January 1, 2007

STRIKE ALL THE BELOW. I'LL MAKE A DECISION TODAY WHAT I WILL START THE NEW YEAR READING. SOMETHING THAT CHALLENGES ME, LIKE CALVIN'S INSTITUTES, WHICH FOR WHATEVER REASON, I'VE AVOIDED READING COMPLETE. IN FACT, THOUGH I THOUGHT I'D GET AWAY FROM THE THEOLOGY I JUST MAY IN A SENSE DO THAT IN THE STRANGE WAY OF NOW ACTUALLY READING THE PRIMARY WORKS, LIKE THE INSTITUTES. LIKE CITY OF GOD. LIKE OWEN'S BIBLICAL THEOLOGY. MAYBE I'LL CHOOSE SEVEN SUCH WORKS. GREEK MYTH, GRAIL ROMANCE, AND GRIMMS' TALES ARE ALSO PROFITABLE FOR HIGHER, OR DEEPER, VISUAL LANGUAGE.

This is the first day of 2007. I just may use this opportune time to start a project of reading my seven book list complete in one year.

Bible
Iliad and Odyssey
On War
Wealth of Nations
Fourth Way
Thucydides
Plutarch

To reconnect with basics. It will be difficult perhaps. That's a large page count. Relatively speaking the Homer, Fourth Way, and Thucydides are quicker reads (relative to the Bible and Plutarch). Wealth of Nations is a monster (not just page count but subject matter). On War may be more a relatively quick read too. Relatively speaking. So it might be manageable. I'm already through the Pentateuch (almost) for the Bible, and I'll count that. I'll repost this periodically to record progress.

I don't think this is a frivolous goal. When you talk about things and see the value in them you should actually have real experience with them. Reconnect with them every so often. If thoughts of 'other works' tempt me I will say, these seven are death bed books (or close). They go to essence (I believe). There will be time, if there is time, in further years to read other things if need be...

These seven are the books I described this way: if you were born in a desert in 400 AD (or whatever) these seven books would give you all you need to become a world conqueror. Maybe not ALL, but they would put you in touch with all and make it possible to get everything else. Of course, activities - physical, musical, mathematical, rhetorical, manners, etc. - are in a different category, but that is a given. You'd have a centaur putting you through your paces regarding that.

I also might actually try to only drink water all year. Occasionally milk. But nothing with the word 'coke' on it. Diet Coke is an addiction.

So... I have to get started reading the above... The Bible will be mixed in all along. My 6th complete reading. Now I can choose one of the others to start today...