Martin on Why the Mind Needs Books

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge."

- George R.R. Martin

by

May 14, 2014

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

– George R.R. Martin

bigthinkeditor Full Profile

Special Issue

Leadership masterclass: Nike, Jordan, and James Baldwin

George Raveling — the iconic leader who brought Michael Jordan to Nike — shares with Big Think a lifetime of priceless wisdom learned at the crossroads of sports and business.

14 articles

Man in glasses and a brown jacket with a serious expression; the background features a blue overlay adorned with white sports strategy symbols and a cheering crowd. It's reminiscent of a Coach Raveling masterclass, where every move is meticulously planned.

Related Content

The Learning Curve

Every era believes it is enlightened. Old books teach us otherwise.

Reading classic books can teach you as much about the present as the past.

by Kevin Dickinson

A woman in a white dress sits on a chair by a window, reading a book in a softly lit room with a piano nearby, embodying the quiet charm of why read old books.

5 great thinkers who rejected their own ideas

Philosophers rarely change their minds. These thinkers did — often at social and professional cost.

by Shai Tubali

An orange arrow looping to the right is overlaid on a collage of black-and-white portraits of philosophers.

5 brilliant books to demystify the brain

Neuroscientist Rachel Barr shares her favorite books on the brain and how they shaped her approach to the field.

by Kevin Dickinson

Black and white illustration of a human brain with purple scribble circles and arrows pointing toward it on a light background, perfect for those interested in books about the brain.

Why today’s publishers fear Goodreads more than government

In "That Book Is Dangerous," author Adam Szetela examines the rise of the “Sensitivity Era” in publishing and how outrage campaigns try to control what books authors can write and readers can read.

by Kevin Dickinson

An open book, symbolizing dangerous books, burns with flames rising from its pages against a black background, its fiery reflection shimmering on a glossy surface.

Learn from the world's biggest thinkers.

© Copyright 2007-2026 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved.