Some false assumptions your post has made, may help answer your questions.
>Surely, no book can change your thinking about almost everything.
False, for me. Many books have significantly changed my thinking about one, many, or nearly all "things." If you're curious which ones and in what way, feel free to ask here or on my email address.
>I still haven't figured out why we love to discuss books so much. Is it egoism or need for approval?
I like to talk about the thoughts I have about things, including books. This is a sharing concept with my friends and partners - I enjoy hearing their opinions, bouncing ideas off them, and exploring topics. It gives me pleasure. It is not egoism, nor need for approval (I say with extreme confidence).
> Is it because we have to somehow justify hundreds of books we have bought and never actually read?
I don't have opinions on books I've never actually read, so this is an inapplicable statement. I also don't have hundreds of purchased, but unread, books. I have perhaps 20 purchased and unread, and about 50 on the immediate "want to read list" that are unpurchased and unread.
>Books become elements of decoration, just to show off and appear smarter perhaps.
This is not true for me.
> If they are stacked on the edge of your desk, that's even better, it portraits you as a restless intellectual adventurer.
There is nothing on my work desk but my notebook, phone charger, laptop, monitor, headphones, keyboard, mouse, and an empty coffee cup. At home, it's the same, minus the laptop, plus a bunch of postcards from friends jammed between two plants.
At this point, I'm convinced there is someone in your life you are thinking of, that annoys you, that has books on their desk. Perhaps they are legitimately annoying - it would be sad if this makes you hate all book readers.
> And when your guests arrive you make sure that they get a glimpse of your amazing "library".
My guest library is in the living room. It consists of cookbooks, a Haynes manual on the Suzuki SV650, and about 10 different picture books of cats, dogs, bridges, and infrastructure. Also, a D&D manual.
>and make some general remarks. Win-win. I'm sure you guys can relate.
Do you not discuss topics of shared enjoyment with other people? What makes "reading books" an unacceptable hobby discussed between friends?
Your rant gives me the impression that you believe people do things only to appear smarter, better, than others. I remember I used to think that way, because it didn't seem possible to me that "genuineness" could exist - nope, everyone is guided by primal urges. This isn't true. I hope you come to discover this one day.
>Surely, no book can change your thinking about almost everything.
False, for me. Many books have significantly changed my thinking about one, many, or nearly all "things." If you're curious which ones and in what way, feel free to ask here or on my email address.
>I still haven't figured out why we love to discuss books so much. Is it egoism or need for approval?
I like to talk about the thoughts I have about things, including books. This is a sharing concept with my friends and partners - I enjoy hearing their opinions, bouncing ideas off them, and exploring topics. It gives me pleasure. It is not egoism, nor need for approval (I say with extreme confidence).
> Is it because we have to somehow justify hundreds of books we have bought and never actually read?
I don't have opinions on books I've never actually read, so this is an inapplicable statement. I also don't have hundreds of purchased, but unread, books. I have perhaps 20 purchased and unread, and about 50 on the immediate "want to read list" that are unpurchased and unread.
>Books become elements of decoration, just to show off and appear smarter perhaps.
This is not true for me.
> If they are stacked on the edge of your desk, that's even better, it portraits you as a restless intellectual adventurer.
There is nothing on my work desk but my notebook, phone charger, laptop, monitor, headphones, keyboard, mouse, and an empty coffee cup. At home, it's the same, minus the laptop, plus a bunch of postcards from friends jammed between two plants.
At this point, I'm convinced there is someone in your life you are thinking of, that annoys you, that has books on their desk. Perhaps they are legitimately annoying - it would be sad if this makes you hate all book readers.
> And when your guests arrive you make sure that they get a glimpse of your amazing "library".
My guest library is in the living room. It consists of cookbooks, a Haynes manual on the Suzuki SV650, and about 10 different picture books of cats, dogs, bridges, and infrastructure. Also, a D&D manual.
>and make some general remarks. Win-win. I'm sure you guys can relate.
Do you not discuss topics of shared enjoyment with other people? What makes "reading books" an unacceptable hobby discussed between friends?
Your rant gives me the impression that you believe people do things only to appear smarter, better, than others. I remember I used to think that way, because it didn't seem possible to me that "genuineness" could exist - nope, everyone is guided by primal urges. This isn't true. I hope you come to discover this one day.