--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I walk into a place, a party, say, and…" description: "\"If I walk into a place, a party, say, and there's a bookshelf, I immediately gravitate toward it. Unless there's a bar. But even then, it's only a matt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/jonathan-evison-12103_alcohol_if-i-walk-into-a-place-a-party-say-and-t_92154.jpg" --- # If I walk into a place, a party, say, and there's a… ![“If I walk into a place, a party, say, and there's a bookshelf, I immediately gravitate toward it. Unless there's a bar. But even then, it's only a matter of a few rounds before I make my way to the bookshelf. If there are good books on it, I may never leave the spot all night. Anybody I really…” quote by Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/jonathan-evison-12103_alcohol_if-i-walk-into-a-place-a-party-say-and-t_92154.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/jonathan-evison-12103_alcohol_if-i-walk-into-a-place-a-party-say-and-t_92154.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/139/jonathan-evison-12103_alcohol_if-i-walk-into-a-place-a-party-say-and-t_92154.jpg) > “If I walk into a place, a party, say, and there's a bookshelf, I immediately gravitate toward it. Unless there's a bar. But even then, it's only a matter of a few rounds before I make my way to the bookshelf. If there are good books on it, I may never leave the spot all night. Anybody I really want to talk to is going to make his or her way to that bookshelf sooner or later, anyway, right? Books are a nexus. They start conversations, and they continue conversations, and they make people better conversationalists. I have not found this to be the case with Iron Chef, or even alcohol.” [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Books act as social magnets, drawing people together and fostering deeper dialogue, unlike transient settings like bars or TV shows. **In simple terms:** Books as conversation hubs Key Takeaway Literature builds lasting connections Themes social interaction literature conversation community building Mood thoughtful enthusiastic Type personal observational When to use this quote - book clubs - library events - personal gatherings - academic conferences Key Concepts shared interests intellectual curiosity Practical Applications - networking - facilitating discussions Questions to Reflect On - Why do physical books encourage more sustained interaction? - How can this insight improve social spaces? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [All night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-night/) [Bars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bars/) [Better Conversationalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-conversationalists-1141636/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Bookshelf Sooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookshelf-sooner-1141635/) [Bookshelves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookshelves/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Chef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chef/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversations/) [Conversations Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversations-make-476004/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron/) [Iron chef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron-chef/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [Nexus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nexus/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Say Bookshelf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-bookshelf-1141637/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [The best conversations make you happy, and keep you smiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-conversations-make-you-happy-and-keep-you-smiling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you really love someone, stupid conversations make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-santana/when-you-really-love-someone-stupid-conversations-make-sense/) [Jason Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-santana/) > [“You can keep asking ‘why’, but you know it as well as I do. It’s the reason you’re here. The reason you took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skye-callahan/you-can-keep-asking-why-but-you-know-it-as-well-as-i-do-it-s-the/) [Skye Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skye-callahan/) > [Stupid conversations make sense when you are talking to someone special.Â¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stupid-conversations-make-sense-when-you-are-talking-to-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Late night conversations make you learn a lot about people..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/late-night-conversations-make-you-learn-a-lot-about-people/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I think people are really talking about it. Having conversations about how to make change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-kaepernick/i-think-people-are-really-talking-about-it-having-conversations-about/) [Colin Kaepernick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-kaepernick/) > [“One of the most important hopes we have for this book is to provoke the sorts of conversations that make it easier for couples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/one-of-the-most-important-hopes-we-have-for-this-book-is-to-provoke/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [You have to be able to shut out everything else, all the distractions and criticism. There's a lot of work that went on off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-houghton/you-have-to-be-able-to-shut-out-everything-else-all-the-distractions/) [Steph Houghton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-houghton/) > [I feel like a princess with a knife. I've wanted to be an Iron Chef forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-guarnaschelli/i-feel-like-a-princess-with-a-knife-i-ve-wanted-to-be-an-iron-chef/) [Alex Guarnaschelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-guarnaschelli/) > [I learned so much from 'Iron Chef' about ingredients, about the courage to put yourself out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-guarnaschelli/i-learned-so-much-from-iron-chef-about-ingredients-about-the-courage/) [Alex Guarnaschelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-guarnaschelli/) > [I don't sleep with my pigs. But we hang out on the couch and watch Iron Chef.