正文
没事多读读经典:10种方式读名著提升自己
教育的乐趣
Reading great books is fun. The key is getting past the initial vocabulary barrier. It’s actually less difficult than you think. Even challenging authors use a limited vocabulary. After the initial learning curve, you’ll find the classics as readable as modern books and infinitely more stimulating. Classics have endured because of entertainment value. There’s a reason filmmakers keep remaking old books — they have the best content.
读一本好书乐趣无穷,关键在于克服词汇障碍。这其实没有你想象中那么难。再牛的作家也只会选择那些常用的词汇进行表达。过了最初的学习弯路之后,你就会发现读这些经典和读现代书没有什么太大的区别,甚至更加有意思。经典之所以成为经典就是其内在的观赏价值。这就是为什么电影人对经典再现乐此不疲——这是永恒的经典。
7. Sophistication
深度
If you’d like to excel in conversation, knowledge of the classics is essential. These are books that keep coming up. They’re a part of human history that isn’t going to disappear in 10 years like 99% of books on the bestsellers list. By reading the classics you gain a deeper appreciation of ideas generally taken for granted. Plus quoting Aristotle or Voltaire is a great way to win an argument.
如果你想学到交流的技巧,对名著的了解必不可少。这些都是永不过时的书籍,也是人类历史的一部分,不仅在十年内不会消失,99%还会一直保持在畅销榜上。读名著你就能更深层次的去了解一些常识的由来,多读读亚里士多德和伏尔泰的书还能叫你怎么辩论。
8. More Efficient Reading
更加有效的阅读
I just finished reading The Road by Cormac MacCarthy. It’s so good that it won the Pulitzer Prize. Afterwards I read the first few chapters of Lolita. I was shocked by Lolita’s superiority. Truly great books don’t come around every year. Why not make the most of your reading time by finding the best of the best?
我刚刚读完美国小说家科马克·麦卡锡的作品《路》,非常棒的一本书,难怪能获得普利策奖。之后我又读了《洛丽塔》的前几章,这部优秀的作品完全让我震惊了。真正好的书不会每年都出来。为什么不充分利用阅读时间,读那些精华中的精华呢?
9. Develop a Distinct voice
发出不同声音
If you’re a writer/blogger, ignoring the classics is a mistake. This has nothing to do with subject matter. Regardless of what you write about, you need to be persuasive and develop a distinct voice. The best way to learn is from the masters. Spending some time with the classics will give you an edge.
如果你是个作家或博主,忽视名著可真是大错特错。这和你要写的主题完全无关,不管你写什么,你都需要具有说服力和特别的视角。最好的办法就是和大师学习,花点时间阅读名著能让你有所突破。
10. Learn Timeless Ideas
学习经典的想法
We like to believe, in our modern arrogance, that technology has changed everything. In truth, it feels the same to be alive today as it did a thousand years ago. The lessons of the classics carry as much weight as ever. They contain information that is directly applicable to your life. Don’t believe me? Try reading Ben Franklin’s Autobiography without learning something. Reading the classics develops an understanding of the human condition and a deeper appreciation of modern problems. The aim is to combine the wisdom of the past with the innovation of the future.
我们都认为,在现代社会下,科技改变了一切。实际上,一千年以前的人也是这么想的。经典的意义和价值一直都没有变过。这里面富含了很多适用于现在的人生哲理。不信我的话?试试读读《本·富兰克林自传》吧,你肯定会有所收获。读名著能加深你对人类现状的理解,更能明白现代社会这些问题所在,最主要的是要把过去的精华和未来改革联系起来。