What book are you reading right now?

The prompt posed a similar question earlier this year. At that time, I turned to Cicero’s wisdom: “A house without books is like a body without a soul.” Books truly have the power to enrich our lives, and it is hard to imagine life without them. Just as a body without a soul is devoid of meaning, a life without books would be an empty existence, lacking the essence of knowledge, wisdom, science, and imagination.

As for the question, not much has changed! I have grown a year older, though not necessarily wiser, and I am still immersed in Will Durant’s The Story of Civilization. I hope to complete all eleven volumes within my lifetime. These books, chronicling our civilization, are captivating and written with such charm that they are an absolute pleasure to read.

Allow me to reflect aloud for a moment. It seems to me that society has become less agreeable over time. Reading Will Durant often reminds me of an era when people communicated differently—not in soundbites but in thoughtful, well-crafted sentences. It was a time when letter-writing was an art. Forgive my insolence, but I am an old man with all the attributes of age—except, thankfully, for a lack of humour and, occasionally, some cynicism.

When I read, I tend to multitask, delving into several books simultaneously. Here is what I am currently reading:

  • The Story if Civilization – Volume 3 Ceasar and Christ – Will Durant
  • Destined For War – The Thucydides Trap – Graham Allison
  • The Best of Tagore – Rabindranath Tagore
  • Empire of The Mind – A History of Iran – Michael Axworthy
  • Poems – Lord Byron
  • The Holy Roman Empire – Peter H. Wilson

WJJH-15.11.2024

📌Blog Excerpt

Daily Prompt: Reflecting on the significance of books in enriching life, referencing Cicero’s wisdom. With a multi-tasking approach currently reading Will Durant’s The Story of Civilization, and some other books, including works by Tagore and Byron.

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