THE BOOKS WE READ

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19474, 14 January 1935, Page 6

THE BOOKS WE READ

“Most novel-reading is a mere way of starting a day-dream; it is a way of escape from life. This is a habit which must bo carefully watched, or it rots the mind. At the same time, I could make an impressive list of serious men who have unbent their great minds over detective stories. It is better than playing cards for money, anyhow,” says the Very Rev. W. R. Inge, in the Church of England newspaper. “In literature, the dead lion is better than the live dog. Old books require more education than new ones, but they > do us more good. ‘ Old wood to bum, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old books to read.’ Our neglect of our English classical literature is a national disgrace.

“ Read what you enjoy. Reading against the grain is not only a weariness of the flesh; it does not stick. And link up your reading with your other interests. It is impossible to remember what is entirely alien to qur thoughts and pursuits. The most valuable part of reading is when we put the book down and think over it. The mind in reading ought never to he quite passive. We have to take our part in the debate; we are pitting our wits against a wiser man than ourselves, but we are not to swallow ivhole what needs careful mastication.

“History is immensely interesting, but it is often little better than tine fable convcnue. ‘ The Deity/ said Samuel Butler, ‘ cannot alter the past, but historians can and do. Perhaps that is why He allows them to exist.’ Similarly with biography. The widow or disciple dresses the deceased in canonicals; the new biographer of the Lytton Strachey school gives a slap-dash impressionist portrait, or guys his man ns an ‘eminent Victorian/ and therefore absurd. But such books are very enjoyable, and we can believe as much of them as we like.

“ Popular science ought not to he neglected, for this is the chief avenue of revelation —I do not think that is putting it too high—to our generation. It is fortunate that some of our leading scientists are admirable writers. Well, we may all choose our own favourites. But let them be men who viewed life nobly.”