Why read old books? First, you'll realize that the perplexities you think are unique (human nature, power, love, anxiety, meaning) have already been contemplated by smarter people, often more deeply. Second, you'll find that many newly published books have been edited multiple times, gradually losing their original form. Third, old books offer a long-term perspective, allowing you to see the cyclical evolution of history and society, how power concentrates and disintegrates, and how ideas shift from radical to conservative and back, helping you understand the present more clearly.