rascalnikov

I would say it’s at the bottom due to wear marks and some other subtle things but what the fuck do I know about knowing shit.

I think they are linked. Democracy can only work and thrive with an educated and/or informed population who is willing and able to have public and civil discourse. The fact that the political climate is the way it is now, so divided and only engaging to act on petty revenges, allows for fascism to take root. We saw this in Germany prior to the second World War. When NSDAP began beating people up in the street who opposed their ideology, with little repercussions for such behavior, led to the beer hall putsch, and eventually the rise of Herr Hitler. I can see parallels with the modern day political climate of America. The issue is that we voted them into the white house; I think that might even be more jarring than them being in there itself. Democratically voting a fascist in power is a tell tale sign that our democracy is not working.

This is something I have been thinking about for a little while now. I think it depends on why you are reading. If you are reading purely for the story or to gain information, then sure; but as someone who reads largely for the benefits that come with reading, i think it not only takes the fun out of it but you also lose the benefits and the gratification of finishing a book in the traditional sense. I'm interested in what other fellow bookish people think.