In my mind re-reading is a pretentious version of something that I have noticed before when working in an office. A group of coworkers started talking about and quoting from a TV series. I think I remembered a few episodes vaguely. But a few of the guys seemed to be working together to repeat a whole scene. They must have seen the same episodes at least two or three times to be that familiar.
Or, I have noticed people talking about re-watching movies multiple times, and quoting them confidently.
I don't think most of these books are nearly as important as people think they are, in the context of their actual lives. My suspicion is that part of what is driving this is some kind of social pressure or desire to have a common culture. Which is fine, but I think it's stupid to think that there is something more to it.
Another explanation: some people find that new information is just less comfortable for them and would rather repeat the same experience.
Anyway, I think it's the sign of a less adaptable mind or lack of interest in useful information or growth.
There are an effectively infinite number of books, television series, movies, and video games. And I am sure there will be someone sniffing and saying those aren't similar. But they are all media in this context. The reason it does not seem as intractable to get through it all as it really is, is because we naturally filter out most things in general and hone our interest. If we didn't, we would go insane and have no direction. But there are so many books, video games from different eras, movies, etc.
I think it's very ignorant to keep repeating the same ones multiple times when there is so much that you can't possibly get to. And if you say that only a small portion are really worthy of your time, I think that is not objectively true. Again, it just seems that way due to your brain having selected a few bits for your interest. Probably largely based on what you (subconsciously) noticed other people consuming.
There are hundreds of movies and television episodes, and thousands of books and video games produced every year. But let's suppose you ignore 97% of them that aren't extremely popular.
But if you look at only the most popular classical literature, the very most popular books, movies, shows, video games, and ignore the vast majority which were not in the top 3% -- it's still something like 4,000+ media items if you go back to the 1940s. If you run out of those, could you really not look at a few still in the top 10% of popularity? And we are only talking about English language and ignoring any translation or dubbing.
Do you listen to the same song twice? Do you choose the same path to travel consistently? Do you choose to look at the same art piece more than once? How about poems?
Do you have a response to other comments about valuing the prose, and looking for depth in the art (book in this case)?
My opinion is that a single piece of art can have more variety, and more content than a thousand other pieces of art. Getting to know a single piece can be more fulfilling than a thousand others.
It just sounds like you appreciate uniqueness. But others might enjoy depth. you are quick to dismiss others as shallow, but I think the same point could be made about your interest.
I can agree if the person in question is ONLY reconsuming the same content and never consuming anything new, but is that really common enough of a person to warrant discussion? Just cause the people you mention can quote a movie or two doesn't mean they've never consumed anything else.
Not every moment of every day needs to be dedicated to expanding your mind, despite what many people on HN think.
You're also disregarding the fact that, if enough time has passed or if some major event has happened since last time, reconsumption can give you an entirely different perspective and understanding of a piece of media, an experience which is being shared elsewhere in this thread. Surely seeing an old story in a new light is more or less as valuable as reading a new story? Why are we focusing on the words on the page rather than the reaction they trigger in the reader?
Or, I have noticed people talking about re-watching movies multiple times, and quoting them confidently.
I don't think most of these books are nearly as important as people think they are, in the context of their actual lives. My suspicion is that part of what is driving this is some kind of social pressure or desire to have a common culture. Which is fine, but I think it's stupid to think that there is something more to it.
Another explanation: some people find that new information is just less comfortable for them and would rather repeat the same experience.
Anyway, I think it's the sign of a less adaptable mind or lack of interest in useful information or growth.
There are an effectively infinite number of books, television series, movies, and video games. And I am sure there will be someone sniffing and saying those aren't similar. But they are all media in this context. The reason it does not seem as intractable to get through it all as it really is, is because we naturally filter out most things in general and hone our interest. If we didn't, we would go insane and have no direction. But there are so many books, video games from different eras, movies, etc.
I think it's very ignorant to keep repeating the same ones multiple times when there is so much that you can't possibly get to. And if you say that only a small portion are really worthy of your time, I think that is not objectively true. Again, it just seems that way due to your brain having selected a few bits for your interest. Probably largely based on what you (subconsciously) noticed other people consuming.
There are hundreds of movies and television episodes, and thousands of books and video games produced every year. But let's suppose you ignore 97% of them that aren't extremely popular.
But if you look at only the most popular classical literature, the very most popular books, movies, shows, video games, and ignore the vast majority which were not in the top 3% -- it's still something like 4,000+ media items if you go back to the 1940s. If you run out of those, could you really not look at a few still in the top 10% of popularity? And we are only talking about English language and ignoring any translation or dubbing.