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A common problem in patients suffering from psychosis. Insight is usually lost in psychotic conditions like Schizophrenia. Refusal to take medications is one of the grounds for admitting the patient. But there are other ways. Visit your psychiatrist and let him know the problem. He will take a necessary step. Do not do what is suggested on websites. Only a psychiatrist can take the appropriate step. Hope that helps. Cheers.Edit 1: It is just unbelievable how some people have said things against psychiatric medications. One gentle man even calls it chemical lobectomy. I used to think that psychiatry is only stigmatized in India. But actually it seems all over the world. I again repeat my recommendation to the questioner, please do not listen to this kind of nonsense. If these things were really true than the whole world would be seeking treatment from them and they wouldn’t have time for writing on Quora. There are 3 main phases of treatment of schizophrenia. The first one is called as acute phase where the aim is to treat the acute symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. If not treated on time, they can become very severe and the person may just leave the house and start roaming, or will just seclude him/herself without taking food. In worst case, he or she may try to harm other family members believing that these are the messages from god in the form of voices, something called as imperative hallucinations. At that time, these people will not come to help you. All they can do is to write just imaginary things on social platform without knowing how much of what they say is based on reality. So please, choose carefully.Edit 2: There are some people here arguing that there is no “ scientific evidence” that psychiatric medications work or even if there is a psychiatric need for address such patients because such experiences are not actually experiencing any problem and their experiences are “labelled” in psychiatry as symptoms because they are just different from our psychosocial norms. I will start with the first question here: Should an experience say hallucination be considered as a symptom? The answer is both yes and no. Yes if the person is having distress because of it. The next question is-Does the person really experience distress by hallucinations? let me not answer this question and provide you all with evidences. Kindly go through them and then come back. I will discuss each and every study mentioned separately:Birchwood, M. ( 1996). Early interventions in psychotic relapse: Cognitive approaches to detection and management. In G. Haddock & P. Slade (Eds.), Cognitive-behavioral interventions with psychotic disorders (pp. 171-211). London: Routledge. Google ScholarChadwick, P.D.J., & Birchwood, M. ( 1994a). The omnipotence of voices: A cognitive approach to hallucinations . British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 190-201. Google ScholarChadwick, P.D.J., & Birchwood, M. ( 1994b). A cognitive approach to measuring and modifying delusions . Behavioral Research and Therapy, 32, 355-367. Google ScholarChadwick, P.D.J., & Birchwood, M.J. (1995) The omnipotence of voices II: The beliefs about voices questionnaire. British Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 773-776. Google ScholarCohen, C.I., & Berk, B.S. ( 1985). Personal coping styles of schizophrenic outpatients. Hospital and Community Medicine, 36, 407-410. Google ScholarFowler, D., Garety, P.A., & Kuipers, E. ( 1995a). Cognitive behavior therapy for psychosis: Theory and practice. Chichester, UK: Wiley . Google ScholarFowler, D., Garety, P.A., & Kuipers, L. ( 1995b). Cognitive behavior therapy for people with psychosis: A clinical handbook. Chichester, UK: Wiley. Google ScholarFowler, D., & Morley, S. ( 1989). The cognitive-behavioral treatment of hallucinations and delusions: A preliminary study. Behavioral Psychotherapy , 17, 267-282. Google ScholarGarety, P.A., Fowler, D., Kuipers, E., Freeman, D., Dunn, G., Bebbington, P., Hadley, C., & Jones, S. ( 1997). London-East Anglia randomised controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for psychosis II: Predictors of outcome. British Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 