My brother and I were able to fantasize far more extravagantly about our parents' tastes and desires, their aspirations and their vices, by scanning their bookcases than by snooping in their closest. Their selves were on their shelves.

Anne Fadiman
About This Quote

In the book "The Happiness Hypothesis," Jonathan Haidt explains that we think about ourselves as much as we do about others. When we're getting to know someone, we're actually getting to know a lot more about ourselves. We learn what they like and dislike, what they believe, and where their values lie. This information is readily available in their shelves, but it's also available in our own.

Source: Ex Libris: Confessions Of A Common Reader

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