Book Quote by Haruki Murakami
![“[...] he made it a rule never to touch a book by any author who had not been dead at least 30 years. "That's the only kind of book I can trust", he said. "It's not that I don't believe in contemporary literature," he added, "but I don't want to waste valuable time reading any book that has not had…” quote by Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02b/haruki-murakami-21_book_he-made-it-a-rule-never-to-touch-a-book_1535746.jpg)
““[...] he made it a rule never to touch a book by any author who had not been dead at least 30 years. "That's the only kind of book I can trust", he said. "It's not that I don't believe in contemporary literature," he added, "but I don't want to waste valuable time reading any book that has not had the baptism of time. Life is too short.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Book Preferences, 2005
The author prefers reading only books that have stood the test of time, believing contemporary works lack proven value.
In simple terms: Only read books older than 30 years.
Key Takeaway
Seek wisdom in time‑tested literature.
Themes
literature
timelessness
skepticism
Mood
philosophical
critical
Type
contemplative
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reading lists
- library curation
Key Concepts
canon formation
cultural memory
value judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- What might you miss by ignoring recent authors?
- How can you evaluate new books without bias?
A Different Perspective
Modern works may offer fresh perspectives missed by only reading classics.
