When Someone Gives you a Book, Always Read it
Many of us are eager about those long conversations full of intellectual depth and reciprocity of contribution. Whether a dialectic or complimentary in nature, we grow during these talks as people and as thinkers- but our ability to understand the other person is limited by only relying on their articulation. If you find yourself in place where you have a good deal of respect for someone, or find an exciting overlap of interest in the world (which, I argue, is possible to achieve with anyone), then I think their book recommendations are worthy of your time.
The books we read are more than just content consumption- they shape our intellectual world and imagination. If someone is kind enough to invite you into that world, it means something, whether they agree with you or not. Our interests and our passions are often what make us happy.
To read a book someone has given you is to show them that you care about their world and find validity in their recommendation. Similarly, to undergo that adventure into someone else world is to expand your own.
Everyone is busy, and sometimes life can have you so compartmentalized that you rarely have time for anything extra. But if you make time for someone’s literary world, it will mean a lot to them and strengthen your relationship with that person in genuine fashion.
