Book Nook Cafe discussion

My personal advice is to remember that NOT making a decision IS a decision. Too often i've just done nothing, thinking i'm contemplating action. The good news on that front is that it's something i can still tackle. And am, actually.

Not making a decision is totally making one.

Often greater risk is involved in postponement than in making a wrong decision.
— Harry A. Hopf

What do we think about this?
Sometimes getting stuck mulling over options is inaction inducing.

I guess it depends on the type of decision one needs to make.
Some do require thoughtful consideration, others not so much.
Then there is the snooze you lose component. So delaying can be an issue.

I can't decide.... I'll have to mull this over.... 😂

LOL, Alias! And i agree about various types of decisions but many's the day i don't make decisions on the simplest things.

Rachel, excellent quote on this topic.

Alias Reader wrote: "I guess it depends on the type of decision one needs to make.
Some do require thoughtful consideration, others not so much.
Then there is the snooze you lose component. So delaying can be an issu..."

LOL.

It is much easier for me to make big decisions than small ones. I guess in my heart I know what I want to do on the big ones but the small ones I could go either way.

Rachel wrote: "It is much easier for me to make big decisions than small ones. I guess in my heart I know what I want to do on the big ones but the small ones I could go either way."

I understand that, Rachel. The small ones won’t alter your life much, most likely. But those big ones!!

Alias Reader wrote: ""

What a fabulous quote. No one can help what happens to them but the power to react in a healthy way is key.

A Street Car Named Desire by Tennessee Williams



"It's about many things, and I find new things every time I read it or see it. There is so much there; so many levels. But the primary thing the play is 'about,' to use an odious word, is identity. When we are loved--by a man or a woman or God or a community--we have an identity: We are known and appreciated as something. A blessing to have this great gift; a deeper blessing to share it. But so many of us have periods--a month, a year, a lifetime--when there is no love. We've misplaced it or destroyed it or can no longer recognize or take care of it. This is misery, and Tennessee and I talked about it at great length. We come to understand and accept ourselves through the love we are given by others, and we come to loath ourselves and to go on some dangerous journeys to discover ourselves when it disappears. Tennessee was always dropping the love in his life, like a soapy dish or an explosive, and he would go a little mad. Everyone in 'Streetcar' is desperate to be identified, to be recognized and respected, and no one is assured of a place. They are all on a hunt, and they will do what they must to find what they need. And a sister will sacrifice a sister to gain a little security. That, to me, is heartbreaking, and that is what this play is about, among other things."--Elia Kazan on "A Streetcar Named Desire"/Interview with James Grissom/1993/

Thanks for the great paragraph. That is one of the great movies. I would love to see it again. Tennessee Williams's works are so heartbreaking.

It's a favorite of mine.

In Tennessee Williams's work both the women and men are doomed.
In other popular cinema at the time it was film noir where just the women were baddies and so doomed.

Good observation, Rachel. It’s a powerful film.

Rachel's observation is good indeed.

My observation about noir film, I actually heard on NPR some time ago. I never thought about it before that, but it is true. In the 40s and 50s film women had very little agency over their own lives. In noir they got into life and made their own decisions. BUT- they were baddies and usually paid a price for their actions.

“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” - Fran Lebowitz

Fran Lebowitz quote is perfect, imo.

Re. noir—true. I suspect the actresses were glad to have such meaty roles but that price!

Rachel wrote: "“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” - Fran Lebowitz"

We live in an age where people actually read a lot, but increasingly it's not books that they are reading. And that is a tragedy.

Rachel wrote: "“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” - Fran Lebowitz"

Perfect !

Larry wrote:We live in an age where people actually read a lot, but increasingly it's not books that they are reading. And that is a tragedy."

Online, it's clear from the comments, that many just read headlines.

True. What really torques me is that sometimes it’s me who only reads the headlines!! The nerve of me to object to the practice.

madrano wrote: "True. What really torques me is that sometimes it’s me who only reads the headlines!! The nerve of me to object to the practice."

We all do sometimes. The problem is many headlines are just clickbait and if one reads the article the headline frequently is very misleading.

Honestly, this is why i don’t click to read. It’s obviously misleading, an effort to accumulate clicks & i cannot bring myself to click.

madrano wrote: "True. What really torques me is that sometimes it’s me who only reads the headlines!! The nerve of me to object to the practice."

Deb, that is true for all of us, isn't it. And as much as I extol the virtues of reading books, I find that I get some of my best and informed information from periodicals, especially journals. I regularly read FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FOREIGN POLICY, and THE NATIONAL INTEREST. I supplement those journals with articles from the Brookings Institute and the Rand Corporation and a few other places ... Substack subscriptions to Adam Tooze and to David Warsh's Economic Principals are a big help. And at the end of any given day, I honestly feel more ignorant as the sun goes down than when it came up.

