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Miller’s argument here is that you should not read everything, but that you should choose very
carefully and selectively. This means you should resist the temptation to read some things which are not really going to add to your knowledge or enjoyment (not every book will do this, only some). Here, he says that in this way, we grow (we “increase our stature”). That is, we grow by not reading many books. The implication is that if we choose the very best books and read these few really carefully we will get the best from them – and grow by such selection. Miller discusses 100 books which he things are such books.
5 All on the side, as it were. (Para 7)
Cendrars was a man of action who spent most of his time on travels and adventures. Surprisingly (you would think he did not have time), he read a lot in different languages and even wrote many books – this was in addition to his main activities.
6 For, if he is anything, Cendrars, he is a man of action, an adventurer and explorer, a man who has known how to “waste” his time royally. (Para 7)
Cendrars had a huge reputation as a man of action, travelling, having adventures and exploring
different countries and yet he read a lot (he knew how to use the little time available to read). “Waste” is in quotes to show irony (reading isn’t a waste of time), that he reads in a royal manner (ie very thoroughly). The sentence structure here is quite French with the repetition of “he”.
Reading and understanding
2 Choose the best answer to the questions. 1 What does Miller consider to have been an advantage during his writing career? (a) To have been able to read all the books he wanted. (b) To have grown up in a room full of books. (c) To have written without the aid of a library. (d) The fact that he never wanted to own any books.
2 What did three stars on a book mean in the public library in Miller’s youth? (a) Young people weren’t allowed to read them. (b) They were the most popular books in the library. (c) They were intended for children.
(d) They were more exciting than one-star books.
3 Why does Miller hope the star system still exists in public libraries? (a) It is an efficient system which works well.
(b) It discourages people from reading inappropriate books. (c) It makes people interested in reading.
(d) It makes it easier for people to recognize books. 4 Why do people lend books, in Miller’s opinion? (a) Because they feel the need to share their feelings. (b) It’s the best way to make a friend. (c) It’s less risky than lending money.
(d) Because it’s not possible to possess a book for ever.
5 According to Miller, what should you do when you find a book you want to read? (a) Pick it up and start reading.
(b) Ask a friend for advice about the book.
(c) Think about whether you really need to read it.
(d) Only read it if it is original.
6 What does Miller especially admire about Blaise Cendrars? (a) He had a very adventurous life. (b) He was a great writer.
(c) He knew what to do with his time. (d) He read as well as wrote a lot.
Dealing with unfamiliar words
3 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 the quality of being new, interesting, and different from anything that anyone has created before (originality)
2 the process of putting people or things into particular groups according to the features they have (classification)
3 to make an organized and determined attempt to deal with a problem (tackle) 4 to make something better or more enjoyable (enrich)
5 a difficulty or problem that prevents you from achieving something (obstacle) 6 to sink under water and die (drown) 7 not being used (idle)
8 a suggestion that someone or something is especially suitable or useful for a particular situation (recommendation)
9 to make a lot of effort to achieve something (strive)
4 Complete the conversation with the correct form of the words in Activity 3. A Professor Ridgeway, you’ve just written a biography of the poet Shelley, who (1) drowned off the coast of Italy in 1822 in a sailing accident. As you remind us in the introduction, people’s lives have been (2) enriched by poetry for thousands of years. What (3) recommendation could you make to a young poet who is just beginning their career?
B That they should always (4) strive to be themselves, and not to worry about (5) originality. Once they’ve found their own voice, it will be original in its own way, because everyone is unique.
A So you don’t believe in the (6) classifications which label poets as “romantic” or “modernist” and so on?
B I do, but they have limited value.
A What do you think is the main (7) obstacle facing young poets today?
B I think it is to accept that you cannot be productive all the time. A poet’s mind is never (8) idle and waiting for the right moment is part of the creative process. All other problems are relative, and can be (9) tackled when you get to them.
5 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the following words. You may need to make other changes. 1 I felt depressed and lacking in confidence after reading his criticism of my novel. (demoralized) 2 Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life is about, as the name suggests, the story of his life. (autobiographical)
Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life is, as the name suggests, autobiographical.
3 Shakespeare had an extraordinary talent as a writer, which is without comparison in the history of English literature. (prodigious; unparalleled)
4 Some people look to a book for pleasure rather than for understanding. (enlightenment)
5 The experiment in banning alcohol drinks in the United States actually led to an increase in crime. (prohibiting)
6 I’m not sure if it is to their advantage for readers to read this review before they start the book. (advantageous)
7 Miller’s Tropic of Cancer was, without doubt, one of the most infamous novels of the 20th century. (indubitably)
6 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 If someone makes a confession, do they tell you something (a) personal and secret, or (b) which everyone knows?
2 If someone whets your appetite for something, do they make you (a) desire for it, or (b) dislike it? 3 If you wade through piles of documents, do you (a) read or deal with them, or (b) just ignore them? 4 If you have to forego something, do you (a) finish it quickly, or (b) do without it?
5 Is someone who has business acumen (a) good at business, or (b) without any business skills? 6 Is a repetitive job one in which you do (a) different things, or (b) the same thing every day?
7 If you do something on the side, do you do it (a) in addition to a regular activity, or (b) where no one can see you do it?
Reading and interpreting 7 Answer the questions. 1 What is the first struggle that he has with books?
Miller’s first struggle is to obtain books and get his hands on them. 2 Why is it difficult to lay hands on them?
The books are not in the public library because someone has already borrowed them and Miller doesn’t have the money to buy them.
3 What sort of books are prohibited for a young man?
Books which are considered to be immoral for a young person to read. 4 What is the best way to be introduced to a book?
Through the passionate recommendation of someone who has read the book. 5 What is an unused book lying on a shelf compared with?
It is compared with wasted ammunition. This means that it is useless. It is also compared to money because it should be in circulation.
6 Why does Miller suggest resisting your impulses and not opening a book as soon as you get it? He says you should think intensely about the title, author, and likely contents, imagining what you would have written yourself about it. Then you may decide you don’t need to read it, or, if you do read it, you will read it with more interest and acumen.
Language in use
word formation: -ous
1 Write the adjectives which describe: 1 a writer who has achieved fame (famous) 2 readers who show curiosity (curious) 3 someone who feels envy (envious)
4 a region which is full of mountains (mountainous) 5 a parcel which has a very large volume (voluminous) infinitive / gerund as the subject of a sentence
2 Complete the sentences using infinitive or gerund as the subject. Usually both forms are possible, but you should be able to justify your choice. 1 Getting up early in the morning gives me more time to organize the day. (To express an everyday activity)
2 To write a best-seller has always been my dream. (This is a bit more abstract or a far-away grand idea)
3 Forgetting to take back a library book may not seem serious, but it causes problems for other students.
(To express a normal activity for many people)
4 To spend a lot of time reading in one’s childhood can bring rewards later in life. (Use the more abstract form for an important idea) 5 To be or not to be, that is the question.
(In Shakespeare this can be interpreted as a grand idea, so he uses the formal way; if you say, ‘Being or not being…’ is may be more immediate and seems normal – but in Hamlet the situation is not normal)
such is / are …
3 Rewrite the sentences using such is / are … 1 Good writing is so powerful that the reader thinks the writer is speaking directly to them. The reader thinks the writer is speaking directly to them. Such is the power of good writing. 2 The novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is so charming that you can’t put it down even for a moment.
You can’t put Salmon Fishing in the Yemen down even for a moment. Such is the charm of the novel. 3 Travel is such a pleasure that you may end up living in another country. You may end up living in another country. Such is the pleasure of travel.
4 The sense of confusion in this film is so great that you may feel you want to leave before the end. You may feel you want to leave before the end. Such is the sense of confusion in this film. 5 The difficulties of translation are so enormous that much of the meaning is lost. Much of the meaning is lost. Such is the enormity of the difficulties of translation. if / whether it be …
4 Rewrite the sentences using if / whether it be … 1 Is it the right time to start this kind of project? Ask yourself carefully.
Ask yourself carefully whether it be the right time to start this kind of project. 2 Is it the first edition of Dr Johnson’s Dictionary? I very much doubt it. I very much doubt if this be the first edition of Dr Johnson’s Dictionary. 3 Is it common knowledge that Arthur Miller thought like this? I’m not sure. I am not sure if it be common knowledge that Arthur Miller thought like this.
4 Is it necessary to produce any documents when making an application? Perhaps we should inquire. Perhaps we should inquire whether it be necessary to produce any documents when making an application.
5 Is it the right way to tackle the problem? I doubt it. I doubt if it be the right way to tackle the problem.
collocations
5 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 confront This word usually means to deal with a difficult situation.
(a) Which are the most important problems we have to confront in today’s world?
This could be a long list! I’d say: global warming, pollution, water shortages, extreme weather
conditions, local military conflicts, poverty, famine and hunger, unemployment, to name only a few. (b) Were you confronted by anyone asking for something on your way to class today?
Not today, but a few days ago I was confronted by someone asking for money – which I didn’t like at all.
(c) What’s the biggest crisis you’ve ever been confronted with?
The problem that my grandfather is elderly and has Alzheimer’s disease: He needs constant care because he forgets ordinary things. It is difficult for my parents and for me because we all take turns to look after him. I realized what this was really like when I had to look after him for a weekend when my parents were away, but I discovered I have a lot more patience now. So perhaps this crisis has helped us to develop some good qualities, although it is actually a very difficult time for all of us.
2 idle This word usually means not being used, lazy, or without any real reason or purpose. (a) If someone is idle by nature, what don’t they like doing?
They don’t like doing work or other things that they should do but which they don’t like doing. (b) If machinery is idle, what isn’t it doing? The machinery is not being used.
(c) If someone picks up a book out of idle curiosity, do they have a strong motivation to read it? Not really, they just have a slight curiosity to see what the book is, but they have no real interest. (d) If someone makes you an idle threat, do you take it seriously? No, you don’t because you know that the threat has no real purpose.
3 tackle This word usually means to challenge someone or something, or to make an attempt to deal with
a problem.
(a) What are the main issues the government needs to tackle in the near future?
Well. I suppose there are several issues which need to be tackled, including rising prices and employment in some places, or some social problems in a few areas. (b) How do you tackle someone about their ideas and opinions?
I am inclined to be direct and simply ask them about their opinions and ideas. I think they will tell me honestly if they believe I am really interested in what they think.
(c) If you tackle someone in a game of football, what have you managed to do?
You have managed to get the ball away from them so that your team can keep the ball for a moment.
4 withstand This word usually means to be strong enough not to be harmed or destroyed by something,
or to be able to deal with a difficult situation.
(a) What sort of defences can withstand a direct attack?
To withstand a direct attack you need strong defences which are well placed. (b) What sort of clothes allow you to withstand the cold in winter?