Read it Again

The classics are classics for a reason. They have stood the test of time.

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river, and it's not the same man".” – Heraclitus

A close family friend, high school football coach, Tom Wilson built each one of our three boys a bookcase. The bookcases were put in their rooms, and I stocked the shelves with the books that I considered to be classics. We did not force them to read. However, we encouraged it and set an example. As they grew up, they picked up the habit of reading. There were times, during conversation the boys would reference these books. I remember thinking “I forgot about that; it’s been 25 years since I read that book!”

The classics are classics for a reason. They have stood the test of time. The wisdom found in classic books is as applicable today as it was when they were first written. Some examples:

“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius’ -180 C.E.

“As a Man Thinketh” by James Allen- 1903

“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie-1936

Over the years I accumulated a large book collection. Each year I would purchase the most popular books that hit the bookstores. I always wanted to stay current. I learned many of the recent books being published reiterate the same messages from the classics, told a different way. I started to question my approach.

I decided to go back and reread some of the books that were my all-time favorites. I found that each time I read a book it hit me a differently. You are at a different place in life. Your life experiences have given you a new perspective. You may find that you receive the message differently the second time around.

Going back to the original quote by Heraclitus, my thought is… no man reads the same book twice because he is not the same man.

Next time you are looking for a book to read, consider going back, pull out a classic and read it again.