Loves. Lovers. Why are we working so hard? What is it all for? We need to constantly center and then re-center ourselves. Where to look for directions? Ecclesiastes. It's the only book in the Bible worth re-reading a bajillion times [well, I'm a wee bit partial to Song of Solomon as well] and it is the simplest how-to-live-life manual you can find.
I'm paraphrasing of course, but the directives are clear: EAT! DRINK! ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABORS! BE GOOD TO YOUR WIFE! ENJOY ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE [because it will soon be over]!!
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. [Ecclesiastes 1:11] In other words, humans are fucking FICKLE! We have short attention spans. What we think is super cool today, will not be remembered tomorrow. What will be awesome tomorrow, will be forgotten by tomorrow's tomorrow.
Then said I in my heart, as it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this [also] is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. [Ecclesiastes 2: 15-16] My interpretation--the dummies and the smarties will all invariably meet the same fate: we will all be dead and forgotten, eventually.
All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. For what hath the wise more than the fool? What hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes, than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of the spirit. That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? [Ecclesiastes 6: 7-12] My interpretation--we are working for the attainment of mere things, and attempting to seek fulfillment from that which is unsubstantial. The "wise" and the "foolish" alike are (and will continue to be ever after) undifferentiated by a blind universe.
Then said I, wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. [Ecclesiastes 9: 16-18]
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: but if a man live many years and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. [Ecclesiastes 11: 7-8]
Please note: "vanity" doesn't mean what you think it means. It's not the regular vanity where you act like Vanity Smurf and preen in front of a hand-mirror all day long. Instead "all is vanity" is the equivalent of "all is transitory" or "all is ephemeral".
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I recently read my favorite Chuck Klosterman book so far, The Visible Man. Essentially, the story revolves around the premise that we live our lives as a performance for others. We are not our authentic selves when we are around others. A person is only truly himself when he is completely alone, and he believes that he is unobserved. So, the visible (invisible) man wants to see how people actually behave when they think they are alone. The man is right there in the room observing, but is undetected. People barely see what's openly in front of them, much less things that are camouflaged. We all have a fixed perspective on how the world looks and that perspective generates itself [Klosterman, 48].
Other books I've read since my last entry:
Klosterman's I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined). Amusing, entertaining, clever, just like his other essay compilation books.
James Franco's Actors Anonymous. Which at turns I loathed and loved. "Is there a veridic self underneath?" is a question that Franco asks several times. I'd like to know the answer. Is there an essential self? Franco writes: We like to think we have core values and passions, but where do those come from but the culture around us? You are either drawn toward your parents' teachings or you are in revolt, but either way you have been shaped by them.
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max. FELLATIO WON'T FILL THE HOLE IN YOUR SOUL!
The Circle, by Dave Eggers. Yes, the characters were flat and irritating, but I enjoyed the overall message of inescapable doom.
And I am now currently reading Wild Years: The Music and Myth of Tom Waits by Jay Jacobs and The Complete Essays by Michel de Montaigne. The Complete Essays is a 1,269 page solid brick.This dude likes to write on a variety of topics, for instance "On Thumbs" , "On a Monster-Child" , "On High Rank as a Disadvantage" , and "On the Cannibals" to name a few. I know we like to throw around the term "genius" a lot these days, but I think Montaigne might actually qualify.
Don't discuss yourself, for you are bound to lose;
if you belittle yourself, you are believed;
if you praise yourself, you are disbelieved.
[Montaigne]
xx
