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Live Dangerously: Nietzsche on the Risk of Becoming Yourself
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had some great ideas. One of my favorites is his challenge that we must “Live Dangerously!”
The passage comes from Book IV, Section 283 of The Gay Science. Here’s the direct quote:
“For believe me! — the secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is — to live dangerously! Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius! Send your ships into uncharted seas!”
What does that even mean? And how can we live dangerously as readers?
He’s not telling us to be reckless or throw caution to the wind. He’s not suggesting we become wild or chaotic people. Rather, Nietzsche means that we should live risky lives—and for him, the riskiest thing we can do is learn to be ourselves.
Instead of looking to our parents, churches, governments, or careers to give our lives meaning, we must find meaning through authentic action. We have to stop dismissing the voice inside our own heads.
Nietzsche believed that most people are too afraid to live dangerously. They’d rather fit in. He called them the herd.
It reminds me of Henry David Thoreau’s famous line from Walden: “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
We look to books for answers. We turn to great thinkers to solve our problems. There’s nothing wrong with that—but I think Nietzsche would remind us that we can’t discover our true selves from the reading chair. At some point, we have to step out of theory and into action.
And what do we say around here? Oh, that’s right…
Read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas
(AKA live dangerously)
-Eddy
New This Week:
Book Recommendation
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Listen to the Podcast
Too Many Books, Too Little Time | EP 114
What's New in Book Club
A new page for our book club!
What's New at Edgewater Bookstore
My favorite planner is on sale 🎉
Book Recommendation
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Atul Gawande, a surgeon and brilliant writer, takes on one of the hardest subjects there is: aging and death.
But I don't think this is a depressing book. It’s deeply humane-->and you all know I love books about the human condition.
Gawande talks about how medicine, with all its good intentions, often fights death rather than facing it—and in doing so, can rob us of dignity in our final chapters.
What got me most was Gawande’s honesty. He’s not preaching from a distance; he shares his own doubts, failures, and the stories of patients who forced him to rethink what it means to live well when time is short.
If you’ve ever cared for an aging parent, lost someone you love, or just wondered how to live more meaningfully, this book will stay with you. It’s not an easy read emotionally, but it’s a necessary one.
I’m behind in my reading. Does that ever happen to you? Let’s chat about why it happens, how it messes with the brain, and how to get back on track without all the reader’s guilt and drama.
I’m excited to share that I’ve put together a brand-new page all about our book club — why we read the books we do, how our discussions work, and what makes this community truly special.
If you’ve ever thought about joining, now’s the perfect time to check it out. This isn’t just a book club where you read a book and move on — it’s a place to dig deep, think critically, and share your perspective with people who love meaningful conversation as much as you do.
I’d love for you to see what we’re all about and, hopefully, join us for the next discussion. You don’t have to be an expert — just curious and ready to read well.
This week, I figured out how to tie into the back end of all the major publishing houses — which means Edgewater will soon be able to sell any book I want!
We now have access to over 17 million titles. That’s right — seventeen million. Every author, every genre, every niche interest you can imagine.
I’ve already started curating the official Edgewater Collection — a thoughtful selection of books that reflect the heart of what we do here: reading deeply, thinking clearly, and living meaningfully.
My hope is to have the collection live within the week. Once it’s ready, you’ll be able to explore it right on our site, alongside our favorite notebooks, coffee, and teas.
This is a huge step forward for Edgewater — and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Analog Day Planner
If you’re like me and love the feel of a well-crafted tool to help you stay organized, the Ugmonk Analog Starter Kit is a game changer.
Feel free to respond to this email. Let me know how I can make your experience in our reading community better, or if you have questions, I'm all ears.
As always, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas.
-Eddy
Got Questions?
Reply to this email with your questions. I respond to each and sometimes make a podcast or video to answer your bookish questions.
Weekly Newsletter on Great Books, Reading Habits, and Literary Appreciation.
Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits.