Beta recommeded reading books/authors

[silverchris9]

Most of Shakespeare's major tragedies are about betas: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello (I consider Iago IEI), Antony and Cleopatra (Cleopatra = EIE), etc. You could argue that the Macbeths are betas (perhaps EIE and SLE).

Also Percy Shelley was IEI. So there's one.

[Gilly]

Siddhartha <3

Indeed.



The thought of more people reading Herman Hesse makes me very, very happy.

You have to be ready for Steppenwolf, though. That shit is heavy. Not just anybody can read that book; my sister actually gave up reading it because she said it was too bleak and depressing. That book fucking radiates dark energy.

[Gilly]

What kinds of books do you usually like to read? I can probably recommend slews.

[GuavaDrunk]

You have to be ready for Steppenwolf, though. That shit is heavy. Not just anybody can read that book; my sister actually gave up reading it because she said it was too bleak and depressing. That book fucking radiates dark energy.

I started with it and it's a fantastic book. Would you advise still reading his other works before GBG?

[domino]

I am looking for a good book to read (or several), and with the current lack of betas in my life, it would be nice to at least get to read about some. Any recommendations??

I do recommend something from Witold Gombrowicz. "Ferdydurke" or his diaries.
I think he's EIE

[Gilly]

You have to be ready for Steppenwolf, though. That shit is heavy. Not just anybody can read that book; my sister actually gave up reading it because she said it was too bleak and depressing. That book fucking radiates dark energy.

I started with it and it's a fantastic book. Would you advise still reading his other works before GBG?

Yes. Glass Bead Game is kind of a summation and compilation of all of his themes stories, in a way, so it makes sense to get the feel for everything he talks about before attending the grand show

Steppenwolf is the shit. I think in terms of raw impact its his best book.

[jughead]

Siddhartha: Loved it

Glass Bead Game: Overly complex, wordy and keeps on going and going and going. I stopped reading it. The small part I read was dense verbose way of saying how the world operated, and how it could possibly be changed, concealed within cynicism and irony.

The Stranger: good, excellent, I felt like this around 9th grade when I randomly picked it up and read it...

[Gilly]

Siddhartha: Loved it

Really? I think it's the most mediocre of all his works.

Glass Bead Game: Overly complex,

Weak.

wordy and keeps on going and going and going. I stopped reading it. The small part I read was dense verbose way of saying how the world operated, and how it could possibly be changed, concealed within cynicism and irony.

You so don't get it.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILER<<<<<<<<<<<<

The book is supposed to be a labor, it's supposed to be dry; that whole aspect of it has threefold symbolic value: criticism of those from whose perspective the book is written, a "reality check" on the futility of human existence, and a self-referential commentary on the battle people undergo on a spiritual level once they have accepted the nature of humanity.

Firstly, the whole book is supposed to be read with irony, because Knecht obviously would have disapproved of the way the people who are writing the book tend to do things. If you didn't get this, then no wonder it was boring. Personally I found it dramatic and rather funny at points.


The book itself is also a criticism of worldview, of the obviously futile but necessary attempts we make to understand and improve the world, and the personal battle between motivation to make the world a better place and be the best you can be, and being lazy.

But most fittingly of all, the book itself, written from the perspective of dry, unenlightened scholars, serves as a metaphor for why they have "given up," perhaps without even knowing, where Knecht toils on to improve himself and the world.

The Stranger: good, excellent, I felt like this around 9th grade when I randomly picked it up and read it...

Ho ho ho

[Kim]

I really liked Hesse's "Beneath the Wheel." But of course I am not Beta.

[Codie]

Visions the awakening, remembering and the transforming. It might be hard to get your hands on these books. http://www.tower.com/visions-awakeni...wapi/101244319

I recommend Self development for smart people by Steve Pavlina. This was an excellent read. The authors abit extreme, like for example advocating a raw vegan lifestyle so I'd take his advice with a pinch of salt.

[jughead]

Siddhartha: Loved it

Really? I think it's the most mediocre of all his works.

I read it in 10th grade for english class so it was a welcome change vs all the other books I disliked. It was not particuarly wordy, dense or intellectual in its expression but thats part of why I like it so much at the time. Siddhartha didn't have the dense and complex expression like much of the other "good/intelligent" literature that was forced down our throats, or even compared to Glass Bead game, its rather short and to the point. It uses the concept of the simple novel/story to relate the eastern concepts to westerners.




Weak.

Your opinion.
You just don't like my ordering of which ones I liked and went with the "accepted" or popular opinions.


You so don't get it.

Butthurt much?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILER<<<<<<<<<<<<

The book is supposed to be a labor, it's supposed to be dry; that whole aspect of it has threefold symbolic value: criticism of those from whose perspective the book is written, a "reality check" on the futility of human existence, and a self-referential commentary on the battle people undergo on a spiritual level once they have accepted the nature of humanity.

Firstly, the whole book is supposed to be read with irony, because Knecht obviously would have disapproved of the way the people who are writing the book tend to do things. If you didn't get this, then no wonder it was boring. Personally I found it dramatic and rather funny at points.


The book itself is also a criticism of worldview, of the obviously futile but necessary attempts we make to understand and improve the world, and the personal battle between motivation to make the world a better place and be the best you can be, and being lazy.

But most fittingly of all, the book itself, written from the perspective of dry, unenlightened scholars, serves as a metaphor for why they have "given up," perhaps without even knowing, where Knecht toils on to improve himself and the world.