420-426. Google ScholarLovibond, S.H., & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). Manual for the depression anxiety stress scales (2nd ed.). Sydney, NSW: Psychology Foundation Monograph. Google ScholarSensky, T., Turkington, D., Kingdon, D., Scott, J.L., Scott, J., Siddle, R., . . . Barnes, T.R.E. (2000). A randomized-controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for persistent symptoms in schizophrenia resistant to medication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57, 165-172. Google ScholarStrauss, J.S., & Carpenter, W.T. (1981). Schizophrenia. New York: Plenum Press. Google ScholarTarrier, N. ( 1987). An investigation of residual psychotic symptoms in discharged schizophrenic patients. British Journal of Clinical Psychology , 26, 141-143. Google ScholarTarrier, N. ( 1992). Management and modification of residual positive psychotic symptoms. In M. Birchwood & N. Tarrier (Eds.), Innovations in the psychological management of Schizophrenia. Chichester, UK: Wiley. Google ScholarTarrier, N. ( 1992). The antecedent and coping interview (ACI). In M. Birchwood & N. Tarrier (Eds.), Innovations in psychological management of schizophrenia . Chichester: Wiley. Google ScholarTarrier, N., Yusupoff, L., & Kinney, C. ( 1997). The use of coping skills in the treatment of hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia. In C. Mace & F. Margison (Eds.), Psychotherapy of psychosis (pp. 130-148). London: Gaskell. Google ScholarTarrier, N., Yusupoff, L., Kinney, C., McCarthy, E., Gledhill, A., Haddock, G., & Morris, J. ( 1998a). Randomised controlled trial of intensive cognitive behaviour therapy for patients with chronic schizophrenia. British Medical Journal, 317, 303-307. Google Scholar MedlineYusupoff, L., & Tarrier, N. ( 1996). Coping strategy enhancement. In G. Haddock & P. Slade (Eds.), Cognitive-behavioral interventions with psychotic disorders (pp. 86-102). London : Routledge. Google ScholarZubin, J., & Spring, B. ( 1977). Vulnerability: A new view of schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 86, 103-126. Google Scholar Medline[1] J. Junginger and C. L. Frame, “Self-report of the frequency andphenomenology of verbal hallucinations,” Journal of Nervousand Mental Disease, vol. 173, no. 3, pp. 149–155, 1985.[2] A. P. 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In the name of AllahThe Holy Quran has two revelation, immediate revealation and gradual revelation.The immediate revelation of the Holy Quran took place on the Night of Qadr[1] and the Holy Quran says about this matter[2] that: The month of Ramadhan is the month in which the Quran was revealed. Therefore, the Night of Qadr is situated in this holy month. There isn’t exact certainty as to the night which the Night of Qadr is on and there are conflicting ideas as to when the exact date falls on.[3] It seems that amongst all the various possibilities, the strongest possibility is that the night falls on the 23rd of the Month of Ramadhan; many traditions and clues in them emphasize this possibility.[4]It is not clear on which year this blessed event occurred, however it can be said that although the night of Qadr was the night when the Holy Quran was revealed in the material world, it was also the night when the Prophet (s) ascended into the heavens. The reason being that the Quran lies in the Ummul-Kitab, which is with the Lord[5], and as long as one doesn’t ascend he cannot retrieve the Quran that lies therein.[6] From this point it can be understood that the immediate revelation of the Holy Quran occurred at the time when the Holy Prophet (s) reached this stage of perfection. Hence, we give it a strong possibility that the revelation took place during the first year of the prophetic mission. This would make it approximately 56 days after the Bi’thah. This number was calculated by taking into account the time of the Bi’thah (27th of Rajab), the Night of Qadr (23rd of the Month of Ramadhan), and by estimating the Months of Sha’baan and Rajab as being 30 days each.In respect to the gradual revelation[7] of the Holy Quran, which happened at the same time as the Bi’thah, it becomes subject to difference of opinion due to the debate over the exact date of the actual Bi’thah.