/lit/ - Literature

>>18053654
It's impressive how regular the sizes of those books are. I don't think I've ever seen such a uniform bookshelf.

>>18053654
How does your lotr box set fit all 4 books? I've read 3 of them and they wont fit!

>>18053683
Thank you. Most paperbacks these days tend to be published in the same format, so it's easy to maintain a uniform appearance. Many of my old books were all over the place in terms of height, but I've long since passed them on.

>>18053714
You’ve read them and he hasn’t.

>>18053714
It must come down to the font size. The Aubrey/Maturin books are printed on thin pieces of paper, which means their compactness comes at the cost of being able to see the text on both sides of the page when reading.

Anyway, I may not be able to read the titles but you have a very nice looking collection of hardbacks.

>>18053654
There's some decent books in there but man that's nearly the definitive good boy approved history shelf

>>18053714
I must have misunderstood the question. >>18053748 is actually correct to the extent that I've read my dad's copies but only recently bought the set pictured for myself.

>>18053771
I come across most of them by browsing in shops and by seeing what else certain authors whose work I've enjoyed have published, so I'm bound to have a mainstream bias. That said, I'm always open to new suggestions if you have any?

>>18053654
Is Kissingers On China worth reading even if you hate him immensely?

Also recommend Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom by the same author if you liked Imperial Twilight

>>18053793
You won't find many good authors in book stores (unless it's the ones where you can hardly walk around stacks of used books with a grumpy old shop owner smoking cigarettes in the back).
Instead of reading about people/events, which especially in those penguins are viewed through an "approved" lens (or woke if they're more recent), read the actual sources.

>>18053654
The uniform height looks unnatural, it gives the impression that they're just for show

>>18053802
>Is Kissingers On China worth reading if you hate him immensely?
Funnily enough, 'On China' is next on my to-read list. I'll let you know what I think if the thread is still alive.
>Also recommend Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom by the same author if you liked Imperial Twilight
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll give it a look.

>>18053853
I see what you mean, but it would be a wasted effort on my part since so few would ever see them. For whatever reason, it is important to me that there's at least some uniformity of appearance, but I do always have a book on the go.

Is anyone else going to post their bookshelf?

>>18053879

>>18053889
Based Google Image poster.

amazing not a single creased spine

>>18053902
Mine looks like this though
>>18053912
To defend OP, I used to autistically read my books so to not crease the spines. Too much effort though.

>>18053802
>Is Kissingers On China worth reading even if you hate him immensely?
Not that anon, but a lot of the hate for Kissinger is unfounded and misdirected.
Kissinger has a lot of Spenglerian influences, which informs his geopolitical decisions. His first book, A World Restored, was very much built around the idea that an ideology can itself change history and shape reality to its own image, with men simply being pulled along by historical destiny. In particular he focuses on how Napoleon unleashed an idea of infinite expansion in the form of universal liberalism, and how once such an idea was unleashed it was inevitable that it would triumph over the limited world of aristocratic privileges and responsibilities. Then he presents Metternich as an unlikely hero, who manages to hold together the old European world order as a legitimate force (and neutralize Napoleon through clever diplomacy) for over a hundred years. In particular this is important to consider when examining his views towards Communism, which represented to him not just a tool for Soviet power but an existential threat to Western civilization and a potential (even likely) next step in human history.
So of course he takes a very Spenglerian perspective towards China. China isn't just another State, akin to England or France, but a civilization in itself. He discusses the history of China, and the Chinese mind, and ways it differs from the Western mind. In particular, the concept of Middle Kingdom, which is something most Westerners do not understand at all. To China, China represents the half-way point between heaven and earth. So everything comes from heaven, passes through China, and then filters out to the barbarians everywhere else. Understanding this is the key to understanding that particular vein of arrogance many Chinese have towards their country and towards foreigners. It also is the key to having decent relationships with China. China expects deference from the outside world. To see China as an equal nation among nations, something many Westerners at least claim to want, is an insult to China, because that is not what Chinese civilization represents. The positive side to this, however, is that China is not extremely interested in spreading itself as an ideological force to every single part of the world, like liberalism is. There is no universalism in the Chinese perspective, but a strict hierarchy which places China at the top.
Kissinger talks about this and other aspects of Chinese culture, and it's really quite an interesting read. He's very admired in China, and one of the few westerners that Chinese actually like dealing with (probably because he's self aware about his own civilizational biases as much as for his understanding of Chinese culture).
If you really want to understand how other countries view themselves, and how they view the world, then it's a very good book. Ironically I find Kissinger less of a warmonger than many high minded Americans.

take it easy on me I didn't start with the greeks

>>18053928
>To defend OP, I used to autistically read my books so to not crease the spines. Too much effort though.
Pretty much this. I do my best to keep my books in pristine condition. I'm more successful in some cases than in others, but most could be sold on as though they were new.

