Dear Readers,
The symbol of the book is considered sacred when it transmits God’s revelations to men. Islam for instance places specially importance on the written word given that a Muslim is supposed not only to read but also to copy the Qu’ran. In Christianity, the apostles are currently depicted holding a book, which symbolizes the message of Christ. The king of the World, the Pancreator, is usually portrayed holding a book in which contains the lives of men as well as the Alpha and Omega of the Universe. In Ancient Egypt, the Book of the Dead, ridden of magic and sacred formulas, is said to guide the soul in the afterlife.
The book as we can see has mainly a positive connotation in written cultures. Yet, the book can be seen as an enemy of memory. Indeed, in certain oral traditions, the book is seen as an enemy since it destroys the effort of learning “by heart” the oral teachings.
Now you take the floor: what do you associate with the book?
I believe that If I love a book, is because I had to love it, if I bought, I had to buy. Books call me from the shelf when I get in a bookshop.
A book is like the eye: a window of the soul. You can look trough, carefully. You can stay near and suddenly…jump!
You are now in another world, wher you can loose yourself, find yourself or simply enjoy. Every book that reach us is a step forward, a message, a sign.
A book is all that express life, also in a silent way, with his interior speach.
It is able to show you, through a story, the soul, the mind, the emotions, the mistery, the magic, the path…
But, is it the author, is it you, is it the character or is it the entire umanity thought? It seems that all are living and speaking through the pages.
Sometimes, most often than we realize, it is God speaking to us.
http://www.myspace.com/deborahjappelli
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Hi Lisa,
Seems to be an interesting video … the problem is that I have seen only the first few minutes.
Did you know why?
Because though the guy who was talking looked to being saying nice things (and funny), I have been unable to understand what he was saying. :(
A great pity indeed. My English is good, but I don´t understand English speaking people when they talk to fast. :(.
Then maybe I should either go to an English speaking country or just be close to English speaking people.
To learn more …
To be able to understand my friends when they are talking ;).
Love.
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Someone who followed his Personal Legend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
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To write in a book or not to write in a book: this is the question? Some say it is akin to a sin to underline, highlight or write in the margins of a book. I’m not sure I have a book on my shelves–not any book that is worth reading anyway–that is free of marks and marginalia. I have written in them all. The more I mark, the more I write–this is just a sign of how much I love the book, and how much it has impressed me.
I have one friend who examines all books before she buys them, carefully considering each copy that is on the shelf, and choosing only the one that is most perfect, free of any evidence of being previously read or handled. I am the one who buys the beat-up, discount copies from half.com, the ones with torn and tattered covers and dog-eared pages. Sometimes I find an unexpected surprise–a comment left in the margin by a previous reader. I delight in reading it, as it reminds me this is not a virgin path–that someone has been here before me, that many, in fact, have read and considered these very words my eyes now pass over. In this, I am reminded that a book is not merely a material object, a piece of property to be “owned.” It is more than that. It is a cultural object, a living object. It does not belong to one person–neither to the writer nor the individual reader–but to the whole community of readers who have read it and will read it in years and perhaps even centuries to come.
I know several people who regard books as delicate objects. When they read, they are careful not to “break the spine.” Me, I am the one who picks up the book and, first thing, bends back both covers till they meet, so that the book is ever after “open”–so that it’s heart is eager to reveal itself even to casual passers-by. The book, after I have had my way with it, lies on its back on the coffee table, covers open wide, its insides flapping out, saying to all and each who see it: “Read me! Read me again!”
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Wisdom
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Dear mr. Coelho,
A book can be a life safer. There are situations where a person has no acces to people or places,and the only way left, to know that there are more of your kind, is thén by finding yourself and understanding yourself, through specific books. If nothing else is at hand, God seemes to guide through showing the right books to read. I am not refering to the bible in this instand. But to those books that catch your eye and tell your intuition. And that is quite overwhelming and a reason for being grateful.
This is the one side.
Being able to téll stories or to sháre stories face to face, showing and reading the eyes and guestures that sometimes tell more then the words that are spoken, is an extra dimension, no doubt.
May God bless many people that can reach out.
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Dear Catherine,
Do you really consider writing a book without a pen is a sacrilege?
May you explain your point of view. Thank you.
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Books are oral traditions and myths put on a page. They are still living as the wind.
Aftermath, it depends :) on the intention of the writer. As someone said justly here.
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Verba volant, scripta manent.
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i read in some letters here about this topic,the book,there is some confusion sometimes,about the power of words and what is a book for us.the words have power,it depends just that if we accept or not this power,and also what we do with this power,how we use this power.sometimes we made mistakes…i mean the good words,as some old books,or stories,or legends… used to do the worst.as if we got a good recipe and we make a bad cooking with it.
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If it is books vs oral/spoken documentation. I am am bias towards books. But just because information/text is written down does not make it true. When the spoken word is passed from one individual to another there is possibility that the next person adds or subtract information. Some times on purpose and others time without intentions.
Books still have advantage. If all the people of an era are gone, their written documentation will out live them.
I believe there are individuals who might argue the spoken word is better because it can change to adjust for new knowledge/mindset
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If worldly wisdom is considered like a butterfly, then the book is like the metaphorical net. It aspires to capture the information that is naturally free-flowing and endless.
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The book is the ultimate “silent” protest; better than a hunger strike!!
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Today I took my 18 year old son to the airport, he is starting on his own path and a journey to the other side of the world, I gave him the Alchemist to take with him. This journey is something he really wanted to do, and your book was just the right thing to give him. Thank you.
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Booka represent knowledge, power and comfort to me.
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“The Book” is a breathing entity, a compilation of thoughts which triggers infinite new thoughts, it’s unique to also be a powerful machine which heals or destroys.
A Sacred Book is the finest example of this duality.
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