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Feeding the Mind
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
12 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1907
50 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
About the author
Lewis Carroll
6,186 books8,431 followersThe Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by the pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman and photographer.
His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the genre of literary nonsense.
Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.
He also has works published under his real name.
His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the genre of literary nonsense.
Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.
He also has works published under his real name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 5, 2019
Short essay but it takes long to read because you feel like you need to chew on everything he says
FULL of good advice
FULL of good advice
October 29, 2018
Just a 30 minute essay comparing the feeding of the mind to the body. Great parallels. I do try to vary my diet & I do consume books regularly, but I find myself guilty of gluttony & his warnings against this were fantastic. I do need more time to digest at times. The style was very much like that of the Alice stories, narrated the same way, & just as interesting. Highly recommended!
May 15, 2015
Why, what have you been doing with your mind lately? How have you fed it? It looks pale, and the pulse is very slow.
Feeding The Mind is (very) short but sweet. Lewis Carroll has always been a favourite of mine for his funny-peculiar style, and this endeared him to me all the more.
Feeding The Mind is (very) short but sweet. Lewis Carroll has always been a favourite of mine for his funny-peculiar style, and this endeared him to me all the more.
October 30, 2018
To me, five stars means primarily that "everyone should read it" and less that "it was amazing." In the former sense, I recommend this very short, useful, and delightful work. Avl. free online, including here: https://archive.org/details/feedingmi...
August 24, 2011
Much shorter than I expected. Very good read.
April 21, 2014
Feeding the Mind is short, pithy, and to the point. It offers great common sense for using books as food for the mind.
April 21, 2024
Feeding the Mind: Feeding the mind with the right nutrition and ingredients is indispensable. As reading is one of the mightiest source of knowledge for an individual and has a prodigious impact as well, it becomes prominent to choose the right materials and the way of exercising it. A mind lacking these elements becomes slow and cannot maintain pace with moderate conversation, nor can it jump between two logical conclusions, as everything becomes absurd for it and it gets stuck in narrow controversies. This is what is called "A Fat Mind". Conversely, possessing a gluttonous mental propensity can also lead to severe ramifications. Too much novel can over-fantasize your expectations with this uncertain world and can cause depression and low self-esteem as well. Therefore, sweet pudding or pie should be for a mild taste, not the whole of your appetite.
November 16, 2025
Everything that's worth knowing had already been said before. Everything worth feeling had already been sung about. Everything is written, and there is no incentive for a troubled mind like yours to create. Then, how will you make peace with the timidity of your existence? How will you cope with visions and aspirations of your grandeur?
Many seek solace in consumption, and all sorts of them. Drugs, sex, clothes, social media and the most ubiquitous of them all, gluttony. What if all your life you had been fed that you're one of the smarter kinds? The frivolous trivialities of everyday life shouldn't bother you. Yet, the Hunger calls - in growls and boredom. And, Hunger hurts.
Hence, the only choice for you which remains is feeding your mind. It is here that the astute aphorisms and imaginative metaphors of Caroll intervene. Can your mind be overfed or underfed? What is an obese intellect? Does one digest thoughts or absorb wisdom? Do the great books make you masticate? Are you a ruminant? I could go on endlessly with the metaphors related to food and thought, but more importantly, does this review tickle your appetite? If so, then perhaps you should pick it up and eat it
(a 4.5 stars read. my only complaint is that it should have been longer, more thorough.)
Many seek solace in consumption, and all sorts of them. Drugs, sex, clothes, social media and the most ubiquitous of them all, gluttony. What if all your life you had been fed that you're one of the smarter kinds? The frivolous trivialities of everyday life shouldn't bother you. Yet, the Hunger calls - in growls and boredom. And, Hunger hurts.
Hence, the only choice for you which remains is feeding your mind. It is here that the astute aphorisms and imaginative metaphors of Caroll intervene. Can your mind be overfed or underfed? What is an obese intellect? Does one digest thoughts or absorb wisdom? Do the great books make you masticate? Are you a ruminant? I could go on endlessly with the metaphors related to food and thought, but more importantly, does this review tickle your appetite? If so, then perhaps you should pick it up and eat it
(a 4.5 stars read. my only complaint is that it should have been longer, more thorough.)
January 14, 2019
Brief, but insightful tips about feeding the mind. I didn't appreciate the statement that we're human animals though :P
October 24, 2023
A short essay but will take some time to get what it means to you..
July 30, 2018
This was a very insightful little read!
February 12, 2016
"Well, it is, I say, for us that the consequences of neglecting the body can be clearly seen and felt, and it might be well for some if the mind were equally tangible and visible. If we could take it to the doctor and have its pulse felt."
