After Plato’s Phaedo I have been stalling on selecting from the list meant to improve my mind. Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy I find a use for daily. It was the book meant to be read at this time in my life. What next, what to contemplate and understand if time were only but a short while left?
I think of something relevant, a lantern used in seeking an honest man. I Google up Diogenes as my first guess. Ah, I think, this too is perfect for the times. As I read on–the summaries–I find the cynics. Ah yes, I say; this too is perfect now. But then I see true meaning of the word, and hesitate. Disappointments pass and soften in the recall. Shall I take forever such a stand against mankind? No, not yet. There’s hope yet if I only am more watchful. Less biased and dependent upon others. It’s still a choice that I can make as to who can be trusted.
Besides, I am not willing yet to trade my jeans and plaid flannels in for rags.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
I haven’t formed a reading list that way in a long time–the kind of things I’d want to read if I had a limited time left. But I keep a book full of Zen readings, and Ghandi’s Book of Prayers, and I read them using a form of “bibliomancy” letting them fall open where they may, to read a page at random each. I find they often fall into this category of “final days” quality reading.
I was extremely fortunate to have had an English Professor who was a friend put together a list for me and I’m working my way slowly through that. At the same time, I’m using a compilation of the various recently published “best 100 novels of all time” lists to select my regular reading from, thus finally coming to know some of the classic works, classic writers. Your inspirational and thought-provoking choices will, I am sure, provide the same wisdom as mine.