>>18053962
Nice. Very nice.

>>18053962
oof I just realised my A Game of Thrones are the wrong way around compared to the others. But they are so tight in the slipcase I'm scared to remove them...

>>18053977
thanks, I built the bookshelf myself too.

>>18053986
Not bad. Is it above a doorway? It can't be easy to reach.

>>18053998
Yeah I have to use a chair or stool to get them down, one day I will probably fall and die but so long as my books are out of reach of greasy fingers I'm happy to take the risk.

>>18053998
Also, being so high up they are completely out of direct sunlight..

>>18054008
Someone in this thread implied I haven't read any of my books because I'm careful not to break the spines, so I'm glad I'm not the only one in this thread to be woke on the greasy-finger question.

>>18054013
I have a cover I drop over my bookcase for the same reason. My hardbacks have been bleached over the years, and I wouldn't want the same thing to happen to my paperbacks.

>>18053654
I sincerely owe a big part of my choice of books to some of you Anons. Thank you!

>>18054019
HAha I fully agree with you man, my books are my babies. I actually haven't let my gilfriend touch them yet even though she has read thousands of books.

>>18053714
based Ruski. fewer books but at least they look read. fuck OP

>>18054059
Romanian, cringe

>>18053823
>You won't find many good authors in book stores (unless it's the ones where you can hardly walk around stacks of used books with a grumpy old shop owner smoking cigarettes in the back).
This is the most reddit onions thing i've read all day

>>18053823
post actual sources

>>18054059
Nice collection. I see one of your books is translated by Tom Holland, who wrote a good book on the history of Christianity recently entitled 'Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind', which I would recommend to anyone trying to gain a basic level of understanding on the subject.
>>18054074
OK. I don't understand what's wrong with taking care of your books, but I don't have anything to prove to some stranger on 4channel of all places.

>>18054163
t.Bungarian

>>18053714
For some reason USSR's and early 2000's Russian books warm my heart.

>>18054217
>praktisk linux 3. utgave
This picture was taken in Norway, propably at the outland store.

>>18054274
t. Peterson

>>18054185
That's on you, I'm sure there's exceptions but most regular bookstores just stock whatever is popular and whatever is popular is mostly either shit or shilled. I have some penguin history books, not all are bad (I recommend Vanished Kingdoms by Davies), but all push the approved mainstream opinion to some extent
>>18054204
Not just that but read the non-approved takes as well. For example instead of Kershaw, read Mein Kampf. Or at least read them both.

>>18053944
Oh lol I don't hate him because of his writings and ideas I just hate him because he's jewish

>>18053654
Have read Imperial Twilight myself, am getting very interested in the British Empire and colonialism in general, especially in India. What would you recommend I read next? I've heard Lawrence James can be very biased, what did you think?

>>18053944
Incredibly based anon

>>18054369
>Lawrence James
>Biased
Towards Britain presumably? I'm also very interested in this area.

>>18054324
>instead of Kershaw, read Mein Kampf. Or at least read them both.
I read 'Mein Kampf' in school. I'll fully admit to not having got around to every book on my shelf, but there are plenty I've read that aren't on there.
>>18054369
I wouldn't say he's any more or less biased than anyone else who writes about the empire, though to see the bigger picture the best thing you can do is read as widely as possible—that's why I own several books on the subject, including several hardbacks that are kept separately. If you're interested in India, I'd recommend David Gilmour's 'The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience'. It gives some historical background, but its main focus is on the lives of those who went out there (what sort of men they were, their lives once they arrived there, etc.).

>>18054548
>Towards Britain presumably?
Yes, though the writer with the greatest sense of imperial nostalgia in my estimation is Jan Morris, which is ironic since she was a transgender Welsh nationalist (her 1988 book 'Hong Kong: Epilogue to an Empire' was tremendously enjoyable, though perhaps too narrow in its focus for most readers).

Recently got a whole bunch of the britannica great books of the western world series for about $3 each. I store all my books in my girlfriends bookshelf because I dont trust it in my university residence, the compromise being all the decorations like the mettallic bird infront of marcus aurelius. If you can guess my nationality Ill tell what the name of that book on the bottom shelf next to 'cookery made simple' it's the only book here she ever read.

>>18053962
Folio bro

>>18053654
>>18053714
>>18053889
>>18053962
>>18054059
>>18054217
>>18054923
>>18054977
>le bookcel

how do you guys fit big coffeetable books that are 30cm x 30cm into a book shelf?

>>18055083
YWNBAW, /pol/tard

>>18055083
You don't have permission to use that photo. Cease and desist from using that image right now.

>>18054923
>If you can guess my nationality Ill tell what the name of the book on the bottom shelf next to 'cookery made simple'
Give us a clue, anon.
>>18055253
I thought this was great until I saw the Blu-rays.

