempo and all the same thing—namely, the newest books order that they may have material for conversation in their social circles. Bad novels and similar productions from the pen of writers who were once famous, such as Spindler, Bulwer, Eugène Sue, and so on, serve this purpose. But what can be more miserable than the fate of a reading public of this kind, that feels always impelled to read the latest writings of extremely commonplace authors who write for money only, and therefore exist in numbers? And for the sake of this they merely know by name the works of the rare and superior writers, of all ages and countries.One can never read too little of bad, or too much of good books: bad books are intellectual poison; they destroy the mind. In order to read what is good one must make it a condition never to read what is bad; for life is short, and both time and strength limited.
Any kind of important book should immediately be read twice, partly because one grasps the matter in its entirety the second time, and only really understands the beginning when the end is known; and partly because in reading it the second time one’s temper and mood are different, so that one gets another impression; it maybe that one sees the matter in another light.
Recommended books:
If you’re interested in exploring the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer further, here are some recommended books by and about him:
“The World as Will and Representation” (“Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung”) – This is Schopenhauer’s magnum opus and provides a comprehensive exposition of his philosophical system.
“Essays and Aphorisms” (“Essays und Aphorismen”) – This collection includes some of Schopenhauer’s shorter writings and aphorisms, offering insights into various aspects of his philosophy.
“On the Suffering of the World” (“Über die Weiber”) – This is a shorter work by Schopenhauer that delves into his thoughts on human suffering and the nature of existence.
“Schopenhauer: A Very Short Introduction” by Christopher Janaway – This is part of the “Very Short Introductions” series and provides a concise overview of Schopenhauer’s life and key ideas.
“The Cambridge Companion to Schopenhauer” edited by Christopher Janaway – This collection of essays by various authors provides in-depth analyses of different aspects of Schopenhauer’s philosophy.
“Arthur Schopenhauer: Philosopher of Pessimism” by Julian Young – This biography explores Schopenhauer’s life and philosophy in a detailed and accessible manner.
“Schopenhauer’s Porcupines: Intimacy and Its Dilemmas: Five Stories of Psychotherapy” by Deborah Anna Luepnitz – While not directly about Schopenhauer, this book draws on his metaphor of the porcupines to explore the challenges of human intimacy, applying psychological insights.
“Schopenhauer: A Biography” by David E. Cartwright – This biography provides a comprehensive account of Schopenhauer’s life and intellectual development.