"-First, then, we should set ourselves to provide for our mind proper kind of food.
-Then, we should be careful to provide this wholesome food in proper amount.
-Then again, though the food be wholesome and in proper amount, we know that we must not consume too many kinds at once.
- Having settled the proper kind, amount, and variety of our mental food, it remains that we should be careful to allow proper intervals between meal and meal, not swallow them too hastily without mastication so that it may be thoroughly digested.
- As to the mastication of food, the mental process answering to this is simply thinking over what we read."
Caroll, in this witty and short essay, draws an analogy between body and mind, stating that if it is the nature who turns on the necessary functions of a body and leaves no need for us to activate those functions but to simply meet the needs of it; in the case of mind, the scenario is completely different, it is, as stated by Lewis, 'one's duty no less than one's interest to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest'the good books that fall in your way.'
"-First, then, we should set ourselves to provide for our mind proper kind of food.
-Then, we should be careful to provide this wholesome food in proper amount.
-Then again, though the food be wholesome and in proper amount, we know that we must not consume too many kinds at once.
- Having settled the proper kind, amount, and variety of our mental food, it remains that we should be careful to allow proper intervals between meal and meal, not swallow them too hastily without mastication so that it may be thoroughly digested.
- As to the mastication of food, the mental process answering to this is simply thinking over what we read."
Caroll, in this witty and short essay, draws an analogy between body and mind, stating that if it is the nature who turns on the necessary functions of a body and leaves no need for us to activate those functions but to simply meet the needs of it; in the case of mind, the scenario is completely different, it is, as stated by Lewis, 'one's duty no less than one's interest to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest'the good books that fall in your way.'
May 17, 2014
This is a great little read (very little, only 8 pages long). I highly recommend it if, like me, you like new mental perspectives on familiar things. Carroll presents a metaphor between feeding and reading which is both entertaining and enlightening.
It's interesting as well to notice similarities between his idea of the brain needing a few minutes to "digest" and currently popular techniques like Pomodoro.
It's interesting as well to notice similarities between his idea of the brain needing a few minutes to "digest" and currently popular techniques like Pomodoro.
October 9, 2012
This was a fun read. Enjoy!
October 25, 2020
Feeding the Mind, Lewis Carroll, ca1870-1890, super short
This brief speech by the famous author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland recommends certain habits to maintain mental health as one would maintain physical health. The first half of the Amazon e-book (free) is an introduction by the person we have to thank for the publication of this speech, about 20 years after the speech was made.
Unless you are an avid Lewis Carroll fan (as I am), I recommend skipping this introduction, which ends with the initials of its author (W. H. D.). The main take-aways from the introduction are simply that this speech was not academic, but instead given to a crowd of “simple people”; and the citing of some light-hearted suggestions on letter-writing separately published by Lewis Carroll, the last of which is this:
“When you have written a letter that you feel may possibly irritate your friend, however necessary you may have felt it to so express yourself, put it aside till the next day. Then read it over again, and fancy it addressed to yourself. This will often lead to your writing it all over again, taking out a lot of the vinegar and pepper and putting in honey instead, and thus making a much more palatable dish of it!”
Now that you have read these thoughts, you can skip directly to the “main course” that is the speech itself. Otherwise, I fear the bland but filling introduction may spoil your appetite!
This brief speech by the famous author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland recommends certain habits to maintain mental health as one would maintain physical health. The first half of the Amazon e-book (free) is an introduction by the person we have to thank for the publication of this speech, about 20 years after the speech was made.
Unless you are an avid Lewis Carroll fan (as I am), I recommend skipping this introduction, which ends with the initials of its author (W. H. D.). The main take-aways from the introduction are simply that this speech was not academic, but instead given to a crowd of “simple people”; and the citing of some light-hearted suggestions on letter-writing separately published by Lewis Carroll, the last of which is this:
“When you have written a letter that you feel may possibly irritate your friend, however necessary you may have felt it to so express yourself, put it aside till the next day. Then read it over again, and fancy it addressed to yourself. This will often lead to your writing it all over again, taking out a lot of the vinegar and pepper and putting in honey instead, and thus making a much more palatable dish of it!”
Now that you have read these thoughts, you can skip directly to the “main course” that is the speech itself. Otherwise, I fear the bland but filling introduction may spoil your appetite!
December 31, 2023
"I have heard a physician telling his patient—whose complaint was merely gluttony and want of exercise—that ‘the earliest symptom of hyper-nutrition is a deposition of adipose tissue,’ and no doubt the fine long words greatly consoled the poor man under his increasing load of fat.
