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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   2185 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 25, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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So what are you reading?

Got two more sections of Capital to finish, which I will be very glad to be done with. Hoping to write up an effort post here and on my blog after I finish. I think it will generate an interesting discussion not only because Marx presents a convincing critique of capitalism (although I think his central premise of the labor theory of value is wrong, or at least incomplete) but also because it's been illuminating to see how the leftist group I've been reading it with has gone from worshiping Marx to understanding him as the flawed, snarky philosopher that he is.

Also planning on finishing up Outlive by Peter Attia today. Also going to write-up an effort post on this for Wellness Wednesday. Think it's a fantastic book, but I disagree slightly with his prescriptions and want to add a few of my own.

Also working on Harry Potter 7 in Italian.

Finishing up Twelve Months: Dresden Files Book 18 by Jim Butcher. I expected to be finished with it by now but, fuck, some of its themes just hit too close to home right now for me to be able to devour it in my usual fashion. I'm finding myself having to take breaks and deal with my own feelings frequently, which is probably a good thing, but it also reminds me that despite having more good days than bad, it's going to be A While before I find whatever my latest new Normal is.

I enjoyed it though felt that it didn't do enough to advance the metaplot considering the 5 year wait between books.

Yeah, as I was reading it I was also surprised to find that, for the most part, it was only advancing a few larger plot threads. Finishing it left me hungrier than usual for the next Dresden files, which really isn't saying that much but still.

Yeah he's indicated he's gonna try to go back to a yearly cadence but after the last 2 books took 5 years each it's hard to be super bullish.

Agree, if he can pull of a book every two years I'll be happy! Regardless, I hope his Troubles are behind him or at least mostly behind him at this point.

Any idea if we are getting more Cinder Spires? Last I heard he was going to decide based off sales.

The sword moment in the last book was peak and I want more.

I'm afraid not, the drawn-out development of Peace Talks and Battle Ground pretty much habituated me to waiting indefinitely for my next dose of Butcher, but FWIW, I also found the sword moment deeply satisfying even as it called to mind another series that had one of the best subversions of Chekhov's Gun that I've ever seen.

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