Required Reading: Letter 2: On Discursiveness In Reading
“The primary indication, to my thinking, of a well-ordered mind is a man’s ability to remain in one place and linger in his own company.”
Seneca’s second letter to Lucilius is one so full of lessons that every sentence, every paragraph is worth written in BOLD! One cannot even begin to analyze his opening statements as well as that which closes; he advocates dearly for staying in one place; that is, remaining with one author until you have digested thoroughly the wisdom he or she is trying to convey.
Many are guilty (once an addict) of buying lots of books without really reading them; truly, who has time for such activities? Who has time to even read one author; one matter of thought thoroughly; and then compound that with hundreds of other books and authors? With that behavior, the wisdom is lost; so, he cautions “You must linger among a limited number of master thinkers; and digest their work, if you would derive ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind.”
Over the years, I have found and kept within my bossom, two; now three of such master thinkers: Neville Goddard; Napoleon Hill, and undoubtedly Seneca! For the three have taught me how to live Spiritually, Financially, and Physically in that order. My hope is that these writings do the same for you; that they open your mind and heart to the thought of finding your own master thinkers, and dwell in their presence; sit at their feet and get wisdom. One could go on forever but the topic is On Discursiveness In Reading.
In essence, read good books; which was the very first quote in my own book The Greatest Ten Self Help Books In The World of which nine Master Thinkers were curated to help anyone begin on the road On Steadiness In Reading. The greatest book in the world puts it this way “of making many books, there is no end…” Find your master thinkers; a few out of the millions and follow them to the end; farewell!
Word of the day:
Discursiveness (noun): extensive, long, lengthy, wandering, circuitous (The Oxford American Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus 2nd Edition.)
Quotations:
“Everywhere means nowhere.”
“When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.”
“…since you cannot read all the books which you may possess, it is enough to possess only as many books as you can read.”
“So you should always read standard authors; and when you crave a change, fall back upon those whom you read before.”
“Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death…”
“Contented poverty is an honourable estate.” – Epicurus.
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
“Do you ask what is the proper limit to wealth? It is, first, to have what is necessary, and, second, to have what is enough.”
Questions:
1) Who is your Master Thinker that you follow?
2) What is his/her most important book?
3) How many books do you own?
4) What genre of books do you gravitate to?
Activity:
1) Get The Greatest Ten Self Help Books In The World FREE on Amazon.
2) Buy The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino and begin to read it.
3) Spend an hour every day (preferably evenings when it’s quieter), and read (i.e Study, underline, highlight, take notes…)
4) Begin to build your personal library; buy physical copies of the books mentioned in The Greatest Ten Self Help Books In The World.