I wonder if there is such a thing in nature as a FAT MIND? I really think I have met with one or two: minds which could not keep up with the slowest trot in conversation; could not jump over a logical fence, to save their lives; always got stuck fast in a narrow argument; and, in short, were fit for nothing but to waddle helplessly through the world."
Preach it sister. Over the years I've tried improving my recollection of media consumed, particularly in books by using a variety of sticky notes to easily access interesting or important sections. Carroll ends this paper with this appropriate message:
"If this paper has given you any useful hints on the important subject of reading, and made you see that it. is one’s duty no less than one’s interest to ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest’ the good books that fall in your way, its purpose will be fulfilled."
January 6, 2018
Mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, popularly known by his nom de plume of Lewis Carroll delivered this little essay in October of 1884 to the Vicar of Alfreton's parishioners. After the lecture, the Vicar was given the manuscript by the author with instruction to do with it as he wished. The lecture instructs us on the care and feeding of our minds. My edition was published by Levinger Press with illustrations by Edward Koren. A interesting little book by a fascinating man.
December 15, 2018
I enjoyed this read. It's essentially a very short essay about how to nurture your mind: good habits, what to do and what not to do, etc. Originally, the essay is a manuscript for a lecture Lewis Carroll delivered in October 1884 in front of a public audience in Derbyshire.
Despite the essay is more than a hundred years old, I found it still relevant today. For instance, it comments that it's a bad habit to gorge information and to not dedicate time to reflect between reads. I found this particularly true when thinking about the daily habits of many people today (including me), trying to consume as much information as possible through social networks and mass media. And this is just an example of some of the ideas you will find in this essay, there are other good points too.
On the other hand, I got this tiny book from Amazon's Kindle library. In my opinion is not worthy. The book is artificially fatten with useless content (with the exception of the preface). You better try to find this essay somewhere on the Internet (I think it has been published by Guttenberg project).
Despite the essay is more than a hundred years old, I found it still relevant today. For instance, it comments that it's a bad habit to gorge information and to not dedicate time to reflect between reads. I found this particularly true when thinking about the daily habits of many people today (including me), trying to consume as much information as possible through social networks and mass media. And this is just an example of some of the ideas you will find in this essay, there are other good points too.
On the other hand, I got this tiny book from Amazon's Kindle library. In my opinion is not worthy. The book is artificially fatten with useless content (with the exception of the preface). You better try to find this essay somewhere on the Internet (I think it has been published by Guttenberg project).
September 13, 2019
Read this Periodically
In an age obsessed with self-image, physical prowess, and entertainment galore, this short essay is crucial to maintaining overall health! So often people are too focused on improving one aspect of their body, but we must find a balance. Read this periodically to check yourself!
In an age obsessed with self-image, physical prowess, and entertainment galore, this short essay is crucial to maintaining overall health! So often people are too focused on improving one aspect of their body, but we must find a balance. Read this periodically to check yourself!
December 13, 2022
Un librito muy breve y con toques de humor. En la edición que yo leí venían más ensayos sobre como redactar la correspondencia, guardarla , etc. Tenía algunos comentarios bastante machistas pero si quitas eso creo que merece mucho la pena leerlo 🌙
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2025
Me lo he leído en 10'. Es curioso como algunas de las advertencias y recomendaciones dadas para la correspondencia epistolar tendrían sentido hoy en día. Curiosa también la relación entre lectura y comida que se propone en el ensayo.
January 1, 2019
pretty much ????? the whole time i was reading
January 3, 2019
I’m currently binging on short reads, so I think he’d probably have words with me.
But that’s okay.
But that’s okay.
October 13, 2020
Not really what I expected.
A short narrative comparing the connection between mental and physical health and how balance in self care can help people.
A short narrative comparing the connection between mental and physical health and how balance in self care can help people.
April 26, 2021
Boring, lacked any real insight. Far too short for anything of worth to really be argued. Very typical of the era by waffling on about something without actually saying anything important.
November 5, 2021
i agree...wish he could have added more specific do's and don't ...but i guess we have to use our mind to figure it out
December 15, 2021
Nice short witty book. I agree with the observation that only 3-4 mins of break is enough to completely relax the mind, but one has to completely throw of the mind in random directions.
March 25, 2022
Free on Google Books
“I wonder if there is such a thing in nature as a FAT MIND?”
“read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest”
“I wonder if there is such a thing in nature as a FAT MIND?”
“read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest”
May 15, 2022
Excelente lectura sobre la buena lectura, no por gula o por alcanzar un vano reto (como los de Goodreads). Es mejor digerir calidad a cantidad.
September 24, 2022
For me is like a dessert, I love it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews