Brendan
is currently reading
progress:
(page 343 of 1128)
"“That [Zhu Xi’s] system of learning should become primarily identified with the pursuit of success in the examination system is a great irony; his purpose was to teach people how to enlarge their minds and their humanity through study of the classics, and he was bitterly discouraged by trends becoming evident in his time toward the debasement of learning as a mere device for gaining status and wealth.”" — Jan 19, 2026 01:19PM
"“That [Zhu Xi’s] system of learning should become primarily identified with the pursuit of success in the examination system is a great irony; his purpose was to teach people how to enlarge their minds and their humanity through study of the classics, and he was bitterly discouraged by trends becoming evident in his time toward the debasement of learning as a mere device for gaining status and wealth.”" — Jan 19, 2026 01:19PM
Brendan
is currently reading
progress:
(10%)
"You know a history book is going to be great when it starts with an extended discussion of the development of roads and canals and their influence over changes in economics and communications.
And yes, I’m 100% serious about that…this is the stuff that is obscured by the famous names and battles, but actually shapes our world far more durably to the present day" — Dec 18, 2025 08:22AM
"You know a history book is going to be great when it starts with an extended discussion of the development of roads and canals and their influence over changes in economics and communications.
And yes, I’m 100% serious about that…this is the stuff that is obscured by the famous names and battles, but actually shapes our world far more durably to the present day" — Dec 18, 2025 08:22AM
progress:
(page 73 of 177)
"“It is the way with all men that, if they do something only for the sake of winning rewards and benefits, then, the moment they see that the undertaking may end unprofitably or in danger, they will abandon it. Therefore rewards, punishments, force, and deception are in themselves not enough to make men put forth their full efforts or risk their lives…If the rulers and superiors do not treat the common people" — Dec 09, 2025 06:39PM
"“It is the way with all men that, if they do something only for the sake of winning rewards and benefits, then, the moment they see that the undertaking may end unprofitably or in danger, they will abandon it. Therefore rewards, punishments, force, and deception are in themselves not enough to make men put forth their full efforts or risk their lives…If the rulers and superiors do not treat the common people" — Dec 09, 2025 06:39PM
Jurassic Club
— 4 members
— last activity Sep 19, 2018 10:45PM
An online network of the Jurassic Club.
The Year of Reading Proust
— 1632 members
— last activity Mar 29, 2025 09:41AM
2013 was the year for reading—or re-reading—Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu or In Search of Lost Time for many of us. However, these th ...more
Classics and the Western Canon
— 4932 members
— last activity 10 hours, 46 min ago
This is a group to read and discuss those books generally referred to as “the classics” or “the Western canon.” Books which have shaped Western though ...more
Brendan’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Brendan’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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