REVIEW: "Art to talk about books you have not read", Pierre Bayard

It turns out, it is an art - to keep the conversation about the book, which you are in the hands did not hold, with another person (which is likely to have heard about it something somewhere). With honor to get out of such a sticky situation, sort out the issues "nechteniya" and to understand how the creative process, the book will help Pierre Bayar.

Pierre Bayard

Author of nearly two dozen books on literary shocking specialist and expert in psychoanalysis, university lecturer in Paris VIII.

What this book

Everyone talks about the books read, but "nechtenie" talk is not accepted, although, as it turned out, this topic is no less interesting. To take and share their reflections about what not to read - it is not only embarrassing, but sometimes useful, you need courage. And the author brilliantly copes with this problem: the story fascinating, witty, original.

Of course, the author plays with the reader. After Bayar honest admission that he was born in a family where reading a little, and he, too, is not fond of reading, because "I had no time to do it", it is a revelation:

I work at the university, teaching literature, and I put on duty to talk about the book, which in many cases, I have not even opened.

Pierre Bayard

Of course, the teacher of the literature did not expect. But remember (even lessons at school), have you ever get into a situation where it was necessary to hold a conversation about the book, which you had never seen?

Types of unread books

The society accepted that not to read the book - it's bad. Actually made not recognized in that. Us affect the psychological inhibitions, from which, according to the author, it is necessary to dispose.

In the first part of the publication an Unread Bayard divides into several types. He believes that this issue can not be approached with a simplified position "read" and "not read" - there are several other options. Let us examine them in detail.

Books, of which we know nothing

Yes, everything can not be read. Even if you read all my life night after night, you can master only a very small part of the world literary fund. So that there is no shame in the fact that we are unfamiliar with any book. Nevertheless, this does not prevent us from having an opinion about it. Sometimes even the cover of the book can tell a lot about its content. And to get an idea of ​​the author's works, enough to hear accidentally dropped by a phrase in the TV show.

Flip through the book

The ability to navigate in the literary stream of knowledge and creativity of the author's place in this system helps to orient in a separate work. In this and founded criticism. Critic reads a work of opinion about the ideas and content of the book, but does not have time to lose focus on minor details. Panorama can be seen only at a distance, like a place among the other books can be estimated by staying a little farther and dissolving into separate fragments of the text.

Critics - they are the critics to read the book quickly, arrogant and not really getting a grasp.

Iz K / f "Cloud Atlas"

Books that we have heard

In this chapter, the author convincingly proves that in order to maintain a conversation about the book we do not have to read it, if we have heard or read about her opinion of others.

Culture - is the ability to understand the place of books in the library and collective navigate within the book itself.

Book, the contents of which we have forgotten

At the same time, while I'm reading, I'm starting to forget what is read, and this process is inevitable, and it lasts for up to ever a point where it looks as if I had never read the book, and for me there can be equated to those who it has not read.

None of the reader, even with the most prodigious memory, can not remember the book for what it is. Some completely washes out of memory, some we can remember the story lines, a couple of quotes and some ideas ...

Strictly speaking, we can only state that you have read some of the books, more or less, and even this part is destined sooner or later be forgotten. This is the case not only with books: about ourselves and about other people, we also saved a approximate memories that we will alter depending on the current circumstances our life.

Why you should read

All narration is provided with interesting examples from the literature (and the books I want to read). In addition to presenting a typology of "nechteniya", the author examines in detail the situations in which you can show off their knowledge of unread books. For example, in a conversation with the teacher, a loved one or even a writer who, in fact, wrote a book you have not read.

The final part contains detailed recommendations on how not to blunder in such a conversation.

So why do you need to read this book? Author slukavil: he not only answers the question of how to look decent in the eyes of other people, not by reading books as helps to understand the process of literary and creativity in general. He explains how, engaging in creativity, to bring in books for something new and original, how to find yourself in all this diversity. And, most importantly, in my opinion, to get rid of feelings of guilt because of social restrictions (often unconscious) and stop treating books as something inviolable.

Bayar quote:

The reader is finally freed from the burden of a ghostwriter, finds the strength to invent your own text and become a writer.

Pierre Bayard

Their duty the author sees it, is to help others overcome the fear of culture and encourage readers to move away from her to start writing. And, in my opinion, he did succeed.

Who should read

First, everyone who reads a lot and with pleasure. "Art to talk about books you have not read" helps to look at familiar things from a new angle.

Secondly, those who for some reason can not read. Perhaps the book will deal with the psychological barriers.

Third, all who often talks about the book, which I have not. Yes, this is the perfect guide to action.

And what's more, those who are learning to write himself and wants to do it well. The book presents an unusual look at the creative process in general, familiarity with which will help understand the subject.

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