Every Thursday on the blog brings a post about a paperback book.

(This week’s contribution is written by Jessica Ferri)

Marbles is a book of aphorisms by James Guida. An aphorist aims to convey the same perception and truth that any writer does, but in fewer words. Like Twitter, but more profound.

An example from Guida: “Generally, your recent past is discernible on you, in the way that, after hours in a pub, cigarette smoke used to live on for a while in your hair.” This is beautifully written and the analogy of scent makes us aware of our behavior, how obvious it may be to others. Another of my favorites: “How often we lack full honesty of our tastes when introducing them to others. A pox on prefacing!” The anxiety of human interaction is summed up in those mere eighteen words. How often have we failed to do justice to our beliefs when describing them to someone else?

The pleasure of Guida’s aphorisms is the way they illuminate the ridiculous, childlike, or reckless nature of our actions while simultaneously convincing us that we wouldn’t know nearly as much about ourselves and others without our errors. The subsequent knowledge and growth makes all the struggle and embarrassment worth it. In conclusion, as Guida writes, “Basically, the whole affair threatened to make adults of us all.”