Easily the Best Book Ever Written
The exciting thing about being alive is that there is always more to discover.
Our surroundings are constantly changing around us, which means that the world we explore is infinite.
The people around us are learning and experiencing and inventing things and having their hearts broken and having ‘Eureka!’ moments while sitting on benches in State Parks. Every little shift in every single person’s mind has the potential to shift YOUR mind through their actions, and those ripples are being created every moment of every day.
What we know about science today might be defunct by tomorrow. Just as the world itself is changing, so is our understanding of it. Today, traveling faster than the speed of light is impossible. Tomorrow, who knows?
What we know about the world today might be defunct by tomorrow. We know that governments should work a certain way and that currency is how we exchange value and that music is taken in through the ear canal. But tomorrow?
There may not be governments. We may drop currency in favor of hyper-regional bartering, communal non-ownership or be done with tangible forms of exchange and possessions completely. Music may be seen, tasted and mentally absorbed rather than heard.
I’ve often said that I want to live forever, not just because there’s so much I want to do and so many people I want to meet, but also because the milling mass of humanity on Earth is like the greatest book ever written. The plot twists are unexpected, the characters are round and flawed and no matter who you are or what you do, you can help write the the next page.
I want to live forever because I want to see what happens next, and maybe – just maybe – help write a page or two.
Yes! Loved your post. It's so exciting to think about What's Coming Next. But I have to say-- I saw that War and Peace is featured prominently in the picture for your post. Have you read it? Because it is the greatest book ever written. Really! If you haven't read it, give it a go. I have it on my smartphone!
I also have to say that that picture looks eerily like my own bookshelf.
I also like to destroy my past chapters in life (sometimes, not all the time) so that with every new page that is turned, a new me begins. Fresh. Untainted. Pure.
But of course, humanity in and of itself is not necessarily fresh, untainted, pure. And that is what makes it beautiful. Like a natural crack in a well used vase. Or the soft, wrinkled pages of a well used notebook. Like the vase and the notebook, we have cracks and we have wrinkles. And it's all beautiful just the way it is.
I am with you on the fact that just from a scientific point of view, I would love to see how the generations evolve from our current frame of reference.
The reality of it is we only have this lifetime to help shape the future. How will you write your page of history?
Nice post. The other great thing about the idea of immortality is being able to shoulder near-infinite amounts of risk. You can always take giant, giant risks - because you know you'll always be able to build yourself back up.
Chew on that for a little.
What a load of Bollocks.
That was a nice piece of scratch. This one I will send out to people.
People often counter immortality arguments with "But everyone you loved will be dead" while this is true, I think simply watching and participating in the world would be fascinating enough.
I think we should all co-author a chapter together. Everyone contributes a few pages and soon enough we'll have the chapter that changed the world from being the way it is now to the way it will be.
As Kaylee (from Firefly) says: "It's shiny! They've all got stories"
Colin you kind of remind me of Doctor Who, especially in the David Tennant seasons because you've got hair like him and that enthusiasm about life.
Towards the end of Doctor Who season 4, there's a definite theme of loneliness (he's 900 years old and a time traveler). Do you ever get lonely when you're traveling and think "I wonder what would have happened if I was still with my old girlfriend"? If you have moments like this how do you deal with them?
That's sort of a personal question, so you can just ignore it if you want :)
I agree, the world is the perfect novel, and it is such a great one at that. It's so complex, that not only does what we know change every day, we will never know everything there is to know... and that is the perfect drive to keep on reading!
"I want to live forever, not just because there’s so much I want to do and so many people I want to meet, but also because the milling mass of humanity on Earth is like the greatest book ever written."
Amen.
I wish days were longer and I could do everything. Life is just too dang fun.
People wonder why I would rather read nonfiction than fiction a lot of times. They think it's boring. I say the real world is a heckuva lot more exciting, and there are some fascinating stories out there to hear!
Don't you think that your excited because it i will end one day and that you only have a certain amount of time to discover some of it?
