You Should Read Old Books
The wonderful habit of reading old books

‘Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon’, by Cyrano de Bergerac, is a hard read.
Mostly because it was first published in 1657, written by a brilliant wordsmith and a total show-off, who likes nothing more than to prove his ability to paint masterpieces with his words.
The text is flowery to the extreme, complete with biblical references and old science assumptions, and sprinkled generously with the 17th century equivalent of bro-jokes.
And yes, that’s what I read at night when I go to bed.
Why am I even reading this?
Good question. And one I would have gladly asked a couple of years ago.
Along with:
- Why read the whole book, flowery and all, when I could easily find a quick summary online?
- Why read difficult texts when current writing fashion dictates a simple and direct style?
- Why reading something this old when I could be reading about the latest developments in psychology?
- Why even reading at all, when I could just as easily get this information in a YouTube video?
And sure, it would save me a lot of time, and I would probably learn a lot more reading something written this century.
But you see, that’s not why I’m reading this book.
I am reading this book in particular because I am curious
Cyrano de Bergerac, the character from the Edmond Rostand’s play, is one of my heroes.
He’s bold and fierce, and quick with his wits and words. Most importantly, he is a loyal and devoted friend. He doesn’t need recognition, and does good deeds for the sake of the people benefiting from it. And not for his own glory. Although, he also totally does things for the sake of glory alone.
Could I really go on for so long without reading the words of the man that inspired this hero of mine?
No.
So I picked up a book of his. And it happens to be an interesting read. One of the earliest science fiction stories, that inspired Jonathan Swift and I suspect also Jules Verne.
And then gave us stories such as Gulliver’s Travels, Around the World in 80 Days, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
It’s reason enough already, but that’s not the whole truth.
The wonderful habit of reading old books
Since I started reading old books, I experienced several epiphanies, I feel like I can navigate the modern world in an easier way, and I sleep a lot better.
I mean, not all my reasons are grand.
It’s hard to concentrate more than an hour on a text with 2 allegories and 1 metaphor and 3 words you don’t precisely know per sentence. So I like to end my days on this kind of book, because it makes it easy to sleep.
I could also argue that it gives me an occasion to show off. But when I tried, I found that most people didn’t share my enthusiasm. It’s not precisely a good conversation starter. Unless I’m talking with my weird uncles.
And then they just give me more references to read.
But I’m guessing that’s not precisely the kind of reasons that will make my case and convince you to read old books too.
So let me elaborate the grander reasons.
1. Understanding the essence of the modern world better
Weird eh? But if you read more than a few old books, you’ll realize that the world, deep down, hasn’t changed that much.
Sure, we have cool gadgets now, overall more freedom and a different political system, but it’s still humans living there.
Humans fighting their nature to conform. Humans fighting the system for better lives. Humans fooling around, trying to get loved and laid.
Ronsard, a French poet from the 16th century, was already using backhanded compliments to impress the ladies. « You are as pretty as a rose that’s about to die. Your beauty won’t last long, either. Settle now. ».
Here is the original text for you:
Donc, si vous me croyez, mignonne,
Tandis que vostre âge fleuronne
En sa plus verte nouveauté,
Cueillez, cueillez vostre jeunesse :
Comme à ceste fleur la vieillesse
Fera ternir vostre beauté.
- Pierre de Ronsard, Mignonne Allons Voir si La Rose.
Molière, the French playwright from the 17th century, comically punching on everyone, servants and nobles and bourgeois alike, putting everyone back in the same place.
I find this all strangely reassuring….
2. Finding hope in the present again
The human condition might not have changed, but still, the present is a better place to live.
I would have never been allowed to publish my unmarried and unwidowed opinion for everyone to read. Or only hidden under a pseudonym if my husband or father was especially avant-garde, and my title high enough.
Now I don’t even have to ask.
Not to say that today’s world is perfect, we still have plenty to fight for. But it gives me hope to see it’s not all for nothing.
It’s also reassuring to know that this world has not ‘gone for the worst’. And that the ‘new dooms of humanity’ really aren’t new at all.
Jonathan Swift was already complaining about how language was taking a turn for the worse, and that, because of it, we would soon ‘lapse into the barbarity of those northern nations from whom we are descended’.
3. Finding purpose and material as a writer
By reading the influences of the influences of the stories I grew up with, I painted myself a purpose.
I realized I am the product of a long line of writers. Not a free atom endlessly wondering without an aim. My work, however insignificant, is a piece of a bigger picture.
As the daughter of a farmer, that couldn’t find her place in her family’s world, that was liberating.
What I do matters. And that’s not all.
As a creator, an old forgotten book is also the promise of a bunch of ideas and stories that might only need to be dusted to be presented to the world again.
Like your own little Renaissance.
4. Exercising the mind
Online writing academies and modern bestsellers best practices will teach you the same thing : in order to be read, write simply.
The idea has a lot of merit. Except it sometimes takes the reader for a fool.
You’re not a fool. You can handle a challenge. In fact, you know challenges are good for you.
A challenging text is an occasion for you to train reading between the lines. A skill that will serve you plenty when listening to a political speech, the text of a lover or your next job description.
It’s also the perfect place to find out of the box metaphor and styles that you might want to try to modernize in your own practice.
Look, I’m not going to force you to read old dusty books
I’m just saying… it brings a lot of benefits.
So don’t hesitate to pick up an old book from time to time. Or go down the rabbit hole of your favorite author’s inspirations. You might just discover a lot more than just dust bunnies…
Epiphanies about the past and the present, creation material for writers and storytellers, the essence of the human condition, and a stronger reading skill.
Hi, I’m Circé, I’m a French teacher turned creator and I write here about creativity, learning, business and systems. Check out more of my stories here: