I have unashamed chaise and rug envy (they are in one of my favourite colours and totally gorgeous) and…a bookshelf ladder! 😍 ‘Small Rain’ and ‘Loved and Missed’ have both really caught my attention as books to read, and I empathise with how much work book sorting and re-organising is - I did it last year and found it’s also a huge process of revisiting life stages and experiences that can bring up some interesting memories. I do love an organise library so I will be re- reading and possibly taking notes! Thank you both, I’ve really enjoyed reading this.
These are among the most stunning bookshelves I have ever seen! One day I shall build a home library as beautiful as this. My first ever job was in a library so organising books brings a degree of nostalgic joy, and officially counts as a pretty intense workout, so really new bookshelves are vital for my physical and mental health... :)
I agree on the organising - it takes forever. There are also never enough shelves…
I would be interested to know how you organise the ones you haven’t read yet.
I am not reading anything like as fast as I am collecting things I want to read.
The advantage is I know I have lots on the shelf I want to read. The disadvantage is then choosing which one to go for first. You can’t always predict how long it will take to read something. It can vary depending on how engaging it is and how dense the writing.
I’m finding myself drawn at the moment to either things which are going to be uplifting, or provide hope, eg I loved ‘This is Happiness’ , or to things which make me reflect more about what is going on in America (so a lot of non fiction, but also any fiction which helps me think about that too - so political satire and any fiction about state power or abuse - I want to read Kafka’s ‘The Trial’ which I need to look at again given how relevant it is to AI , black boxes and the dangers of decisions being made without any knowledge of how they were reached).
If world affairs were pressing on me less, I’d be reaching for some of the other books I bought before January, but the speed of things happening across the pond and how much I feel it is affecting me even here makes it very hard for me to focus on other topics.
Not ideal, because I need to work on the first draft of a novel which doesn’t really focus on those so much ! It does however concern women and their rights and voices - which certainly are being abused in the US, so that is the way back to that perhaps !
Thank you for sharing this piece with us (I also haven’t read the rules of power book in its entirety yet either, but I agree with your friend - it’s well worth keeping it on your shelf. I listened to a podcast about this book, and read around it a little - Ryan Holiday is good on this - and just looking back at the index is enough to get a sense - though I may dip into chapters in the future.
He suggests it is not Machiavellian as such, not an invitation or a run down of how to behave to get power, but rather a description of his observation of how the world works and what to be aware of when it comes to power and influence. It is almost more of a warning. A guide to prevent trip ups. I’ve agreed with more things in that index than I wish I had. So from a psychological point of view, I find some of the points persuasive, despite the ethical problems posed. I’d be curious to know if you do ever listen to the podcast and look at the index with fresh eyes what you think - and whether it speaks to you at all - if you are interested I can try to dig out a link to the podcast.
Thanks for all these great thoughts, Joanna. I would be interested to know about this podcast because I hadn’t actually heard of power book before Leah mentioned it…
Tried posting my comment and for some reason it didn’t send so sorry if it appears more than once ..
I would definitely listen to this first on Marcus Aurelius but he mentions Robert in it. Also a great intro to stoicism (I listened to lots as prep for my novel - and I’ve written an intro to the Meditations on my SS. Best book I’ve read this year I think).
I have unashamed chaise and rug envy (they are in one of my favourite colours and totally gorgeous) and…a bookshelf ladder! 😍 ‘Small Rain’ and ‘Loved and Missed’ have both really caught my attention as books to read, and I empathise with how much work book sorting and re-organising is - I did it last year and found it’s also a huge process of revisiting life stages and experiences that can bring up some interesting memories. I do love an organise library so I will be re- reading and possibly taking notes! Thank you both, I’ve really enjoyed reading this.
Glad you enjoyed it, Jaimie!
A bookshelf ladder!!! I didnt see it until you mentioned it and now…
MUST HAVE!
I wonder where they are found?
I was thinking this looked like a regular (vintage) ladder… no?
Maybe - I think anything like this would have to have been brought out here to Oz in seatainers. And thus likely cost a lot!!
May have to start googling, or find a carpenter 🤔☺️
These are among the most stunning bookshelves I have ever seen! One day I shall build a home library as beautiful as this. My first ever job was in a library so organising books brings a degree of nostalgic joy, and officially counts as a pretty intense workout, so really new bookshelves are vital for my physical and mental health... :)
Completely agree, Louise!
I really enjoyed this ❤️
So pleased!
I agree on the organising - it takes forever. There are also never enough shelves…
I would be interested to know how you organise the ones you haven’t read yet.
I am not reading anything like as fast as I am collecting things I want to read.
The advantage is I know I have lots on the shelf I want to read. The disadvantage is then choosing which one to go for first. You can’t always predict how long it will take to read something. It can vary depending on how engaging it is and how dense the writing.
I’m finding myself drawn at the moment to either things which are going to be uplifting, or provide hope, eg I loved ‘This is Happiness’ , or to things which make me reflect more about what is going on in America (so a lot of non fiction, but also any fiction which helps me think about that too - so political satire and any fiction about state power or abuse - I want to read Kafka’s ‘The Trial’ which I need to look at again given how relevant it is to AI , black boxes and the dangers of decisions being made without any knowledge of how they were reached).
If world affairs were pressing on me less, I’d be reaching for some of the other books I bought before January, but the speed of things happening across the pond and how much I feel it is affecting me even here makes it very hard for me to focus on other topics.
Not ideal, because I need to work on the first draft of a novel which doesn’t really focus on those so much ! It does however concern women and their rights and voices - which certainly are being abused in the US, so that is the way back to that perhaps !
Thank you for sharing this piece with us (I also haven’t read the rules of power book in its entirety yet either, but I agree with your friend - it’s well worth keeping it on your shelf. I listened to a podcast about this book, and read around it a little - Ryan Holiday is good on this - and just looking back at the index is enough to get a sense - though I may dip into chapters in the future.
He suggests it is not Machiavellian as such, not an invitation or a run down of how to behave to get power, but rather a description of his observation of how the world works and what to be aware of when it comes to power and influence. It is almost more of a warning. A guide to prevent trip ups. I’ve agreed with more things in that index than I wish I had. So from a psychological point of view, I find some of the points persuasive, despite the ethical problems posed. I’d be curious to know if you do ever listen to the podcast and look at the index with fresh eyes what you think - and whether it speaks to you at all - if you are interested I can try to dig out a link to the podcast.
Thanks for all these great thoughts, Joanna. I would be interested to know about this podcast because I hadn’t actually heard of power book before Leah mentioned it…
Tried posting my comment and for some reason it didn’t send so sorry if it appears more than once ..
I would definitely listen to this first on Marcus Aurelius but he mentions Robert in it. Also a great intro to stoicism (I listened to lots as prep for my novel - and I’ve written an intro to the Meditations on my SS. Best book I’ve read this year I think).
https://open.spotify.com/episode/30hq98RQVzhbE7kzyeHB4m?si=UOhdD87aT3y9aYHSh56UTQ
Then I think this is a discussion with him
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YMnYxP0X4jiIA12Zai9rH?si=behyF0ctQj2L-D8eB1Y6fQ
Thank you so much, Joanna x