[8]The most famous opinion is that the Holy Prophet (s), on Wednesday of the 27th of Rajab (which is the first of February of the year 610 (A.D.), was commissioned on his mission of prophethood.[9] When this occurred the first five verses of Surah Alaq were revealed to the Holy Prophet (s).[10] After this the revelation the Quranic verses were gradually revealed until the time of the passing of the Prophet (s); this took place over a span of 23 years.A group of Muslims believe that there is a difference with the time of the Bi’thah compared with the time of the gradual revelation of the Holy Quran (in the form of a divine book). According to their opinion, even though five verses were revealed from Surah Alaq at the time of the Bi’thah, the Holy Prophet (s) was still not commissioned to publicly preach. Only after three years of secret teaching was he commissioned to publicly preach Islam,[11] It was from this that the Holy Quran was compiled into the form of a divinely inspired manuscript. From this perspective even if the Bi’thah occurred in the month of Rajab, still the start of the gradual revelation of the Holy Quran occurred after three years during the night of Qadr in the month of Ramadhan.[12]There are traditions that confirm this idea by stating that the time of the revelation of the Quran was over a period of 20 years.[13] Hence this idea and theory[14] states that the time of the gradual revelation of the Holy Quran (in the form of a divine book) took place during the 4th year of the Bi’thah. If we calculate this it will end up being approximately 3 years and 56 days after the Bi’thah of the Holy Prophet and it continued till the Prophet’s (s) passing (he died on the 28th of Safar on the 11th year of the Hejrat).In conclusion, 1428 years have passed since the time of the migration of the Holy Prophet (s) and the Bi’thah was approximately 13 years before that. If we accept the first idea, then from the time of the first verse that was revealed approximately 1440 (Qamari) lunar years have passed. If we accept the second idea then from the time of the revelation of the first verse, 1437 years have elapsed.Let it not be left unsaid that according to the reports from some historians, the time of the Bi’thah occurred at the first of February during the year 610 A.D. If we calculate the fact that we are currently in the year 2007 A.D. we can calculate the time from the revelation of the first verse according to this.[2] Baqarah:185.[3] See: Tarikh Tabari, vol. 2, pg. 300; Sirah Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, pp. 236 and 239 and 240; Ayatullah Ma’rifat, Al-Tamhid fi Ulumil-Quran, pp. 100-129; Ayatullah Khu’i, Al-Bayan, vol. 1, pg. 224; Majma’ul-Bayan, vol. 9, pg. 61 and vol. 10, pp. 518-520; Tarikh Abil-Fada’, vol. 1, pg. 115; Tarikh Ya’qubi, vol. 2, pg. 17; Sheikh Tusi, Al-Tibyan, vol. 9, pg. 224; Tabari, Jame’ul-Bayan, vol. 25, pp. 107 and 108; Al-Mizan, vol. 2, pg. 29.[4] Wasa’elul-Shia, chapter 32 of the chapters on the month of Ramadhan, vol. 7, pg.262, hadith 16; Khisal of Saduq, vol. 2, pg. 102; Muhammad Baqir Hujjati, Pajouheshi dar Tarikhe Qurane Karim, pp. 38-62.[5] Zukhruf:4.[6] See: Ayatullah Javadi Amoli, Tafsir Mozu’i, vol. 3, pp.139-153.[7] Isra:106; Furqan:32; Muhammad:20; Tawbah:127; for further information, refer to Al-Mizan, vol. 2, pp. 14-23.[8] Tarikh Ya’qubi, vol. 2, pg. 17; Tarikhul-Khamis, vol. 1, pp. 280 and 281; Tarikh Abil-Fada’, vol. 1, pg. 115.[9] Pajouheshi dar Tarikhe Qurane Karim, pg. 36; Bihar, vol. 18, pg. 189, hadith 21; Furu’ul-Kafi, vol. 4, pg. 149, hadiths 1 and 2; Wasa’ilul-Shia, vol. 7, pg. 329, chapter 15 of the chapters on mustahabb fasting; Al-Siratul-Halabiyyah, vol. 1, pg. 238; Al-Tamhid fi Ulumil-Quran, pp. 100-107.[10] Biharul-Anwar, vol. 18, pg. 206, hadith 36.[11] Hijr:94; Tafsir Qummi, pg. 353; Bihar, vol. 18, pg. 53, hadith 7 and pg. 179, hadith 10 and pg. 177, hadith 4 and pg. 193, hadith 29, translation of Ayati, vol. 1, pg. 379; Tarikh Yaqubi, vol. 1, pg. 343; Siratu ibn Hisham, vol. 1, pg. 280; Al-Manaqib, vol. , pg. 40; Sheikh Tusi, Al-Gheybah, pg. 217.