Someone sent me a personal email asking how I know so much after reading my post…Things You May Not Know.
At first I thought it must be code for, wanna have a cuppa coffee, since, what a silly question. But then remembered, he’s gayer than a showgirl on a Saturday night, realizing, she was being serious.
You always say, you never went to college, he wrote. That’s true, I never did, but what do you think people do in college Skippy, they read.
I’m a serial reader, I am, because nothing is quite like learning something inspiring you didn’t know.
Think of it as all the lights going on in your brain clearing a path for enlightenment.
My first self-taught course was on the American Civil War when I read The Killer Angels, a historical novel that won The Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1975, about the Battle of Gettysburg. It was also the book inspiring Ken Burns to make his epic film, The Civil War. After wetting my beak, as they say, I read everything I could get my little manicured mitts on about The War Between the States, another name for that heart-wrenching war.
Years ago a salesman working at the long gone, Madison Avenue Bookshop, told me…reading is like any other muscle…the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
In other words, the more you read, the smarter you’ll be and the more interesting you’ll become.
Who knew The Vietnam Wall was opposed by so many? Not me, being quite moved by it every time I had the privilege of seeing it until reading, A Rift in the Earth, what Maya Lin, who designed it, called her vision.
The next time I visit, I’ll have so much more to think about.
When I read a book, words become a printed buffet, allowing me to take what I want to keep and remember. When I compile a list to share, it’s the meat and potatoes of my reading life.
Whether it’s naming all 6 of Henry VIII’s wives, or 45 American Presidents.
The Marquis de Lafayette sending George Washington the key to the Bastille, that still hangs on a Mount Vernon wall.
Actor Montgomery Clift loving to stroll down Fifth Avenue in a snazzy suit, eating caviar right out of the tin.
That Arthur Miller’s play, After the Fall, is all about his troubled marriage to Marilyn Monroe, and journalist Pete Hamill’s wry remark, that dating Jackie Kennedy was like taking King Kong to the beach.
I even know there are over 200 positions in the Kama Sutra, and no, I haven’t tried them all, but let’s just say, if it were a Jeopardy category, I’d leave my fellow contestants in the dirty dancin’ dust.
Whenever someone asked the late, great Bill Hicks how he knew something, he’d always say without pause…it’s cause ah’ read baba’.
That’s what I emailed back to the gay showgirl, then nicely asked if by any chance, he had a library card.
🙂
SB
Susannah, another benefit is that the more you read, the faster you are able to read and comprehend. A great skill for test taking.
I bet you’d ace a lot of CLEPs (college level examination program). for instance, lawyers can pass the bar without obtaining a law degree.
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Wow, never knew that. You’re right about speed. I do read faster than ever, and though selective, remember a lot. It’s such a gift to read. When people say they don’t, I am so completely bewildered. As a teacher and scholar, I know you understand. sigh
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Brilliantly and very well stated. A great example of the more one learns, the more they realize how much there is to learn and how much they don’t know. I have also demonstrated the power of informal learning! 🙂
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In a way it’s a much better ride since it’s your idea. It bolsters and elevates, inspires and well, just blows the doors off the place Frank. Reading. I just heard God sigh. Thanks.
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Did you know Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were born on the same day? Yep – Twins of different mothers. 😉 … Well, in 2009 (200th anniversary of their birth) I started a quest to learn more about the interchange between science and religion. Today, 35 or so books later, many essays and articles, lectures, and more – I know much more than I did … and all on my own, not one class.
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Read Eileen’s latest post at Myricopia. You’ll find it interesting. PS Did not know Abe and Charlie share a birthday. Into the file it goes…:)
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A link please?
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https://myricopia.com/
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Truer words were never said.
When one reads, one becomes a fabulous conversationalist, as well.
And fuggedaboutit! Trivial Pursuit is a game for readers!
Wonderful post, Ms Reader par Excellence!
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There’s so much I don’t know. I just started a book called Grant and Twain, about the friendship between U.S. Grant and Mark Twain, kicked in right away. I never knew Grant was only 5’1 after reading countless tales where he’s a chief player. The hero of Lincoln’s beloved Union was a fucking midget. I mean, wow.
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No way! I pictured him as tall… Goes to show. I guess we assume all great men are tall and imposing! You have just burst my bubble! A fucking midget… who’d a thunk…
And yes, there is an infinite amount of stuff to learn out there! The important thing is to never stop learning!