If you lived forever wouldn't life become boring?
I like your point of view on this, Miles, and I agree with it. The candle burns brilliantly because it knows it is limited in its time.
That you are here—that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.
~Walt Whitman
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Julia says: That you are here—that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.
~Walt Whitman
Don’t you think that your excited because it i will end one day and that you only have a certain amount of time to discover some of it?
If you lived forever wouldn’t life become boring?
-
I like your point of view on this, Miles, and I agree with it. The candle burns brilliantly because it knows it is limited in its time.
People wonder why I would rather read nonfiction than fiction a lot of times. They think it’s boring. I say the real world is a heckuva lot more exciting, and there are some fascinating stories out there to hear!
“I want to live forever, not just because there’s so much I want to do and so many people I want to meet, but also because the milling mass of humanity on Earth is like the greatest book ever written.”
Amen.
I wish days were longer and I could do everything. Life is just too dang fun.
I agree, the world is the perfect novel, and it is such a great one at that. It’s so complex, that not only does what we know change every day, we will never know everything there is to know… and that is the perfect drive to keep on reading!
Layla says: As Kaylee (from Firefly) says: “It’s shiny! They’ve all got stories”
Colin you kind of remind me of Doctor Who, especially in the David Tennant seasons because you’ve got hair like him and that enthusiasm about life.
Towards the end of Doctor Who season 4, there’s a definite theme of loneliness (he’s 900 years old and a time traveler). Do you ever get lonely when you’re traveling and think “I wonder what would have happened if I was still with my old girlfriend”? If you have moments like this how do you deal with them?
That’s sort of a personal question, so you can just ignore it if you want :)
People often counter immortality arguments with “But everyone you loved will be dead” while this is true, I think simply watching and participating in the world would be fascinating enough.
I think we should all co-author a chapter together. Everyone contributes a few pages and soon enough we’ll have the chapter that changed the world from being the way it is now to the way it will be.
Diogenes says: What a load of Bollocks.
Nice post. The other great thing about the idea of immortality is being able to shoulder near-infinite amounts of risk. You can always take giant, giant risks – because you know you’ll always be able to build yourself back up.
Chew on that for a little.
I am with you on the fact that just from a scientific point of view, I would love to see how the generations evolve from our current frame of reference.
The reality of it is we only have this lifetime to help shape the future. How will you write your page of history?
I am with you on the fact that just from a scientific point of view, I would love to see how the generations evolve from our current frame of reference.
The reality of it is we only have this lifetime to help shape the future. How will you write your page of history?
I also like to destroy my past chapters in life (sometimes, not all the time) so that with every new page that is turned, a new me begins. Fresh. Untainted. Pure.
But of course, humanity in and of itself is not necessarily fresh, untainted, pure. And that is what makes it beautiful. Like a natural crack in a well used vase. Or the soft, wrinkled pages of a well used notebook. Like the vase and the notebook, we have cracks and we have wrinkles. And it’s all beautiful just the way it is.
[...] get me wrong. Every experience, every bit of useful knowledge stored, is a blessing and nothing less. There is immeasurable value [...]
Kari says: Yes! Loved your post. It’s so exciting to think about What’s Coming Next. But I have to say– I saw that War and Peace is featured prominently in the picture for your post. Have you read it? Because it is the greatest book ever written. Really! If you haven’t read it, give it a go. I have it on my smartphone!
I also have to say that that picture looks eerily like my own bookshelf.
Kari says: Yes! Loved your post. It’s so exciting to think about What’s Coming Next. But I have to say– I saw that War and Peace is featured prominently in the picture for your post. Have you read it? Because it is the greatest book ever written. Really! If you haven’t read it, give it a go. I have it on my smartphone!
I also have to say that that picture looks eerily like my own bookshelf.
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[...] get me wrong. Every experience, every bit of useful knowledge stored, is a blessing and nothing less. There is immeasurable value [...]