Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book
“Love is an activity, not a passive affect; it is a “standing in,” not a “falling for.” In the most general way, the active character of love can be described by stating that love is primarily giving, not receiving.”
― The Art of Loving
― The Art of Loving
“But, on the other hand, the study of music is one of the best ways to learn about human nature. This is why I am so sad about music education being practically nonexistent today in schools. Education means preparing children for adult life; teaching them how to behave and what kinds of human beings they want to be. Everything else is information and can be learned in a very simple way. To play music well you need to strike a balance between your head, your heart, and your stomach. And if one of the three is not there or is there in too strong a dose, you cannot use it. What better way than music to show a child how to be human?”
― Parallels and Paradoxes: Explorations in Music and Society
― Parallels and Paradoxes: Explorations in Music and Society
“But the general feeling in the neighborhood was that school was for suckers. The dropouts were the ones who said that the most, and of course they usually looked as if they were having the most fun, wearing the best clothes, and making the most loot from drugs and petty scams. Ma said Kathy was starting to get into the drugs, but I already knew that. She said she’d heard that the 8th Street gang was”
― All Souls: A Family Story from Southie
― All Souls: A Family Story from Southie
“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.”
― Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
― Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
Van’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Van’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Van
Lists liked by Van

























