Integration

Is it just me or is there just too much information out there to learn and master?

I look at my bookshelf and the non-fictions heavily outweigh the fictions. Eye-balling the ratio at 5 to 1, non-fictions have it. I don't even remember half the stuff that I've read in these books. It makes me wonder if I've been wasting my time reading these books if I can't recant the lessons or relive the excitement of the fiction.

Tangie teases me about re-reading the same books over and over and over again. In fact, I'm on my 4th reading of the 1000+ page novel Atlas Shrugged. There are still so many ideas that I need to remember and re-assess-- I've sort've made it my own personal bible. There are other books on the shelf, like 7 habits of highly effective people, Real Estate Appraisal techniques, Chess Tactics, and so on. Two years ago, I made it my goal to memorize the first 10 moves of all the major openings. Now, I probably only retain about 10% of those moves.

Maybe I'm wrong in concluding this, but I think it's better to learn a few things very well, rather than chase many things down any road that it'll take you on. It seems like such a waste to spend so many hours reading when so much of it is forgotten. I'm often criticized by peers for this narrow view of conventionalism. Doing this will keep you consistent, but on the same horn, it'll confine you to whatever breadth of scope your core books offers you. For example: devout Christians go over the same text atleast twice a year in sermons and bible study. They know their stuff very well, and while it seems anti-horizon broadening to re-read the same thing over and over again, you know for certain that they know their scripture.

I'm a disciple of integrating knowledge. Knowledge should be able to build upon other knowledge logically and without contradictions. Examine any computer program or system of thought. The more bugs there are, the more problematic it becomes. The more contradictions, the more blue screens of death appear.

The same probably applies in everyday dealings in life. I notice that life becomes less regretable when I stick up for my own convictions rather than allow them to go unrealized. One of my favorite quotations in Atlas Shrugged goes, "Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong." Sounds like it ought to be something in the Proverbs of Solomon or Ecclesiastes, but it's actually paraphrased Aristotle. Anyway, happy readings to all! (And do give Atlas Shrugged a read. At the very least you have something to burn at Nancy Pelosi's rallies.)