Louis L'Amour Versus What I Own

"Each author had the text of all his books committed to memory and would dictate when a book was needed. Druid priests and storytellers everywhere had fabulous memories, for there was no other way . . . Someone has said that culture is what remains with you after you have forgotten all you have read, and I believe there is much truth in that." (Louis L'Amour, Education of a Wandering Man, 1982)

Every week a coworker gives me her copy of the New York Times Book Review and every week I add a few titles here on the list of "Books I Might Read" down to the right. Another coworker has been bringing in a series of DVDs for me to watch. Then my neighbor shares his latest read (from which I copied the above quote) or musical interest. If you only read or watched or listened to what was worth memorizing, how many books and movies and music or TV shows would have to fall by the wayside? Below is a picture of books I own but have not yet read. Some my wife bought, one my mom passed along, most I found years ago in used book stores and two come from authors I follow. I took the pile to work so I might finally get to them on a lunch break or something. Imagine if I had to memorize them - would I have bought even a single book?