upvote

points

by paulryanrogers8 hours ago |
comments
upvoteby world2vec8 hours ago|
next
[-]
How could fiction books become outdated? That is an absolutely alien opinion for me!

-edit- I said "non-fiction" when I meant "fiction". Of course non-fiction books become obsolete quite fast sometimes.

reply
upvoteby paulryanrogers8 hours ago|
parent|
next
[-]
I was mostly speaking of nonfiction. Though I find most fiction doesn't age well in any medium. Appreciating it often requires social context I don't really have time to learn. And many fictional works from the past are chock full of racism, sexism, irrational social phobias, etc.

For those who put in the work, there isn't even a cultural bond to enjoy since most of the people who originally consumed those works are themselves dead and buried. (Modern niches and widely studied "classics" notwithstanding.)

reply
upvoteby esseph7 hours ago|
parent|
[-]
> Though I find most fiction doesn't age well in any medium.

What a crazy take!

> Appreciating it often requires social context I don't really have time to learn.

????

> And many fictional works from the past are chock full of racism, sexism, irrational social phobias, etc

I have some news for you. That stuff has lasted for as long as humans have existed, and will continue to exist as long as humans do. It is intrinsic to humans, unfortunately.

reply
upvoteby bcjdjsndon7 hours ago|
parent|
next
[-]
> Though I find most fiction doesn't age well in any medium

Shakespeare is so old it's now undecipherable to any English speaker without a cliffnotes explaining it all.... for instance

reply
upvoteby sophacles4 hours ago|
parent|
[-]
Nah, if you spend a few minutes understanding one, the rest are easy.
reply
upvoteby paulryanrogers7 hours ago|
parent|
prev|
[-]
> That stuff has lasted for as long as humans have existed, and will continue to exist as long as humans do.

No doubt. Doesn't mean I want to consume more of it via fiction.

reply
upvoteby dvdkon8 hours ago|
parent|
prev|
[-]
Pretty easily - I don't think reading a medical text from the 19th century will give you up-to-date information. I'd agree that the concept doesn't apply to fiction, though.
reply
upvoteby ddoolin8 hours ago|
prev|
[-]
"Reading books is overrated" -- what an HN take. You've gotta be kidding me.
reply
upvoteby paulryanrogers7 hours ago|
parent|
[-]
Perhaps you can make some counter points and change my mind?
reply