[12] See: Majma’ul-Bayan, vol. 2, pg. 276; Al-Itqan, vol.1, pg. 40; Tafsir Kabir Imam Razi, vol. 5, pg. 85; Al-Manaqib, vol. 1, pg. 150; Sheikh Mufid in his commentary on Saduq’s Aqa’id, pg. 58; Seyyid Murtada in his response to Al-Masa’ilul-Trablusiyyat Al-Thalathah, pp. 403-405.[13] Al-Usul minal-Kafi, vol. 2, pg. 628, hadith 6; Tafsir Ayyashi, vol. 1, pg. 80, hadith 184; Saduq, Al-I’tiqadat, pg. 101; Bihar, vol. 18, pg. 250, hadith 3, and pg. 253; Al-Itqan, vol. 1, pp. 40-45; Tafsir Shubbar, pg. 350; Mustadrakul-Hakem, vol. 2, pg. 610; Asbabul-Nuzul, pg. 3; Al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah, vol. 3, pg. 4; Tarikh Yaqubi, vol. 2, pg. 18.[14] For further information, refer to the book: Al-Tamhid fi Ulumil-Quran, pp. 100-129.Source: Exactly how much time has passed from the immediate and gradual revelation of the Holy Quran?

An interesting question because it will give me a snapshot of what kinds of things I’m thinking about or thinking of thinking about.There is always rereading. That’s what literature people do. I will skip literary titles because I follow wherever my fancy leads me where that is concerned. I’ll name non-fiction books that are among the candidates for this year’s crop. Of many candidates some subset will be elected. Dark horses may yet be invisible.Findings: I am thinking about history, intellectual history, philosophy, politics. And music. What else is new?Abulafia, David. The Great Sea: A Human History of the MediterraneanAlthusser, Louis. Lenin and PhilosophyAmanat, Abbas. Iran: A Modern HistoryAnjun, Ovamir. Politics, Law, and Community in Islamic Thought: The Taymiyyan MomentAvitai-Preiss, Reuven. Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War, 1260–1281Beard, Mary. The Roman TriumphBeard, Mary. SPQR: A History of the Roman EmpireBeckwith, Christopher I. The Greek Buddha: Pyrrho’s Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central AsiaBeiser, Frederick C. After Hegel: German Philosophy, 1840–1900Beiser, Frederick C. German Idealism: The Struggle Against Subjectivism, 1781–1801Bellah, Robert. Religion in Human Evolution: From the Paleolithic to the Axial AgeBennett, Julian. Trajan: Optimus PrincepsBlumenberg, Hans. The Work of MythBock, Gisela, Quentin Skinner, and Maurizio Viroli, eds. Machiavelli and RepublicanismBoles, John B. Jefferson: Architect of American LibertyBostrom, Nick. Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, StrategiesBourdieu, Pierre. The Logic of PracticeBouwsma, William J. Venice and the Defense of Republican Liberty: Renaissance Values in the Age of the Counter ReformationBouwsma, William J. John Calvin: A Sixteenth-Century PortraitBrown, Peter. Through the Eye of a Needle: Wealth, the Fall of Rome, and the Making of Christianity in the West 350–550 ADBrown, Peter. The Ransom of the Soul: Afterlife and Wealth in Early Western ChristianityBurgis, Tom. The Looting Machine: Warlords, Oligarchs, Smugglers, and the Theft of Africa’s WealthThe Cambridge Ancient History, vols. 1–3The Cambridge History of CapitalismThe Cambridge History of China, vol. 6: Alien Regimes and Border StatesThe Cambridge History of CommunismThe Cambridge History of India, vol. 1: Ancient IndiaThe Cambridge History of Inner Asia: The Chingissid AgeThe Cambridge History of Iran, vols. 5–6The Cambridge History of Scandinavia, vols. 1–2Chatterjee, Satischandra and Dhirendramohan Datta. An Introduction to Indian PhilosophyChernow, Ron. Alexander HamiltonChernow, Ron. Washington: A LifeCooper, John M. Pursuits of Wisdom: Six Ways of Life in Ancient Philosophy from Socrates to PlotinusDamrosch, Leo. Eternity’s Sunrise: The Imaginative World of William BlakeDurkheim, Émile. SuicideDworkin, Ronald. Justice for HedgehogsElders, Willem. Josquin des Prez and His Musical Legacy: An Introductory GuideElster, Jon. Explaining Social Behavior: More Nuts and Bolts for the Social SciencesFischer, David Hackett. Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in AmericaFletcher, Angus. Colors of the Mind: Conjectures on Thinking in LiteratureFoot, Philippa. Natural GoodnessFoster, Benjamin R. and Karen Polinger Foster. Civilizations of Ancient IraqFowden, Garth. The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Pagan MindFreedman, Lawrence. Strategy: A HistoryFukuyama, Francis. The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French RevolutionFukuyama, Francis. Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of DemocracyGamut, L. T. F. Logic, Language, and Meaning (2 vols)Gebser, Jean. The Ever-Present OriginGernet, Jacques. A History of Chinese CivilizationGoldsworthy, Adrian. The Punic WarsGoldsworthy, Adrian. Antony and CleopatraGoldsworthy, Adrian. Augustus: First Emperor of RomeGoldsworthy, Adrian. How Rome Fell: Death of a SuperpowerGordon, Peter Eli. Rosenzweig and Heidegger: Between Judaism and German PhilosophyGraeber, David. Bullshit Jobs: A TheoryGreen, Peter. Alexander to Actium: The Historical Evolution of the Hellenistic AgeGriffel, Frank. Al-Ghazali’s Philosophical TheologyGuy, John. Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary StuartGuy, John. Elizabeth: The Forgotten YearsHadot, Pierre. The Veil of Isis: An Essay on the History of the Idea of NatureHannan, Barbara. The Riddle of the World: A Reconsideration of Schopenhauer’s PhilosophyHeather, Peter. The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the BarbariansHeather, Peter. Empires and Barbarians: The Fall of Rome and the Birth of EuropeHeather, Peter. The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial PretendersHeather, Peter. Rome Resurgent: War and Empire in the Age of JustinianHegel, G. W. F. The Phenomenology of Spirit (a reread, but the first was too long ago to count)Hegel, G. W. F. The Science of LogicHegel, G. W. F. The Philosophy of History (same situation as for Phenomenology)Hegel, G. W. F. The Philosophy of RightHegel, G. W. F. The Philosophy of NatureHenrich, Dieter. Between Kant and HegelHodel, Richard E. An Introduction to Mathematical LogicHowe, Irving. What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815–1848Huemer, Michael. Ethical IntuitionismHuemer, Michael. The Problem of Political Authority: An Examination of the Right to Coerce and the Duty to ObeyIllouz, Eva. Cold Intimacies: The Making of Emotional CapitalismIsrael, Jonathan. Radical Enlightenment: Philosophy and the Making of ModernityIsrael, Jonathan. Enlightenment Contested: Philosophy, Modernity, and the Emancipation of Man, 1670–1752Israel, Jonathan. Democratic Enlightenment: Philosophy, Revolution, and Human Rights, 1750–1790Israel, Jonathan. Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from the Rights of Man to RobespierreJacobsen, Thorkild. The Treasures of Darkness: A History of Mesopotamian ReligionJackson, Peter. The Mongols and the West: 1221–1410Jackson, Peter. The Mongols and the Islamic World: From Conquest to ConversionJameson, Fredric. Archaeologies of the Future: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science FictionsJameson, Fredric. The Ancients and the Postmoderns: On the Historicity of FormsKagan, Donald. The Peloponnesian WarKainz, Howard P. Introduction to Hegel: Stages of Modern PhilosophyKainz, Howard P. G. W. F. Hegel: Philosophical SystemKarenga, Maulana. Maat: The Moral Ideal in Ancient EgyptKeatinge, Richard W., ed. Peruvian Prehistory: An Overview of Pre-Inca and Inca SocietyKetcham, Ralph. James Madison: A BiographyKiernan, Ben. Blood and Soil: A World History of Genocide and Extermination from Sparta to Darfur (this one and I have unfinished business)Klein, Naomi. This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the ClimateKneale, William and Martha. The Development of LogicKołakowski, Leszek. Main Currents of Marxism (unfinished business)Konner, Melvin. The Evolution of Childhood: Relationships, Emotion, MindLake, Peter, with Michael Questier. The Antichrist’s Lewd Hat: Protestants, Papists, and Players in Post-Reformation EnglandLakoff, George with Elizabeth Wehling. Your Brain’s Politics: How the Science of Mind Explains the Political DivideLangton, Rae. Kantian Humility: Our Ignorance of Things in ThemselvesLendon, J. E. Song of Wrath: The Peloponnesian War BeginsLendon, J. E. Soldiers & Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical AntiquityLevinas, Emmanuel. Of God Who Comes to MindLongerich, Peter. Heinrich HimmlerLyons, John. Semantics (2 vols)Maxwell, Grant. The Dynamics of Transformation: Tracing an Emerging World ViewMay, Todd. DeathMcCormick, John P. Machiavellian DemocracyMcPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War