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Poor Ulys, which is what Julia, his wife, always called him. I will say, though small, he still took quite a punch.
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He did. Now I wonder how small she was… OR maybe she looked him right in the eye… OR she had to look down…
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She was evidently slightly cross-eyed so I guess that worked for her. Maybe she never knew he was so small. I’m kidding…:)
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Buahahaha! You are so funny!
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That wasn’t nice. The truth is, they adored each other. Julia Dent Grant was one lucky lady. They had 4 kids…3 boys and 1 girl, who loved their parents. The Grants were quite a family.
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Ms Bibliophile,
That old thing about “Reading, Writing and ‘Rithmetic” comes from a single body of water . . reading. Because you’re not getting to any of those other two places without the first one. And from there, you get wherever you want to go.
You’re right, as per. ” . . . a printed buffet . .” Tell you what, the voodoo you do is so very true. So please, keep on doing it. 🙂
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Bibliophile, another favorite woid. Voodoo you do…sigh…Mr. Imma can turn a phrase alright.
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It’s a favorite of mine as well. Hey, anytime you can awaken the echos of old Blue Eyes whilst paying a lady a compliment . . it’s Broadway.
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You sounded just like Damon Runyon. He’s braying from the ether through you. 🙂
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That makes me smile in a way that nourishes the soul. Thank you Bookstore Chica. 🙂
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Chica Books…hmm…like that!
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It’s cheeky.
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cheeky…sigh
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And boom. Cheeky boom. Because, of course!
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Nice ya got me humming Cuban Pete, King of the Rumba Beat…shit
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Hahaha!
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PS Broadway was his beat. BTW
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I like using Broadway as a literary form of salt and pepper. 🙂
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To spice things up…the wooer’s condiment . 🙂
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Red pepper flake is all well and good, but keeping things simple can bring plenty of sizzle in its own right.
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A little olive oil perhaps…it goes a long way. 🙂
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You are throwing down the flavah!
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I’m Italian. I use olive oil for everything. Salad, hair conditioner, loosening tight bottle caps…etc
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And it works! For everything.
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Looks like one smart cat there!
It is important to be somewhat selective about what one reads. You choose well.
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They’re closet readers. I’m convinced…:)
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I spout trivia and most of the people listening just look at me. The trivia I know will, most likely, not help me to win “Trivial Pursuit” (I am excellent at word games and such, but…”there were 3 golf balls hit on the moon”…is not on such a level). I love the strange, the diverse, and the obscure. Hmm, you are none of those, yet I do like you…I may have to rethink this.
Scott
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I prefer concrete bits of info history provides, but I get the strange and diverse. Our files pop differently, that’s all Mr.Kindred.
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Yes, now that you say it, yes…
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Even this post has lots of miscellaneous information! I once knew the wives of Henry VIII in order. If I wanted to stretch my brain, I’d try to remember them now. It’s easier not to. I admire your reading habit and the ability to retain facts.
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Catherine of Aragon…Anne Bolyen…Jane Seymour…Anne of Cleves…Catharine Howard…Catharine Parr
That Henry was such a cad…knocking off 2, abusing his first to get her out of the way. I’ve known a few Henrys in my time. You’re lucky you have such a John…:)
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You get an A plus! Way to go! Three Catherines and two Annes.
Yes, I’m blessed to have my John.
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And I’ll raise you a Jane…:)
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LOL!
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You’re still the master of the snappy, clever retort. I so enjoy when we cut and parry. 🙂
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It’s lots of fun for me, too.
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It’s as though we play a cyber board game, like LIFE of Parchesi…:)
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I’ve always said I’m not good at board games, but when I play word games with you, it is tremendous fun. I would never be bored with a Susannah word game.
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I’m callin’ Milton Bradley to set up a meeting…:)
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LOL!
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You’re such an easy laugh. It tickles me so. 🙂
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My blog title is Mehrling Muse, and I laugh because I truly find you aMUSEing.
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I can’t top that. sigh
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You won the last round.
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Reading is the best way to learn anything, I think, but you know I’m biased. You must have the equivalent of at least a master’s degree in American history by now, I’d say. 🙂
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If only.
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Another muscle we have in common. (Did that sound rude?) 😉
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Not at all.
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