Just one sample of what Adam Tooze writes about ... here it's the Chinese drought in the conext of the Chinese economy (housing market collapse, exports, etc.) : https://adamtooze.substack.com/p/char...

Thank you for the names of the periodicals you read, Larry. I will check out the link about the Chinese economy.

Great article, Larry. Thanks for the link. I realized the rest of the world was experiencing economic woes but not the depths of some nations.

I may need absolution but i wondered how many, if any, bodies were found when the river ran dry. After discoveries in US water systems, I am curious how universal this is. Perhaps the States are the only place where we learn as much about that as the drought itself?

Deb,

I think that a few nations may be experiencing a surplus of rainfall (but without floods), but there don't seem to be major nations where this is occurring.

Larry

madrano wrote: "I may need absolution but i wondered how many, if any, bodies were found when the river ran dry. ..."

Deb, you probably don't need any absolution if you didn't put any of the bodies there!

:)

I learn so much from my GR buddies. Larry, thanks for the link on China. The long and short of it is that to have a good understanding of what is going on in the world requires getting information from a variety of sources. I also like BBC World News as I like their perspective and the interviewers do not let politicians off easy.

Rachel wrote: "I learn so much from my GR buddies. Larry, thanks for the link on China. The long and short of it is that to have a good understanding of what is going on in the world requires getting information from a variety of sources. I also like BBC World News as I like their perspective and the interviewers do not let politicians off easy...."

Rachel, we watch BBC World News America every day and BBC World News most days. We've recently started watching the BBC show Context, which is a 30 minute deeper look into several stories. We weren't aware of this show until a GoodReads friend who lives in the UK asked if we watched it.

Larry wrote: BBC World News America every day and BBC World News."

They also have a podcast that I listen to occasionally.

I also like The Economist podcast.

Larry wrote: "Deb,

I think that a few nations may be experiencing a surplus of rainfall (but without floods), but there don't seem to be major nations where this is occurring.”

Thanks, Larry. I didn’t think so.

I’m also grateful for your note on my need for absolution. :-)

I wonder if BBC show Context has a podcast. I will look into it. Thanks.

Rachel wrote: "I wonder if BBC show Context has a podcast. I will look into it. Thanks."

I use Spotify for my podcasts. If I put in the search- BCC - all their programs come up. I don't see one for The Context.

I saw this on Wiki. Maybe these search words will help you find it.

After having been off air for six months following Kay's departure, the programme was relaunched in January 2022 as Context,[3] later changed to The Context. It is now presented by Christian Fraser alone, and like its predecessor, it airs at 21:00 GMT Monday to Thursday on the BBC News Channel and BBC World News, but now also on BBC Parliament

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Con...

Thanks for the info. I just looked on BBC Sounds and there is no podcast for The Context.

Sorry there is no podcast. :(

On the Media's today show (NPR, also a podcast) was very interesting. The guest is a media analyst and he listened to and watched many Russian talk shows and radio shows. It was a very interesting perspective.

Thanks for the heads-up, Rachel. I'll make sure I listen to that episode. I enjoy On The Media.

Interesting. One wonders what Russians are hearing about the Ukraine.

madrano wrote: "Interesting. One wonders what Russians are hearing about the Ukraine."

According to the broadcast, propaganda. Not very surprising. Also any media source that was offering a different point of view was shut down.

I haven't listened to the whole broadcast yet. I just listened to some as I was doing my nighttime teeth routine.

Propaganda was what i expected but i was curious about the form. Having read about the lies told about Chernobyl, I’m dismayed citizens would believe the government. Of course that was 30 years ago, under Communism but the fact immigrants are being sent there to live has me curious about gullibility.

The US too, don’t get me wrong. It’s as though we believe governments really are there for us!

The only way any government would be for the people is to have publicly funded elections. Right now the government works for the lobbyists who give them money.

Rachel wrote: "The only way any government would be for the people is to have publicly funded elections. Right now the government works for the lobbyists who give them money."

Bingo. Follow the $$$$. After Citizens United I am guessing next corporations will get the vote.

Call me Ms. Negative. I don't see us turning this around and getting our democracy back on track. :( I sure hope I'm wrong.

Rachel, i agree. The UK funds elections well, as well as limiting the time frame. I cannot say how strict they are on either front but at least it’s a thoughtful attempt.

"It is often said that one has but one life to live, but that is nonsense. For one who reads, there is no limit to the number of lives that may be lived, for fiction, biography, and history offer and inexhaustible number of lives in many parts of the world, in all periods of time."

~~~ Education of a Wandering Man- Louis L'Amour

"A mistake constantly made by those who should know better is to judge people of the past by our standards rather than their own. The only way men or women can be judged is against the canvas of their own time."
A Memoir - Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour

Two very good points about reading.