There are, you see, two ways of reading a book: you either…
““There are, you see, two ways of reading a book: you either see it as a box with something inside and start looking for what it signifies, and then if you're even more perverse or depraved you set off after signifiers. And you treat the next book like a box contained in the first or containing it. And you annotate and interpret and question, and write a book about the book, and so on and on. Or there's the other way: you see the book as a little non-signifying machine, and the only question is "Does it work, and how does it work?" How does it work for you? If it doesn't work, if nothing comes through, you try another book. This second way of reading's intensive: something comes through or it doesn't. There's nothing to explain, nothing to understand, nothing to interpret.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reading can be either a search for hidden meanings or a practical test of usefulness, focusing on personal experience over abstract interpretation.
In simple terms: Choose books that work for you, not just for theory.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize personal relevance over endless analysis.
Themes
reading
interpretation
personal relevance
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- choosing books
- literary study
- personal development
Key Concepts
semiotics
phenomenology
pragmatism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide if a book is useful?
- What criteria guide your reading choices?
A Different Perspective
May miss broader cultural insights by ignoring signifiers.