Lolita while furrowing your brow and shaking your head so everyone knows you disagree with the protagonist’s actions.
South. Eastern. Public. Transport authority.
Surviving Life With Your Gigantic Penis by Chris Boden.
Yes, that’s the title of an actual book.
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake.
Gotta start with Titus Groan! Just skip the forword that was added most recently though.
Art.
Based off of the try-hard linkedin douches I know I’d say:
- The Art of War
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
- Rich-dad poor-dad
- The Art of the Deal
If this is the approach, Infinite Jest and War and Peace are solid options. Maybe Oversized Penises for Dummies.
Fuck great call. I thought having two “war” novels might make the joke worse but Infinite Jest is peak big brain public masturbation reading material
Lol, I literally got called out for reading Infinite Jest on a bus. Wasn’t a flex, the bus was just my primary reading time on weekdays and it was on my ‘to finish’ list.
Agreed that I probably looked like a jackass.
Habits of Highly Successful People
Anything by Chuck Tingle
Catcher in the Rye, of course.
Make sure to scribble madly, illegibly, in the margins and the occassionally glare at your fellow passengers while making finger guns.
Can’t believe no one’s suggested Nietzsche (Zarathustra, etc). Maybe no longer in vogue now that sincerity is on the rise, though.
Is the new thing making fun of people who read on the train? I do it all the time ☹️
John said “reading performatively” - so, unless you’re doing that…
Thankfully the people in charge of deciding whether your actions are performative or not have great judgment
They do. It’s basically trying to spot adults that are subscribed to adult add/autism content generators. They stick out
I’m curious to know what counts as performative reading haha
Reading feminist literature to pick up women. That sort of thing. I don’t think it happens much. I’ve never looked at someone and thought they were doing it. I’m sure at least some people do it on occasion though.
Reminds me of Bill Hicks’ bit ‘What are you reading for?’
Bro was going strong until he tried to put down people who bring me waffles.
Those are some of the best kind of people, and, quite frankly?
Comedians shouldn’t be throwing stones at anyone in terms of life achievements.
Is there a book about how Ayn Rand was a total piece of shit that helped ruin America?
Oh god do people think you’re being performative when you read in public transport?
Only people who don’t read.
But make sure you shake your head the whole time so people know you disagree with irrational numbers.
House of Leaves. That way if anyone notices you’re holding it upside down they’ll just think you’re really into it. And if anyone asks you what it’s about you can say “I have no fucking clue what’s happening, there’s a house I think?” and you’ll be correct.
Um. I think it’s pretty easy to understand, but it’s all a meta-narrative with an unreliable narrator.
The narrative devices are quite ingenious.
I watched a video essay on MyHouse.wad. I’ve never played Doom or read House of Leaves. Now I don’t need to do either.
