I do want to think critically about why I read specific books. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment if the answer is just "I really enjoy the writing". And wh

I do want to think critically about why I read specific books. It doesn't take away from my enjoyment if the answer is just "I really enjoy the writing". And when the answer is about other people, then I think it's good to be aware of it - so you can say, for instance, "I'm glad I have all these books as a shared experience with all my fellow Terry Pratchett fans" --- or maybe, "Why do I care about what these people think?". About "The World of Yesterday", I can only say that e.g. Zweig speaking about how he was moved to tears by some piece of art feels a bit alienating, when the art has no such effect on me. What you say > it describes a time that is chronologically quite close to our own, yet also profoundly different, beautiful, and completely gone. IS why I find the book interesting, there's just an asterisk by "beautiful" for me, since clearly Zweig thought it a lot more beautiful than I do. I can't feel what he's feeling just from him describing it, since recent as it may be, his background was completely different from my own in most ways I can think of. I do think it's likely I'll pick it up again, but I can't relate well to it on a personal level.