/lit/ - Literature

Before the 20th century there used to be great writers whose genius worked as the collective conscience of a people and humanity as a whole.

That is long gone.

Then writting became about being avant-garde and one-upping the next pseud.

Now writting is about shitting out generic stories in the hopes of making it into a movie or series script.

In other words read non-fiction.

>>14661776
Non-fiction obviously for general knowledge. Unless you want to know about whaling because if you do then have I got the book for you!

>>14661776
>my goal is to increase my general knowledge

Both, especially classic literature for fiction, and serious/important scientific/philosophical writings for non-fiction.
Both are equally important, up to a point. Then fiction will start to die off as you finish most of the important books that were written before 1980 at the very very latest. Then philosophical literature will start to die around the 70s. Scientific literature might have a little bit more to go though, I'm not sure I don't really read that sort of thing.

>>14661801
>>14661784
Thanks. I was just more curious on everyone's opinion. I have read mostly non-fiction but found that perspectives from fiction gave me more insight into the human element. I also noticed more creativity with my everyday speech and writing which I think is underrated.

>>14661807
>look at him, trying to become a more well-rounded person instead of an overly specialized bugman, what an idiot

>>14661807
This. Just read whatever they read.

>>14661828
>bugman
>specialized in anything, not a jack of all trades

Just read wikipedia

>>14661828
>trying to become a more well-rounded person

>>14661776
i disagree with reading non fiction on general knowledge. In non fiction you will find specialisation on narrow subjects, to gain good generalised knowledge you need to read fiction, eg the name of the rose will provide great knowledge in many areas of medieval life, christianity, philosophy while entertaining you.

>>14661828
>""a more well-rounded person""
As in someone who is too weak to find this vocation in his life, so he wasts his time reading up on irrelevant factoids from Wikipedia and considers himself better off for it. That is the definition of a bugman.

>>14661886
>while entertaining you

>>14661807
>>14661828
>>14661833
>>14661838
>>14661862
>>14661898
We get it. We know you have a folder of based boy memes. Now fuck off.

>>14661970
lol why are you such a fag?

>>14661886
>ENTERTAINMENT!

>>14661990
Is that why you won't leave me alone?

>>14662027
I saw some retards making fun of you with söy macros and decided to join in
is this your first day on the internet?

>>14662036
Kiss me on the lips then you fag. If you don't you're a homophobe and you're oppressing me

>>14662040
what even

I think you should read for your vocation, whatever that may be. There you should spend at least 34% of your reading time. The remaining 66% you should divide between fiction and non-fiction books. I suggest going through the great works of humanity, but that's actually a non-advice (who's to say what are the great works?). Bloom's Western Canon is a good starting point for fiction. I suggest you go through the authors there, reading at least one major work from each. I am sure you will find some that you'll love and want to experience more of their stuff. When it comes to non-fiction, it gets harder. Though I read a lot of philosophy when I was a teen; I did not get much pleasure out of it. I can only recommend you Plato, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and Evola, though I am sure that the other anons will have a lot to add. If you like to read historical books, there are plenty of good books there too.
I am a fiction writer, and most of the things I read are books related to the use of the English Language, tons of fiction, and, of course, philosophy, history, and even psychology as long as it pertains to the themes that I am working on.

I hope this helps, OP. Much love.

I love Golden Retrievers, I own one

>>14662046
>who's to say what are the great works?

>>14661828
>become a more well-rounded person

>>14662115
Great works are things that *entertain* me while teaching me *fucking science*, like hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, or based fantasy that gets turned into videogames and Netflix series like the witcher. They distract me while my wife is having loud sex with her boyfriend in our bedroom.

soibump.

>all these posts ripping the onionsboy bugman a new one
Based.

>>14662046
Thanks anon.

>>14661776
Start with the seven liberal arts, principle of all learning.