We are all human beings, are we not?

And by simply taking a look around this wonderful Goodreads site, it is evident that we are all passionate book lovers.

Do we not all seek comfort, pleasure, and even a source of sustenance from the beautifully bound books that surround us?

Undoubtedly, we do! We thrive on these books, integrating them into every aspect of our lives and livelihoods.

Otherwise, why would we be on this site in the first place?

But as I have already mentioned, the heart of the matter is sustenance.

Books are our nourishment, that which keeps us alive and enables us to interact with and enjoy the world around us.

They are even more essential than money.

A man can survive a day without food, but can he go a day without thoughts, ideas, and dreams?

Of course not! For without them, he would descend to a level below that of a human being, existing in a wretched state that is not truly living but merely existing.

And being forced to merely exist is a fate far worse than death itself.

So I pose this question to you, my dear Goodreads friends: If a man were to cross your path, so miserable and deprived of the benefits that books bring, would he not be highly deserving of your trust and charity?

We have already established that being without books is even more tragic than being without food.

Therefore, should we not assist those without books before those without food?

If a man were to lie prostrate and beg before you for money, not to buy food or wine, but to purchase books, would it not be your duty to offer him a small loan or gift out of the kindness of your heart and your faith in your fellow man?

I firmly believe it is! Otherwise, as we have previously discussed, you would be condemning that man to a fate worse than death.

I know you would never do such a thing to your fellow human being.

You, who already have so many books and can spare a small amount of money to buy a simple book for your neighbor, would not lack confidence in humanity.

Would you not even hope for the same treatment in return if the situations were reversed?

Of course you would, for your confidence in people is both admirable and moral.

You are a good person. I have faith in you.

I know this and trust in your confidence, but I must, with great shame, admit to you the unfortunate circumstances that have befallen me.

You see, I am in desperate need of a new book.

The book I just reviewed, by the surprisingly witty Herman Melville, who uses satire to critique American society, was my last one.

I fear I have no means to obtain another book anytime soon.

I am deprived of the very sustenance of my life!

You must not allow me to descend into such a despairing fate!

Please, my good friends, a simple loan to buy some more books is all I ask.

You can send it by mail, and may God have mercy on me that the check arrives in time, otherwise I shall surely be lost to oblivion.

I need your confidence, my dear friends; now please show your kindness and humanity by giving me some money out of the goodness of your hearts.

And when you are in need of help in the same way, hopefully others will follow your example and坚守 their confidence as well.

Another rating that truly pains me to give.

I had such high hopes of liking this work. I really did. I could not help but admire the structure and the ingenious way it was put together. At certain moments, the prose was indeed quite powerful and engaging. However, alas, it simply was not sufficient to salvage the overall experience.

Essentially, this piece reads like an endless procession of parables. And they are absurdly overdone and dreadfully dull to get through. But, oh yes, they have a MESSAGE to convey, by golly! So, if you happen to be a moral imbecile and are in desperate need of guidance, then perhaps this could prove to be really useful. But if you are a normal, discerning adult who is seeking to read a truly good novel, then you are bound to be disappointed.

It is rather ironic, because one can clearly observe a lot of the same qualities that were present in Moby-Dick. However, here they mostly fall flat. I believe the crux of the problem lies in the fact that Moby-Dick succeeds precisely because it operates on a grand and sweeping scale. Melville's style, unfortunately, does not mesh well with the extremely confined and minuscule scale of this work.

Melville's work is truly a unique blend of humor and thought-provoking insights. It highlights those aspects of life that we often choose to look away from. Confidence, con-artistry, and persuasion are all themes that are explored in a rather unflinching manner. The idea that everyone can be a con-man, whether they are pious, religious, a doctor, a philosopher, a philanthropist, or even a misanthropist, is quite a bold statement. They all seem to display a certain confidence and a rhetoric of assuredness, but Melville undermines it all, showing them to be confidence-men, liars, and posturing fakes. It's a book that starts off comedic but gradually becomes more serious, heavy, and tiring. I'm not entirely sure how to summarize it in a more essential way. I'm relieved that I've finished it, and yet I'm not sure why I didn't rate it lower. Overall, it wasn't an enjoyable read for me, but there were definitely some very enjoyable aspects. It probably should be read slowly and carefully, with the reader looking up every reference and unknown word. Unfortunately, I didn't have the patience for this towards the end, and my experience of the book suffered as a result.