I like the eReader -> pirated/free theory approach. You can use VPNs and whatnot to anonymize your downloads, store them locally, and the eReader is a nice middle-ground between physically reading and getting a ton of books you want to read.
Ooh, I like that too! I found an old e-reader in a box of junk I was cleaning up a couple months ago, first thing I did after finding out it does in fact still charge and turn on, was get some theory to read and load it on there, it hasn’t helped me actually get to reading it as much as I’d hoped it would, but it is an excellent solution if you want a device that does nothing but store and display text!
I also like the “increase pages read by 1 per day” approach, up until it becomes too much to handle, be that 1 page or 50. It helps build the habit without overwhelming you!
You should put together a post on this stuff, you seem not just well educated in theory but also good at teaching people the concepts and explaining how to read theory, I guess. Like a stereotypical inner party cadre of the good old days. A post full of methodology like this and little tips and tricks would probably be just as broadly useful as your reading list.
Thanks, I appreciate it! Though I’m not an expert or anything, my list is just my own views and what I like, and that tip right there is just what works for me. I know it isn’t going to apply to everyone, and people will disagree with my theory list anyways. I just made it for my own selfish desires to have something I can share when I feel like it may be relevant!
Yeah, I get that, it’s just that a lot of us are a lot worse at this than you seem to be, and I’ve noticed a tendency in leftist spaces to tell people to “read theory, darn it” or post reading lists, at a much higher rate than understanding that it’s not usually a lack of desire to read it leading folks to not do so and addressing real issues with solutions that have worked for at least some of us. So I’d encourage anyone who’s made a reading list to also share their tactics for getting themselves to sit down and read, and I’d encourage anyone who’s shared a trick or two to post all their tips and tricks somewhere. Not just you, comrade.
Fair! That’s why the opening sections cover tips for study, and why it’s even a good idea in the first place. I just think that how to read is such a subjective area that really needs to be more fine-tuned than theory is, so it’s a lot more malleable. Thanks for the input!
Oh, it absolutely is. I actually watched an excellent video essay just this morning breaking down the American illiteracy crisis, and the complexity of what exactly educators and institutions need to be doing to teach kids how to read was a big point, as was the difference between just being able to recognize words on a page, and being able to understand the meaning and put multiple sentences together. I.e. what is “functional literacy” and why are there so many people who can technically read but often can’t navigate an instruction manual or a complicated form (or reading political theory).
“Reading is for commies! Of course people in [insert imperial core nation] can’t read!” is a good low hanging fruit joke to make, but there’s a lot of complicated reasons why reading theory is difficult for a lot of baby leftists, and why functional literacy is a dropping statistic in several countries.
I have such a hard time reading anything but fiction on an e-reader, especially theory. i tend to underline and flip back to certain sections when reading theory and its so much easier to with a physical copy. this sucks because books, particularly theory, can be expensive
I’d suggest not buying anything you don’t want tracked online. (and if you’re really paranoid, don’t use a bank card, either.) I know, harder said than done when independent bookstores are closing and explicitly leftist bookshops are even thinner on the ground, but there’s always ways around buying things online.
i’m sure i’m already lit up like a christmas tree. but ordering Kapital or state and rev seems like something that goes beyond curiosity into “active kill list”.
and i can’t do e books i’ve tried, it just feels like phone. there’s one semi-nearby leftist bookshop but it’s anarchist and i would be surprised if they have any Marx at all.
i’m still in phase 1: just read some books again, damnit. the brainrot runs deep.
luckily i’ve gotten back into the rhythm of reading physical books and separate it from my sloptime.
now i just find a way to gather some physical theory books without putting a giant red flag on my Palantir report when ICE scans my license plate
maybe i just order a bunch of political books all at once? from across the entire spectrum?
I like the eReader -> pirated/free theory approach. You can use VPNs and whatnot to anonymize your downloads, store them locally, and the eReader is a nice middle-ground between physically reading and getting a ton of books you want to read.
This is the way. Get one of those paper white ones too. Helps with distractions.
Yep! I like my kobo because I can sideload Koreader on it and it has physical buttons for turning the page.
Oooh, physical page buttons sounds like a super neat feature on a dedicated e-reader.
I use an android tablet as a reader, and the volume buttons work quite nicely for that.
Yea it feels nice!
Ooh, I like that too! I found an old e-reader in a box of junk I was cleaning up a couple months ago, first thing I did after finding out it does in fact still charge and turn on, was get some theory to read and load it on there, it hasn’t helped me actually get to reading it as much as I’d hoped it would, but it is an excellent solution if you want a device that does nothing but store and display text!
I also like the “increase pages read by 1 per day” approach, up until it becomes too much to handle, be that 1 page or 50. It helps build the habit without overwhelming you!
That sounds actually pretty useful.
You should put together a post on this stuff, you seem not just well educated in theory but also good at teaching people the concepts and explaining how to read theory, I guess. Like a stereotypical inner party cadre of the good old days. A post full of methodology like this and little tips and tricks would probably be just as broadly useful as your reading list.
Thanks, I appreciate it! Though I’m not an expert or anything, my list is just my own views and what I like, and that tip right there is just what works for me. I know it isn’t going to apply to everyone, and people will disagree with my theory list anyways. I just made it for my own selfish desires to have something I can share when I feel like it may be relevant!
Yeah, I get that, it’s just that a lot of us are a lot worse at this than you seem to be, and I’ve noticed a tendency in leftist spaces to tell people to “read theory, darn it” or post reading lists, at a much higher rate than understanding that it’s not usually a lack of desire to read it leading folks to not do so and addressing real issues with solutions that have worked for at least some of us. So I’d encourage anyone who’s made a reading list to also share their tactics for getting themselves to sit down and read, and I’d encourage anyone who’s shared a trick or two to post all their tips and tricks somewhere. Not just you, comrade.
Fair! That’s why the opening sections cover tips for study, and why it’s even a good idea in the first place. I just think that how to read is such a subjective area that really needs to be more fine-tuned than theory is, so it’s a lot more malleable. Thanks for the input!
Oh, it absolutely is. I actually watched an excellent video essay just this morning breaking down the American illiteracy crisis, and the complexity of what exactly educators and institutions need to be doing to teach kids how to read was a big point, as was the difference between just being able to recognize words on a page, and being able to understand the meaning and put multiple sentences together. I.e. what is “functional literacy” and why are there so many people who can technically read but often can’t navigate an instruction manual or a complicated form (or reading political theory).
“Reading is for commies! Of course people in [insert imperial core nation] can’t read!” is a good low hanging fruit joke to make, but there’s a lot of complicated reasons why reading theory is difficult for a lot of baby leftists, and why functional literacy is a dropping statistic in several countries.
I have such a hard time reading anything but fiction on an e-reader, especially theory. i tend to underline and flip back to certain sections when reading theory and its so much easier to with a physical copy. this sucks because books, particularly theory, can be expensive
Yep, doesn’t work for everyone! How we engage with a medium is deeply personal, and what works for some people doesn’t work for others.
I’d suggest not buying anything you don’t want tracked online. (and if you’re really paranoid, don’t use a bank card, either.) I know, harder said than done when independent bookstores are closing and explicitly leftist bookshops are even thinner on the ground, but there’s always ways around buying things online.
i’m sure i’m already lit up like a christmas tree. but ordering Kapital or state and rev seems like something that goes beyond curiosity into “active kill list”.
and i can’t do e books i’ve tried, it just feels like phone. there’s one semi-nearby leftist bookshop but it’s anarchist and i would be surprised if they have any Marx at all.