What are some books I should casually namedrop in conversations

File: whocaresaboutelderlypeople.jpg (11KB, 222x227px) Image search: [Google]

11KB, 222x227px

>>9720453
Try this one

Just look at /lit/, that's pretty much what this board is about

Just talk about Gregory Berrycone

I'm assuming an educated or half-educated audience, because otherwise people aren't going to read, or be impressed. But, here goes:

LEFTY, SJW-TYPES: The Second Sex
LEFTY, BROCIALIST TYPES: Dialectic of Enlightenment
RIGHTY, TRAD TYPES: Democracy in America
NORMIES: Tell them DFW is "okay," and then talk about Swann's Way. Be faux-humble and say that you were never able to get through "Within a Budding Grove," though.

The trick to shaming the half-educated is not to overdo it. You don't want to directly attack what they like, because then they'll turtle up and defend it (and hate you.) Don't put them on the defensive; change the game. Identify what they value and then let them know, subtly, of course, that they don't have it.

So let's take my last suggestion above. Most normie mediocrely-read types love DFW. They consider Infinite Jest to be THE book to read. Quite an achievement. So, the way to shame them is not to read Infinite Jest and tear it apart, page by page; this just plays into their hands. Change the game entirely. So: instead of worshiping or denigrating DFW, just let them know that you've passed through his work. He's just okay. Talk about something else, something unimpeachable. Proust, say. But don't brag about how you've read all of ISoLT (even if you have), be faux-humble and shame them more. So, you got through Swann's Way, but you aren't a genius, and know you're not a genius, so let them know you weren't able to finish the next book.

The trick is that every narcissistic normie shit thinks he's a goddamned genius (or, worse, knows that he's not but desperately needs to believe he is). So the trick is 1) to show that you're smarter than them, while 2) also showing that you don't think you're all that smart. That way, if you've proven that you're smarter than them but still have a long way to go, they start comparing (they can't help themselves, god bless them), and find that, why, if you're not a genius, even though you're manifestly more well-read than they are, they must just be goddamned stupid. And they are.

Happy hunting!

>>9720651
how autistic must you be to type all of this up and press post?

>>9720651
>So let's take my last suggestion above. Most normie mediocrely-read types love DFW. They consider Infinite Jest to be THE book to read. Quite an achievement. So, the way to shame them is not to read Infinite Jest and tear it apart, page by page; this just plays into their hands. Change the game entirely. So: instead of worshiping or denigrating DFW, just let them know that you've passed through his work. He's just okay. Talk about something else, something unimpeachable. Proust, say. But don't brag about how you've read all of ISoLT (even if you have), be faux-humble and shame them more. So, you got through Swann's Way, but you aren't a genius, and know you're not a genius, so let them know you weren't able to finish the next book.

wait but this exactly what i saw when someone tries to talk about literature and i'm not trying to fuck with them, it's just what i say, dfw really is just "ok" and i never did get through budding grove

>>9720662
probably didn't take that long to write, sometimes when i get a lot of caffeine and i'm on a long shitpost binge the fingers really start flying

Honestly, today if you mention that you've read the whole harry potter series you will be considered a cool guy. Bonus points if you drop Twilight among girls.

>>9720651
The irony of this post is that you probably think you're a genius, when it's fairly obvious your grandstanding attitude is a mask for your own intellectual insecurity. Funny.

>>9722251
>you probably think you're a genius
>your own intellectual insecurity

how do these two fit together

>>9720585
>assuming that everyone frequents the Chinese cartoon website that is 4chan