Sounds like you read the preface or cliff notes and copied and pasted an english teacher diatribe. Thats what Gilly often does though. I "got" the book perfectly well and thats part of why I stopped reading, why go through the labor of the book when you know how it will end up? Rather than read 400 more pages I decided to refocus my efforts on what did make a difference. I didn't want to torture myself through a book when I already understood what he was saying. Each paragraph feels like a slog in itself. I might go back and read the rest eventually but it takes too much damn time. Just because a nobel prize does not make it his best work to everyone.


Case in point: "You have to be ready for Steppenwolf, though. That shit is heavy. Not just anybody can read that book; my sister actually gave up reading it because she said it was too bleak and depressing. That book fucking radiates dark energy."

The Stranger: good, excellent, I felt like this around 9th grade when I randomly picked it up and read it...

Ho ho ho

Is this your attempt to make yourself look superior oh mighty english literature forum troll? In your words its an abusive ad hominem.
Don't be jealous.
It's Camus most popular book for a reason, another short and too the point book. It takes skill to say something simply and powerfully.
Camus, Conrad, and Hesse have all made commentary pondering that subject.
Gilly you definetly have a false sense of superiority particuraly in certain betas and you seem to worship them and be overly defensive of all their work. Perhaps our interaction can be taken as classic mirrors?

Also by any chance are you pondering becoming a lawyer?

[ashlesha]

truman capote

[Gilly]

Neil Gaiman
Herman Hesse
Ray Bradbury

More stuff

[Radio]

kurt vonnegut, albert camus, f scott fitzgerald, aldous huxley

[FoxOnStilts]

kurt vonnegut

Really? I want Vonnegut.

Most romance novels seem super beta.

[munenori2]

jack kerouac, ernest hemingway

[Galen]

ernest hemingway

Man fuck hemingway

[ashlesha]

jim goad

[Gilly]

Man fuck hemingway

...seriously?

[Korpsy Knievel]

Austin Osman Spare

[Galen]

...seriously?

I read A Farewell To Arms in high school and simply could not understand the appeal of his writing style.

[JWC3]

I read A Farewell To Arms in high school and simply could not understand the appeal of his writing style.

I started "The Sun Also rises" about 6 months ago. I'm sure I'll finish it eventually, it seems ok-enough to finish.

I can't believe no one has placed chuck palahniuk in beta yet, I would've thought he'd be the 1st or 2nd most obvious choice.

[Saberstorm]

Chuck has a very miminalistic writing style - giving obtuse impressions amid feelings of estrangement. I think that he is not Ni ego, but perhaps this is a observing Ni ID style. I think he is Ne dominate. ILE. Also very Fi PoLR. He is also Static like Vonnegut. So I say he is static Ne user with a crypto Ni thing coming in subconsciously.

[Gilly]

Yeah, Chuck P is ILE.

[JWC3]

Yeah but like, you know, themes and stuff.

[Scapegrace]

...seriously?

Yeah. Seriously?

[woofwoofl]

Austin Osman Spare

[Gilly]

Yeah. Seriously?

Yeah. FUCK YOU

[Gilly]

Yeah but like, you know, themes and stuff.

Revolution isn't an Alpha theme? You do know who Robespierre was...

[Gilly]

I read A Farewell To Arms in high school and simply could not understand the appeal of his writing style.

But...did you read Snows of Kilimanjaro?

[redbaron]

But...did you read Snows of Kilimanjaro?

yeah read some of his short stories. A Clean Well-Lighted Place is also good. Terrific actually. And, very short. For your obviously short attention-span. (Galen)

[JWC3]

Revolution isn't an Alpha theme? You do know who Robespierre was...

Yeah, totally, he was this guy. Right?

[Galen]

yeah read some of his short stories. A Clean Well-Lighted Place is also good. Terrific actually. And, very short. For your obviously short attention-span. (Galen)

pffbhfh
"I went over there. She was there. We talked. We stopped talking. I walked away from her. I sat down at the table. I saw a scone. I ate the scone."
That is Hemingway to me. Admittedly I haven't read any of his short stories, if they're more interesting than what I've just wrote then maybe I'll check them out.

[JWC3]

pffbhfh whaaaa
"I went over there. She was there. We talked. We stopped talking. I walked away from her. I sat down at the table. I saw a scone. I ate the scone."
That is Hemingway to me.

*giggles like a little school girl*

[Gilly]

pffbhfh
"I went over there. She was there. We talked. We stopped talking. I walked away from her. I sat down at the table. I saw a scone. I ate the scone."
That is Hemingway to me. Admittedly I haven't read any of his short stories, if they're more interesting than what I've just wrote then maybe I'll check them out.

I'm guessing you don't like reading Ayn Rand either

[Gilly]

Yeah, totally, he was this guy. Right?

[ashlesha]

pffbhfh
"I went over there. She was there. We talked. We stopped talking. I walked away from her. I sat down at the table. I saw a scone. I ate the scone."
That is Hemingway to me. Admittedly I haven't read any of his short stories, if they're more interesting than what I've just wrote then maybe I'll check them out.

lmao same. I don't doubt they carry some kind of meaning since he's so well loved but thats all I got too.

I own a handful of old smelly novels handed down from grandma including a few I haven't read. one of them is short stories - the fifth column and the first forty nine - couldn't hurt to give him another try I guess.

Eldridge cleaver?

[redbaron]

kids these days.

[Scapegrace]

I'm guessing you don't like reading Ayn Rand either

Which is only natural. Ayn Rand was an idiot and, unlike Hemingway, she couldn't write for twat scum.

[Galen]

I'm guessing you don't like reading Ayn Rand either

Haven't read anything of hers tbh, although I'm familiar with her philosophies in passing.