Infinite Monkeys"A personal library is an X-ray of the owner's soul," writes Jay Parini in the Chronicle of Higher Education. "It offers keys to a particular temperament, an intellectual disposition, a way of being in the world. Even how the books are arranged on the shelves deserves notice, even reflection. There is probably no such thing as complete chaos in such arrangements."
Parini hasn't seen my study. Oh, how I wish I had more room for my books. As it is, my library is scattered across three locations, and I have hundreds of volumes boxed up in my garage. I can sympathize with the novelist Anthony Powell, who once told Parini, "I can't give a book up, if it's a book that meant something to me... I always imagine I'll go back to it one day. I rarely do, but the intention is there, and I get a warm feeling among my books."
Posted by H.L. Monkey at September 28, 2006 08:54 PMIt's people like you who ought never to ask friends to help you move.
Posted by: Monkey Brad at September 29, 2006 12:11 AMLetter from Niccolo Machiavelli to Francesco Vettori, 10 December 1513
...On the coming of evening, I return to my house and enter my study; and at the door I take off the day's clothing, covered with mud and dust, and put on garments regal and courtly; and reclothed appropriately, I enter the ancient courts of ancient men, where, received by them with affection, I feed on that food which only is mine and which I was born for, where I am not ashamed to speak with them and to ask them the reason for their actions; and they in their kindness answer me; and for four hours of time I do not feel boredom, I forget every trouble, I do not dread poverty, I am not frightened by death; entirely I give myself over to them.
And because Dante says it does not produce knowledge when we hear but do not remember, I have noted everything in their conversation which has profited me, and have composed a little work On Princedoms, where I go as deeply as I can into considerations on this subject, debating what a princedom is, of what kinds they are, how they are gained, how they are kept, why they are lost.
Posted by: for such a name, no eulogy is necessary at October 5, 2006 09:44 AMOn the coming of evening, I return to my house and pour myself a drink. I usually sit in front of my computer in a t-shirt and boxers and read the blogs. Machiavelli would be sad.
Posted by: H.L. Monkey at October 10, 2006 07:16 PM