Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Wisdom in Books

Imagine what it would be like to have conversation with Thomas Jefferson or sit down to dinner with Claude Monet. The idea of getting a peek into these famous minds is very intriguing to me.

Of course, that's not going to happen, but we can gain a little insight into what brilliant minds considered through their writings. Most have left behind some letters, diaries, or other writing that let us glimpse their thoughts. Some of their wisdom is on those pages.

I've always been a reader. My method these days is to check something out of the library first, to see how I like it. If I enjoy it then I buy a copy so I can make notes in it.

Post it note flag pens were made for me. I like to highlight the passages that matter, and flag them to find later. As you can see from this book, I found much worthy of note. It's great to pick up a book like this and, at a glance, see what I considered important when I read it. If I read it again, I'll use a different color because I might find meaning in different things.

If you're wondering what the book is, it's "Care of the Soul" by Thomas Moore. It is one of a very few books I keep within arm's reach of my desk at home.