>>18055253
the "dressed by the internet" of bookshelves

>>18055253
The PoS and Being in Time, which have obviously never been cracked open, stand out like a sore thumb amidst all the postmodern canon mainstays

I don't know man I really don't dig or understand these kinds of bookshelves. Such an obsessive attention to uniformity and aesthetics is just retarded. Read books, go to stores and buy the shit u weren't expecting and naturally grow a collection. I like getting editions that look good but this bookshelf is woven from the same cloth as the instagram girl who posts her rupi kaur book next to a latte

>>18055253
>99% patrician
>1% weeb

>>18055418
Look at the bibles

>>18055455
Who are you responding to? I've grown my collection naturally, browsing shops and frequently buying books based on an author's previous work. I keep my hardbacks, which come in many shapes and sizes, on my shelf, and I'm certainly not buying books on imperialism and naval history to impress my twenty-something-year-old peers, so I don't understand why so many in this thread are so critical.

>>18055568
That looks like Dutch, or perhaps Afrikaans, to me!

I only read /lit/ memes
>>18053889
Based
>>18055253
Not bad

>>18055599
>Bushcraft 101
Austrian detected

>>18053683
That's in part because they're all woefully unread.

>>18055651
Nien! Potato American

>>18055253
Pretty based, aside from Kill la Kill and that Alan Moore doorstop.

>>18055671
>t. Seething booklet

>>18055371
ahahaha show us your NFT ownership or gtfo

>>18055591
Afrikaans is correct ,the black and white book next to the cooking is Atlas Shrugged.

>>18055997
I used to read a lot about South Africa and Zimbabwe. Which part are you from?

>>18055761
He's right to point this out.

All my books are on wire frame shelves or in stacks upon stacks on top of surfaces around my room. I have run out of space and I cannot keep them much organized. I posted it in the other thread, but I don't want to repeat what I posted for (you)s, mostly because everyone just made fun of how shitty and a mess it was, but also because I'd rather get some feedback on solutions to my problem in the abstract. How the fuck do I organize my books if I don't have a traditional shelf? Should I build one of those cool shelves that's a lip all around the top of the wall of my room with L joints? Do I purge myself of worldly pleasures and go trade half my collection in for value at half price books? Do I let the stacks pile up and up and up? Do I just focus on my E reader and never buy another book again?

>>18056085
If you make any money at all you should buy a shelf. If not then you should borrow 100 dollars from your parents, or 50 from a friend, drive around looking for garage sales and buy some shelves and end tables. I hope this is a really good collection you're worrying about

>>18056101
It's not really. It's this one: >>18018320

>>18056052
Not if he's factually wrong.

>>18053714
That's a really nice collection, I don't understand a word of it but your hardbacks look lovely, well used, and probably like some were secondhand or shared, which is great for sustainability. Great post!
>>18053654
They look so clean but also unread
>>18053962
These are really pretty and aesthetic and I'm kind of jealous desu. The only not cool thing is you being insecure about your taste in literature, don't force yourself to like things that you're not super interested in or dislike things that you are. your collection is based, anyone who disagrees can fuck right off.
>>18054059
very cool and nicely used collection

>>18053654
What a useless thread

>>18053654
Based Brit

>>18054369
British Imperialism 1688-2015.

>>18056354
And what a fucking useless post.

On my last flat I had them ordered by size, now I prefer them like this

Currently I am doing a dive on Mishima

Yes, I'm a Spaniard

why yall not have clifford

>>18055671
Book height doesnt change regardless of the wear and tear unless you literally sand a few millimeters off the top

>>18056230
>They look so clean but also unread
I can't tell whether people are trolling at this point. It really isn't difficult to keep your books in good condition if you give enough of a damn about them. What kind of cave-dwelling barbarians inhabit this thread?

>>18056886
I can’t read a large amount of my books they’re so beaten up. Half of Capital v1 I dropped in the sink for example.

>>18054059
>Abridged Capital
Cringe

>>18054059
>Lenin statue
Holy based

>>18056616
gotta have room for Eragon, thats why

>>18057043
Based wignat

>>18057043
Is there a pdf for “The Unknown Warriors” anywhere?

>>18056049
Born in Orange Free State in a city called Bloemfontein same place Tolkien was born. These days Im studying in a university called in the western cape.

>>18054217
What a waste of time

>>18056924
I dropped one of my books in the bath once and had to buy myself another copy. I can't stand having beaten and battered books on my shelf.

>>18057331

>>18057086
Found one. Thoroughly depressing read, I had to stop.

>>18055671
>when you read so much you tear an entire half inch off the top margin
Impressive desu. This is the first post I've ever seen on /lit/ that made me feel genuine intellectual insecurity.