EraMeredith, Martin. The Fate of AfricaMeredith, Martin. The Fortunes of AfricaMerlan, Philip. From Platonism to NeoplatonismMoin, A. Afzar, The Millennial Sovereign: Sacred Kingship and Sainthood in Islam (Dimitris’ fault)Moss, David A. Democracy: A Case StudyNealon, Jeffrey T. Post-Postmodernism: or, The Cultural Logic of Just-in-Time CapitalismNussbaum, Martha C. Political Emotions: Why Love Matters for JusticeParfit, Derek. On What Matters (3 vols.)Parijs, Philippe van, and Yannick Vanderborght. Basic Income: A Radical Proposal for a Free Society and a Sane EconomyPartee, Barbara B. H., Alice ter Meulen and Robert E. Wall. Mathematical Methods in LinguisticsPincus, Steve. 1688: The First Modern RevolutionPinkard, Terry. Hegel: A BiographyPinker, Steven. Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and ProgressPopper, Karl. The Open Society and its Enemies (2 vols)Rawls, John. Political LiberalismRomer, John. A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great PyramidRomer, John. A History of Ancient Egypt, vol. 2: From the Great Pyramid to the Fall of the Middle KingdomRosenzweig, Franz. Philosophical and Theological WritingsRussell, Jeffrey Burton. The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive ChristianityRussell, Jeffrey Burton. Satan: The Early Christian TraditionRussell, Jeffrey Burton. Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle AgesRussell, Jeffrey Burton. Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern WorldSachs, Jeffrey D. The Age of Sustainable DevelopmentSaul, Nigel. Richard IIScanlon, T.M. What We Owe to Each OtherScanlon, T. M. Being Realistic About ReasonsSen, Amartya. The Idea of JusticeSharpe, Kevin. The Personal Rule of Charles ISinger, Peter, ed. Does Anything Really Matter?: Essays on Parfit on ObjectivitySinha, Manisha. The Slave’s Cause: A History of Abolition.Skjærvø, Prods Oktor. The Spirit of ZoroastrianismSlezkine, Yuri. The House of Government: A Saga of the Russian RevolutionStockton, David. The GracchiStrachan, Hew. The First World War: To ArmsStrawson, Galen. Selves (in process)Swafford, Jan. Beethoven: Anguish and TriumphSwafford, Jan. Johannes BrahmsTaylor, Charles. HegelTaylor, Charles. The Language Animal: The Full Shape of the Human Linguistic CapacityTegmark, Max. Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial IntelligenceThompson, E. P. The Making of the English Working ClassTomsen, Peter. The Wars of Afghanistan: Messianic Terrorism, Tribal Conflicts, and the Failures of Great PowersTreadgold, Warren. A History of the Byzantine State and SocietyTyerman, Christopher. God’s War: A New History of the CrusadesWalker, Alan. Franz Liszt (3 vols)Walzer, Michael. Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and EqualityWhite, Richard. The Republic for Which It Stands: The United States During Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1896White, Jr., Ronald C. A. Lincoln: A BiographyWilson, Peter H. The Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman EmpireWithington, Phil. The Politics of Commonwealth: Citizens and Freemen in Early Modern EnglandWood, Gordon. Empire and Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815Zuckert, Catherine H. Machiavelli’s PoliticsWill I read all of these? No. Not a chance. This is more than a year and a half of reading (two and a half, now: I’ve been adding to it like it’s a wish list, and am using it to keep track of ideas) at my swiftest pace even if I do nothing else and read no literature (neither of which is even remotely possible). What’s more, I’ll be distracted by other things. And I want to reread Marx, Keynes, the obscurer works of Machiavelli, Piketty, and Graeber slowly and painfully this year, and am in medias res with about five books right now. So, modest aims.Will I read 50% of them? Depends. How stupid do I plan to be this year? How much time will I waste? Will I write more than usual? Am I old, bleary-eyed and lazy? Will I be reasonably healthy? Will the TV call to me? Am I a river to my people? How many jobs will I need to survive? Ugly questions.Will I read a chunk of them? Yes.Is the Hegel thing happening? Yes. I owe it to LD Ulrich, who made me think I’ve had Hegel wrong all along.We shall see.