Dear friends, I have a big problem!
Often I think that we are from different worlds.
It is not because I lived 40 years in the USSR or I am a bit older than many of you.
I know that all of you love reading. I am sure that you met at some time quotes below:
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.
He that loves reading has everything within his reach.
Who I am, what I am, is the culmination of a lifetime of reading, a lifetime of stories. And there are still so many more books to read. I’m a work in progress.
So what is the problem?
I think it is in our ways of reading.
Let me explain.
When I was 8 years old I went in the library in Tashkent and a librarian told me: “I see that you love to read. Let’s do it in a right way! First read all books of fairy tales, then I’ll give you books about myths, then we’ll go through classics, then you can read books of philosophers, then some science fiction. After it you are on your own.”
This is exactly what we did. Nine years later I graduated from the high school and at that time I read many, many books written in Russian or translated from different languages into Russian. Since 1975 I also read thousands of books written in English or translated into English.
Today I don’t know how much you read or what you read. But it is very important to know!
Why? Because you can understand and accept my thoughts or posts only if you are ready for it.
Blogs are a new way of conversation. Writing and reading blogs is exercise of minds. And all of us are “work in progress”.
If we believe that we know everything, if our opinions are fixed and we are unable or not willing to follow and consider thoughts of others we stopped our growth. It means that we are mentally dying.
Several followers of this blog asked me who is my favorite author. I could not answer this question because I have favorite authors from many countries.
Today I want to mention one of them. He was born In Germany. His name is Erich Maria Remarque.
Please let me know if you read his books. If yes what his books you liked most.
Thank you!
Painting by JF
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS 