When a new book comes out, what are the odds that it’ll be relevant in 5 years? How about 50 years? Or 500 years?
I’d guess it’s close to zero. Most best selling books today, both fiction and nonfiction, are essentially entertainment. Maybe there’s an interesting concept or two, but that’s usually it. For an entire book.
On the other hand, what are the odds that Shakespeare will still be relevant? Or Homer, Aristotle, or the Bible?
It’s almost certain that these classics will remain relevant. They’ve already lasted hundreds, or thousands, of years, and most of the key concepts still ring true. Despite the fact that these books were written in a world that barely resembles the one we live in today, these authors were able to highlight basic human truths that are timeless.
It isn’t necessarily that authors back then were any smarter than the ones we have today, but rather that we now have the benefit of generations of filters these books have passed through. Every step of the way, they’ve proven to be important, so they’ve been passed on. Just as they are important now, and will be important after we’re gone.
If you really want to read something powerful, look to the dead. Over time, you’ll realize that even most of the popular messages from today are simply riffs on lessons that have been passed down for centuries.
-Brandon
I agree with most of your thoughts. The books we have now are mostly entertainment and won’t last very long, and those classics that have stood the test of time will continue to be relevant. However, there are some books that have modern authors that deal with universal human needs and powerful truths that I think might join the ranks of those authors of antiquity. There are books you remember long after turning the last page, that touched your heart or inspired you to change for the better. Maybe you will be the author of such a book.
Thanks for pointing out a key distinction. I agree that important books continue to be released today. The challenge is that it’s tough to guess which ones will move you until you read them, and I don’t think the best seller lists do a good job of cutting through the noise, so I tend to rely on staying power as an indicator of whether a given book is worth my time.
It certainly isn’t a hard rule as I also tend to dig into newer concepts after trustworthy recommendations, but as a general tendency I feel it helps me try to make good use of my time.