Standard followup to all such “is it worth X” questions: compared to what? What’s your opportunity cost of reading such books? More valuable than Call of Duty? than Harry Potter? Than watching football? I’d say probably so, if you need to ask the question. More valuable than learning a new language, bonding with friends/family, or conquering an enemy? Probably not.
I’ve read a fair few, and I think the primary rationality benefit I get is temporal perspective. Really incorporating the belief that real people made real decisions decades, centuries, and millenia ago into my life has been a change (note: not clear that it’s a beneficial change, as I’m a lot less inclined to think that very much of my experience will actually matter in 1000 years). I also get some status and interpersonal interaction benefits by being known as “well read” and able to cite some of the statements and events in such books.
If I’m honest, though, I wouldn’t read them if they weren’t entertaining and enjoyable.
Standard followup to all such “is it worth X” questions: compared to what? What’s your opportunity cost of reading such books? More valuable than Call of Duty? than Harry Potter? Than watching football? I’d say probably so, if you need to ask the question. More valuable than learning a new language, bonding with friends/family, or conquering an enemy? Probably not.
I’ve read a fair few, and I think the primary rationality benefit I get is temporal perspective. Really incorporating the belief that real people made real decisions decades, centuries, and millenia ago into my life has been a change (note: not clear that it’s a beneficial change, as I’m a lot less inclined to think that very much of my experience will actually matter in 1000 years). I also get some status and interpersonal interaction benefits by being known as “well read” and able to cite some of the statements and events in such books.
If I’m honest, though, I wouldn’t read them if they weren’t entertaining and enjoyable.