Some interesting books
Existence
I often try to learn about as many different things as I can. It does not matter that I do not understand it completely, because I only want to have a certain amount of knowledge, a suffice degree of conceptual understanding, of whatever I learn about. I do this because I believe that every piece of information I know can become an advantage in the future, but I realized that knowing more can sometimes serve a negative effect.
The negativity came from a bookshelf that I pass by every day on the way to my room. On it was a book, titled The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene, which was given to my brother by one of his teachers. My brother has recommended the book to me many, many times, as he was an aerospace enthusiast. However, the thousands upon thousands of words on the hundreds of pages of the book never appealed to me, so I ignored him. Eventually, I picked up the habit of learning a bit about everything, and started reading the book.
My impression of the book from reading the introduction on the back cover and from what my brother tells me was that the book would be a boring physics book. In fact, it was not, and learning something on my own accord and enjoying it made me feel more mature. Not only were the implications of the string theory explained in the book profound and logical, but the clarity with which the theory can be related to worldly objects was also astounding. However, as the book drew me more and more into the principles and ideas behind string theory, I found a competing conscience rejecting the possibilities that the theory offered. As this conflict occurred each time during my reading, my existence and the world’s existence appeared more and more trivial. This did in fact help me lessen the impacts of certain unhappy events that occurred in my life, but it also tore apart my view of everything. I could no longer do things without questioning the purpose of the tasks, and fun and boredom seemed to mix into one. I seemed to have lost motivation, as whenever the thought that our world could very possibly be a speck of dust in the world of some other being appeared in my mind, I would think, “So then what’s the point in doing anything?” However, as I continued further in the book, I found that it was indeed the boring physics book that I expected. Nevertheless, I finished the book, and reoriented my mindset to a comfortable position.
Although this book created many philosophical conflicts for me, it is nonetheless a very well-written book. It serves its purpose well and is likely to not cause the problems I encountered for someone else. However, it did derail much of what I once believed and acted for. In the end, the comfortable mindset I adapted is no longer as stable as it once was, but likewise it could no longer be shaken as much as it has been by this book. For anyone who likes to know about things, this book has the potential to change your views of everything in the world.
Responsibility
Year after year, as I see my mom’s movements become duller and duller, I am reminded of the responsibility that she carries for the sake of me and my brother. At the same time, I think of what responsibilities I will eventually carry as my mom’s job is completed and mine is begun. Usually, I do not come to any conclusion because I have simply not begun carrying any significant responsibilities. However, I found an example of the burdens of responsibility within Ender Wiggin, a character from the popular Ender’s series by Orson Scott Card of which I have read Ender’s Game, Ender’s Shadow, Ender in Exile, and Speaker for the Dead. This character embodied the responsibilities and the suffering that result. However, such suffering did not make him interesting. Instead, it was how unending his sea of responsibilities was that warned me of the future that awaits me.
From birth to manhood, Ender was meant to be different. He was conceived for the sole purpose of saving humanity through war, yet once he succeeded, he found himself paying the debt of the salvation of the human race. After killing the enemy, the enemy became a part of his responsibility, his conscience. Everything he did was for the sake of others, yet in helping others, he seemed to have found the responsibility to save everyone.
If responsibilities give rise to further burdens, then I predict that my life will be a tedious one. Yet without responsibilities, there would not be any purpose. In this series, the intricate personalities and connections of the characters detail the workings of responsibilities within a society. It may be unrealistic, but, as you read about Ender growing older, you will find many connections and perhaps gain some insight as to what your future may hold.
Book recommendations by Stuyvesant students for Stuyvesant students and readers around the world. Also known as Stuy Bookshelf/Book Box. Submissions are open—click on register below!