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-christensen/i-don-t-sleep-with-my-pigs-but-we-hang-out-on-the-couch-and-watch/) [Hayden Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-christensen/) > [The exposure from 'Iron Chef' has been helpful, but at the end of the day your product and your service determine whether you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-symon/the-exposure-from-iron-chef-has-been-helpful-but-at-the-end-of-the/) [Michael Symon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-symon/) > [The level of competition on 'Iron Chef' was very intense. In fact, I feel like the show provides chefs with a stamp of approval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maneet-chauhan/the-level-of-competition-on-iron-chef-was-very-intense-in-fact-i-feel/) [Maneet Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maneet-chauhan/) > [“On the Iron Chef episode “Battle Offal,” judges swooned over raw heart tartar, lamb’s liver truffles, tripe, sweetbreads, and gizzard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/on-the-iron-chef-episode-battle-offal-judges-swooned-over-raw-heart/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [People have no idea how much work it is for a man to produce an ejaculation. You have this seminal vesicle churning out this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/people-have-no-idea-how-much-work-it-is-for-a-man-to-produce-an/) [Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/) ## More by Jonathan Evison > [Homesteading is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/homesteading-is-gone/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [I usually write in my underwear, with a space heater running full blast, and three dogs sleeping at me feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/i-usually-write-in-my-underwear-with-a-space-heater-running-full/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [I've been blessed with an optimistic disposition, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/i-ve-been-blessed-with-an-optimistic-disposition-i-think/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [I know I've lost my mind. But I'm not concerned, because it's the first thing I've lost in a long time that actually feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/i-know-i-ve-lost-my-mind-but-i-m-not-concerned-because-it-s-the-first/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [“A man’s destiny is not in the eyes of others. It’s in his own. And that, my young friend, is as good as any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/a-man-s-destiny-is-not-in-the-eyes-of-others-it-s-in-his-own-and-that/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [“... when it seemed at every turn that the winds of fate had blown our lives afoul, financially, emotionally, or idealistically. Look at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/when-it-seemed-at-every-turn-that-the-winds-of-fate-had-blown-our/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [“He didn't look back, the cold-blooded little prick. That's when I realized what I should have realized years ago: that there were people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/he-didn-t-look-back-the-cold-blooded-little-prick-that-s-when-i/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [Reading is, at its best, not an escape; it is genuine experience. A novel is not a monologue, but a conversation, a collaboration between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/reading-is-at-its-best-not-an-escape-it-is-genuine-experience-a-novel/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [My neediness is not a hole to be filled but something beneath the skin scratching to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/my-neediness-is-not-a-hole-to-be-filled-but-something-beneath-the/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [As a result of manifest destiny, we gutted our resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/as-a-result-of-manifest-destiny-we-gutted-our-resources/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [You have to find hope. Hope is such a shape shifter. You tend to look in the rearview mirror for hope, but when its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/you-have-to-find-hope-hope-is-such-a-shape-shifter-you-tend-to-look/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [“I've been thinking about the cruel mathematics of my life, looking at my sums & wishing I'd shown my work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/i-ve-been-thinking-about-the-cruel-mathematics-of-my-life-looking-at/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [Most everything that happens to me in any significant sense finds its way into my fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/most-everything-that-happens-to-me-in-any-significant-sense-finds-its/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [“I've been thinking about all the things I might have done differently. All the choices I didn't make. All the decisions that made and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/i-ve-been-thinking-about-all-the-things-i-might-have-done-differently/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [“It was quiet and smooth -a gazelle trapped in the body of a wart hog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/it-was-quiet-and-smooth-a-gazelle-trapped-in-the-body-of-a-wart-hog/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) [Explore all 56 Jonathan Evison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) ## More Alcohol quotes > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/) [Tyson Beckford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-beckford/) > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/) [David Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-norman/) > [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/) [Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/) > [I go to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-go-to-parties-sometimes-until-four-it-s-hard-to-leave-when-you-can/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [I take really good care of myself. I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) [Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I walk into a place, a party, say, and there's a bookshelf, I immediately gravitate toward it. Unless there's a bar. But even then, it's only a matter of a few rounds before I make my way to the bookshelf. If there are good books on it, I may never leave the spot all night. Anybody I really want to talk to is going to make his or her way to that bookshelf sooner or later, anyway, right? Books are a nexus. They start conversations, and they continue conversations, and they make people better conversationalists. 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