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Daniel

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Daniel is Currently Reading

Daniel is currently reading

The Neverending Story

by Michael Ende

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in December 2024

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Daniel said: " The Neverending Story is a children's story for adults, and it was the perfect way to wrap up my reading for 2024. I feel like I've been robbed for waiting so long to read it. It's such a beautiful story about courage, bravery, self-acceptance, frien The Neverending Story is a children's story for adults, and it was the perfect way to wrap up my reading for 2024. I feel like I've been robbed for waiting so long to read it. It's such a beautiful story about courage, bravery, self-acceptance, friendship, responsibility, accountability, and, most of all, the boundless power of imagination. It reminds us of these really fundamental values we often forget as we get older. That's probably why it hits so hard with people in the 18-35 age range when navigating the transition to adulthood.

I found myself identifying with Bastian on many levels, as I'm sure many others have. Life happens--we lose our courage, confidence, and imagination, and we might also struggle to take responsibility for our actions. It's easy to get stuck in the greyness of a comfortable but unfulfilling life. But, like Bastian, through stories, self-confidence, courage, and confronting our inner demons, we can discover our inner strength and shape our own narrative.

One particular scene that stood out to me was Ygramul's appearance. Despite her unpleasant nature, she reminds Atreyu that the Childlike Empress accepts all Fantasticans as they are. Even fearsome creatures have their place in the world; her actions, while disturbing, are part of Fantastica's natural order. This underscores the importance of accepting differences, even when they appear scary. However, it's important to understand this acceptance in the context of Fantastica--it's not about accepting harmful behaviors, but about embracing diversity in a positive way. Another striking moment was when Bastian turned the Acharis into Shlamoofs, believing he had helped them. In reality, he disrupted their natural order. This well-meaning meddling shows the unintended consequences of acting without fully understanding a situation, teaching an essential lesson about humility, accountability, and responsibility.

What I didn't particularly like about the story was the symbolism of The Nothing. Ende viewed modern society as increasingly consumed by materialism, rationalism, and a fixation on tangible success, which he believed stifled imagination. I'm done with defeatist attitudes. Apathy, despondency, cynicism, and lies have always existed, yet the world has never been a better place. Industrialization and computerization haven't killed imagination--if anything, more art is being created now than ever before. Think of books, films, music, fashion, tattoos, fireworks shows, drone art, generative art--you name it. Even cooking and food presentation, science, medicine, and technology, require a sophisticated creative process, and the standards have never been higher. While Ende's warning about the dangers of losing imagination is valid, many people have maintained their imaginative spirit, and that's why I'm optimistic about the world. ...more "

Jan 16, 2025 10:20AM · see review

Daniel is currently reading

The Complete Poetry

by Edgar Allan Poe

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Reading for the 2nd time

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Dec 09, 2025 11:57AM

Daniel is currently reading

The Unabomber Manifesto: Industrial Society & Its Future

by Theodore John Kaczynski

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Jul 03, 2025 01:05PM

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Daniel’s Quotes

“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”
― George Bernard Shaw

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