Choice Paralysis & Books

1. 92

   Jessie L Watsonposted 16 months ago

   Almost every day I'm recommended a "must-read" book from somewhere. And almost every day I put something in my amazon cart based on those suggestions. When it comes time to check out, I have to remove a bunch from the cart lest I spend hundreds of dollars in one pass.
   
   Also, as an academic, there are innumerable texts out there designed to keep me up to snuff in my field. I can't possibly get to all of them. One part of me wants to start out with the classics like Socrates or Nietzsche but how does one prioritize their reading content???
   
   There's a modern concept gaining popularity called FOMO or Fear of Missing Out. I'm beginning to understand this in my own strange way.
   
   

   replyreport
2. 91

   MelRootsNWritesposted 16 months ago

   It's funny, because I have a completely different response when someone recommends a book to me, especially if they give me the book.  I feel burdened.
   
   It's as if this book is the last book I now want to read.  But, I feel the weight of the recommendation. 
   
   Maybe it is the sense of obligation.  I tend to be a spontaneous book chooser, selecting my next read on a whim, or I get in a mood for a certain type of book.  Now I feel I have to read this darn thing!  Of course, I feel more like this when they give me the book over if they just give me a recommendation.

   replyreport
   1. 92

      Jessie L Watsonposted 16 months agoin reply to this

      Funny you mention that. I was just browsing a list of "recommended books" by a certain doctor I happen to like and it occurred to me that what I was looking at was "a list of things that would lead me to draw the same conclusions as the person recommending them". So, it was a humbling experience. And these lists are on many websites owned by scholars of one field or another.
      
      In the best interests of my own development, I should just read in a way that would allow me to draw my own conclusions about the world. I feel a bit silly, to be quite honest.

      replyreport
3. 44

   jordancollinsposted 16 months ago

   So what is this book about?

   replyreport