Books don’t like Kanye West, either

By On June 2, 2009 · 9 Comments

463029870_49c522decbKanye West proudly proclaimed himself a non-reader.

He says:
“I am a proud non-reader of books. I like to get information from doing stuff like actually talking to people and living real life,” he said.

and

“Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed,” West said. “I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book’s autograph.

The first quote… there is not enough facepalm in the world to record my reaction to that quote. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone that’s that arrogant about not reading. I understand that some people aren’t programmed to be readers. My dad isn’t a big reader. But he doesn’t pretend that he’s better than readers because he’s learning through, y’know, real life and stuff. Jeez.

The second quote… well, Kanye, frankly I don’t think that books want your autograph, either.

Why do celebrities keep getting so much money to write stupid memoirs? I mean, this book is full of pithy little aphorisms. I’d only buy a book of pithy little aphorisms from Oscar Wilde or Mark Twain. You know why? Because they’re witty, well-read people. They don’t say things like “Life is 5% what happens and 95% how you react!” or “I hate the word hate!” They say things like “I am not young enough to know everything,” and “Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.”

 
About The Author

TDF Pamela

The Discriminating Fangirl, who is more likely to answer to Pamela if you shout it at her, is the proud owner of an MA in English, focusing on children's/young adult literature and popular culture. She's now not using that degree to work as a project manager for a mobile app company. She reads voraciously, loves geeky movies and tv shows, reads comic books as long as she's not pissed off at Marvel, and when she's procrastinating, she enjoys playing video games. She can be contacted at t.d.fangirl @ gmail.com and followed on Twitter @tdfangirl.

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  • http://allstarme.wordpress.com Claire

    Kanye is a douche. There’s just no other way to say it. These quotes make him look more idiotic than he already does.

  • http://deafscreams.blogspot.com/ Indigo

    Proud to be a non-reader? Wonderful way to let his lack of intellect show.

    The sad thing is the younger generation is lapping up this balonkey…Me? I’m going to keep reading and writing, encouraging those brain cells of mine to perform. Kanye obviously has a lack of cells evolving in his brain span. (Hugs)Indigo

  • Shanna

    A perfect example of someone not thinking BEFORE they speak. What a dumbass! No wonder I don’t let my kids listen to his crap!

  • Shanna

    Sorry, I am stuck on this ignorance, and now have to vent! I guess Kanye never stopped to think that BOOKS can often provide an aspect on how to process/react to “information from doing stuff like actually talking to people and living real life”, that were perhaps not thought of before?! I am seriously wondering what his Mother would be thinking right now – it would not make me proud of my son. This is truly one of the most uneducated, ridiculous remarks I have ever heard someone (anyone) make. It certainly makes the top 5 anyway. What a VERY poor role model. Anyone in the public eye should really set a better example. You would think that in this day and age one would know that already!!!! Claire is right, what a douche!!

  • http://www.thediscriminatingfangirl.com The Discriminating Fangirl

    Indigo, you’ve made a very good point. Kids do listen to what celebrities say, and when celebrities say that reading is a waste of time… Gah, it makes me grind my teeth.

    I really don’t give a crap if he likes to read or not; like I said, some people just don’t dig it. But to be so damned arrogant about it! Ugh!

  • azteclady

    To quote the SmartBitches: Bitch, please!

  • http://thebooksmugglers.com Thea

    Wow. I’ve never been a big fan of Kanye’s (sweet beats, but his lyrics are idiotic). I cannot help but crack up at this:

    Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed,

    Books be wordy? No shit?! Of course, maybe we are expecting a bit much from this guy. Remember, this is the same guy that thinks he should be in the bible. And writes gems like these in his blog. I’m just chalking this one up to reason 722 why Kanye West is the ultimate douchebag.

  • http://www.thediscriminatingfangirl.com The Discriminating Fangirl

    Thea, wow. Do you think he suffers from paranoid delusions of grandeur? I just wish some other rapper would come out and say, “I LOVE BOOKS! Kids, you should read!”

    Wow, I sound like a crotchety old lady. Ha!

  • http://thebooksmugglers.com Thea

    Tupac read a lot ;) Granted, he started reading in prison, but he did read.

    And then there are guys like Talib Kweli who are intelligent, talented and come out and say that they pick books up and read on their own. Or guys like Lupe Fiasco who incorporate literary allusions in their music:

    How about ”Streets on Fire,” where you bring in the character of The Streets?
    At the beginning of the song, [singer] Matthew Santos lists all these tragedies, and then it says, ”She’s out there smiling.” It comes from 1984, the book, where there was so much double-talk and double-think in the first few chapters. That’s my favorite book. I tried to put that in a record. So it’s like, ”Believe/So say the neon signs by the loudspeakers/Repeating that everything is fine.” You know? ”A subtle silence/To demolish the troubled conscience/Of a populace with no knowledge/And every freedom denied.” It comes directly influenced by 1984 — using it as a vehicle to introduce one of the characters very abstractly, very subtly.

    So, who has time for braindead dickwads like Kanye? Especially when there’s good stuff out there? :p

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