How quality literature makes your mind beautiful
The Benefits of Being a Literary Snob
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” Psalm 101
In a world of abundance, a lack of discretion can be fatal; one can easily get bloated on nonsense rather than nourished by quality. When we walk into a grocery store and see the shelves lined with food of every kind, our austere ancestors living on seasonal food and what they could grow or preserve, would marvel at our wealth, but we know that not all that is in the store is truly nourishing. We can fill entire grocery carts with “food” that, although is calorific and will prevent starvation, will nevertheless make us sick very quickly rather than nourish our bodies the way that real food ought to.
Our media environment is very similar. It has never been easier, cheaper and more convenient to get books and reading material than it is today. It is curious therefore, that people who would admit that not all food is healthy, are reluctant to admit that not all reading material is healthy. “As long as you’re reading, it’s good for you” is a message repeated to adult and child alike. In fact, just as some kinds of food, containing toxic food dyes, carcinogens and chemicals, are actively harmful to the body, so too is a lot of reading material toxic to the mind and spirit.
A beautiful mind shows itself in its aura, what it creates, how it responds to the world with thoughtfulness and wisdom rather than volatility and self-centeredness. How can we cultivate a beautiful mind through selective reading? Read on.
