I used to drive to a larger city and peruse the bookstores. I wasn't especially attracted to the many stores that sold used books. They were cheaper but in general I wanted books that were more recent. Sure, if reading something, I found a reference to an older book, I thought it relevant. But events as they happen often affect what I want to know and the more recent the events, the more relevant opinions and reports by authors that had a chance to know what just happened.
I read that some institutions have considered that one needs a period of 60 years after someone's death before that life and the contributions of that person, artist, politician, writer, theorist, can be viewed wholly and in proper perspective. Maybe we move a little faster these days and we might need only 10 years, although a person is quite different in instances of that person's life that are 60 years apart. Books are not an especially big deal. They are just our oldest format for meeting people's minds and thoughts.
I am still impressed by that article on millennials and burnout by Anne Helen Petersen
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work
but I think a person just reaching adulthood (whatever that is) in the year 2000, or anyone else, should take books and reading in a relaxed way. Modern communication and marketing can deliver information to you about far more books that you can get read. Just because you heard of an interesting book about your ancestors or housekeeping or parenting or investing or, or, or, doesn't mean you have to buy the book, nor look at the book in the library.
But there is more. I know because I get into 'more' quite often. You and I are too smart to try to buy all the interesting books, or read all the interesting ones, but we still get lured in striving for completeness and personal control. So, cleverly, we make lists of titles that sound interesting. Now, what with great writing and even better writing than that, we have lists that are way too long.
Sadly, we are never going to even hear of some wonderful stuff. Think of it: there are a billion and more Indians!! There are even more Chinese!!! You aren't going to hear about some of the totally fantastic stuff some of them write. The sadness doesn't end there. Some of the wonderful books will break your budget. Some of them get overlooked by marketers.
Sure, you will read (or listen to) some fine and valuable and life-enhancing books. But, but, you will forget what they told you. While your memory is aging, the days left for you to read are dwindling!!!
But that is OK. Really, it is OK. Take a break. Take a nap. Take a walk. Watch some little kids at play. You are doing fine, you are doing your bit. You aren't responsible for all the books.
