Visit(ˈvizit) the Library(-brərē,ˈlīˌbrerē)

Visit(ˈvizit) the Library(-brərē,ˈlīˌbrerē)

By Steve Pavlina

When was the last time · you made a trip(trip) · to the local public library? In addition(əˈdiSHən) · to some rather smelly(ˈsmelē) books, my local library · has a small collection of audio(ˈôdēˌō) programs too, and I can renew most items(ˈītəm) online · for up to 9 weeks(wēk) · before having to return them.

You may not find the latest(lāt) and greatest(grāt) new releases(riˈlēs), but at least(lēst) it’s free. I often check out a bunch（bənCH） of items that interest me · and then skim（skim） through(THro͞o) them at home · at my leisure（ˈleZHər,ˈlēZHər）. It’s a great way to pick(pik) up some new ideas（īˈdēə） · and prevent（priˈvent） staleness（stāl nes） of thought(THôt).

It’s funny(ˈfənē) · how often today’s best “secrets(ˈsēkrit） of success（səkˈses）” can be found in the writings(rīt) of Socrates(ˈsäkrəˌtēz), Franklin, or Emerson. It’s humbling to think I’ve figured(ˈfigyər) out a new secret to life(līf), the universe(ˈyo͞onəˌvərs), and everything, only to later(ˈlātər) discover that Aristotle(ˈarəˌstätl,ˌarəˈstätl) had me beat(bēt) by 2350 years(yi(ə)r). And despite(diˈspīt) the archaic(ärˈkāik) language, the classics are often easier to comprehend(ˌkämpriˈhend) because they were written(rit) long before marketing(ˈmärkitiNG) messed(mesd) us all up.