The Detroit times., 1917-04-03
The Books You Read
nv n. ADDINoroN BRUCH
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
Ality." Psychology and
Parenthood." etc.


Sit down for a few minutes to.
night and take stock OF your read.
ing habits. Question yourself most
closely about the knd OF books you
rad.
II you do not read books at all.
recognize frankly that you are do
priving yourself OF an invaluable
means OF increasing your happi.
ness and efhciency. N you do read
books. ask whether they are books
really calculated 20 bring an In
crease OF happiness and efficiency
o. you,
In especial. ponder the character
OF the novels you read.
Most people read more novels
than books OF any other kind. ~
this is your habit. question yourself
a. 10 the probable effects on your
mind Of the type or types OF novel
you generally read.
But you cay. the novels I
read cannot have any particular cf.
feet on my mind. read them for
amusement only. and quickly forget
them"
let me tell you something.
No book that a man reads " ever
completely forgotten by him. Its
fundamental Ideas at least sticS
fast In his mind. n pcrchance only
I'm that remote region Of his mind
which psychologists call the sub
conscious
In the suboOnscious the ideas ne
has received act. without his know.
ing A. 10 color In some degree bis
philosophy OF life. his character,
and his conduct II any particular
variety OF ideas becomes dominant
in his subconscious mind his whole
nature will thereby be profoundly
affected
This r. why me kind OF reading
a man does Is of such tremendous
Importance 10 him.
Whether he reads for purposes OF
instruction or for amusement mere.
~, ideas OF some sort are certain
to gain permanent Judgment in his
mind n they are reinforced by
similar ideas. derived from later
reading. they are certain to innu.
ence him greatly for good or for
evil
Now. in the case OF many books,
and not least in that 81 many nov.
els 4 Is unfortunately true that
the ideas these lodge in the mind
arc injurious ideas rather than
beneficial ones.
For example. some novels by
their subtle glorihcation OF the ami.
NAL passions and m inNdious ~.
tack on the sacredness OF ideal hu-
man relationships. lodge in the mind
IDEAS which are positively debaslng
Many others. thru overemphasiz.
ing the sordid and ugly IN life. force
lodgment for pe@simistfc ideag.
Others foster In the subconscious
the growth OF selfishness- brutality,
and other undesirable traits
Then there are novels which pro
mote deadeninE. materiaiistic
view Of human existence, making
iu possible the leading Of a truly
happy and successful life.
Clearly a man needs 10 be most
careful as 10 the novels he reads
Ard H. on seif-analysis he fnds
that he has fallen into the habit o.
fayorinE novels and novelists OF en-
unhealthy influence. he should re-
form his reading habits without Do
lay
But" the question At once
springs up. how can know the
character OF book until have
read some OF IT."
BY reading review of II IN q
newspaper or literary Journal OF
recognized reputation for sanity and
wholesomeness % opinion. That IL
how you can learn tie character.
This. indeed r. a safe and help.
ful rule 10 follow Read no booS
until competent critical Judgment
has vouched for its benehcence.