I think thatâs why people sometimes get irritated when you diss their favorites - youâre also indirectly dissing the life-stuff that has melded with it. 
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Why donât you just do this?
That reminds me of being at a restaurant somewhere when I was on a family vacation as a kid, and this waiter who was going around refilling dinersâ water glasses was doing something similar. I think at one point he even put on a blindfold to fill a glass from several feet above.
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That is a great point.
I never thought of that.
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Can I float an idea to you guys? You just tell me if you think itâs hare brained, ok, good etc, straight up. You wanna do that?
Donât feel pressured. Just say no, if you donât want (like Nancy Regan sez.)
Silence will be received as âno.â
âŚok, too late 'ta for now!
I was just going out to eat.
I saw your post, but I guess I am too late.
Not yet. Itâs on my bucket list. Iâd like a full sensory deprivation chamber. Iâve been hoping someone will make one with oxygen rich perfluorocarbons (PFCs) breathable liquid. So far most of them just use salt water which I would think would be pretty simulating to nose/mouth. 
But, I have tried some isolated time without humans or technology. This is how I know I would appreciate this stuff after a period of deprivation. Youâd be surprised what you would love and enjoy after lacking so much.
For more than a decade now I have routinely done a thought experiment gratitude exercise where I imagine/pretend that anything (and anyone) I donât expressly give thanks for, will cease to exist entirely in 24 hours (whether you call it a medication or âprayerâ or anything else, the idea is similar). There are also various rules to forestall loopholes, etc such as about how encompassing generalities and categories are automatically invalid and rejected⌠Iâm a loophole finder guy so I had to create a contact with myself to preserve my integrity of the intent.
I could write an entire book about what Iâve learned about the world and myself practicing this simple exercise. Things Iâve come to appreciate and even love, including people I may have thought I despised or were mad at and things I learned to be desperate not to forget to be thankful for. Little things nobody ever thinks about. Yet it is hard to explain if youâve never tried it yourself. Iâve mentored some people into trying this, and used an alternate version such as requiring them to write down a list of everything, and then when I review it, pointing out all of the critical things they care about that they forgot or didnât realize they care about or that affect or benefit them or something or someone they care about, even indirectly that now would cease to exist for them. It can be an interesting way to get someone to have a paradigm shift out of victimstance mode to a point of loving and appreciating everything about life. It does take a certain mindset to be able to effectively do this exercise correctly though.
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Oh, this is going to be a longer response that some people will skip (totally okay with that, no offense taken). 
To be clear, I never said I donât like any music. I actually LOVE music. I just prefer different music from most of the above discussion. I have had subscriptions to Spotify and Amazon Music, I own thousands of MP3s, and I have purchased well over a hundred CDs and been to concerts. I have bought and installed sound systems at home and in cars.
I have done a decent amount of research (real research with articles in peer-reviewed journals, not just a Google search) involving music. Just because I say I do not have a strong affinity for jazz does not mean I have no love for [other] music. I do.
Having said that, my love for books and knowledge (including or especially audiobooks), surpasses even my love of music.
That might seem strange to some people, but I find that the world of books offers something even more profound and useful than the emotion that comes from music (which I also enjoy). Yes, music evokes feelings of joy, sadness, nostalgia and excitement, it can soothe us, energize us, even help us focus. I use it for all of these things. It lights up [nearly] all of the brain, including areas that activate emotion responses through memory and the reward system (dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin, and more). It can be immersive and vivid in a way that works similar to visualization techniques that can be almost real for all intents and purposes because the limbic part of the brain cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality and that is the most powerful magic psychologists know how to leverage. Yes, I understand ALL that about musicâŚand I love music very much.
Ah, but all that can pale in the face of a good book. Audiobooks in particular offer a unique blend of benefits that make them a compelling alternative to music. I can âreadâ while engaging in other activities (driving, working, chores, lots of things). They offer a unique dimension to learning and comprehension. They offer a unique portal to new worlds, ideas, and perspectives. They allow us to step into the shoes of others, explore different cultures and time periods, and expand our understanding of the human condition. This journey of discovery and empathy is a source of immense intellectual and emotional fulfillment. Unlike the limitations of music, reading has been shown to have numerous cognitive benefits. It strengthens the brain, improves memory, enhances critical thinking skills, and expands vocabulary. It helps us develop emotional intelligence and empathy, allowing us to connect with others on a deeper level.
- Deeper Immersion: While music can create an atmosphere, audiobooks transport me to another world. I become completely engrossed in the story, experiencing the characters and events as if I were there myself . Audiobooks engage the listenerâs imagination and visualization skills, creating a more immersive experience . Itâs like having a movie play out in your mind, directed by your own creativity. I feel and get from a good audiobook, everything that I can/do with music, plus some stuff that music cannot. Some audiobooks even include music and sound effects and are incredibly immersive.
- Intellectual and Creative Stimulation: Audiobooks provide a constant stream of new information and ideas, keeping my mind engaged and challenged. They offer a deeper level of intellectual stimulation than music alone. Audiobooks can satisfy my thirst for knowledge and stories even when time is limited.
- Emotional Connection: A well-narrated audiobook can evoke a wide range of emotions, from laughter and joy to sadness and suspense. The emotional journey I experience with a good book often surpasses the emotional impact of music. The human voice in audiobooks can stimulate a stronger emotional response than written text, creating a deeper connection with the story and characters.
- Personal Growth: Books offer opportunities for self-reflection and personal growth. They can challenge my beliefs, broaden my perspectives, and inspire me to become a better person. Audiobooks, in particular, can be uplifting and motivating, providing encouragement and inspiration during challenging times.
- Reduced Stress: While music can be relaxing, research actually shows that reading can be even more effective at reducing stress. Studies found that reading for as little as 6 minutes can decrease stress up to 68% and was more effective than listening to music, taking a walk or exercising. Studies on brain activity while reading showed that it has the same effects on our brain and body as meditation (another thing most people donât like, and possibly why so many donât like reading) as it puts the brain in the focussed state very similar to what they observe with mindfulness practice, reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation. It also helps cognitive function and encourages mental clarity. Immersing myself in a good book allows me to escape from the worries of the day and find a sense of calm. Itâs like taking a mental vacation, leaving behind the stresses of everyday life and entering a world of imagination and wonder.
You ever heard of âThe three book ruleâ? If you were to read three books about a topic you would be an expert compared to 99% of the population. Thatâs all it takes. You donât need a degree or an expensive certification. You just need to read three books. (preferably different authors and points of view, and internalizing the information and not just 1st grade level books⌠also not more of an expert compared to real experts, just compared to 99% of people). You do that with things related to business, self-help, etc and it is immediately and quickly and unbelievably life-changing.
Another rationale for why I play audiobooks when I drive instead of playing music...unless others are in the car with me - in this dropdown
The average American reads less than one nonfiction book per year.
58% never read a nonfiction book after high school. 58%. Thatâs the end of their of their education. Reading even a single nonfiction book per month would put you in the top 1% of adult learners in America alone. Reading more than this, especially in a focussed area of interest and a person can quickly gain the equivalent knowledge of a Ph.D in any field they desire. You can easily finish a book a month just from 15 minutes a day during your commute and be among the top 1% of adult learners in America. And arguably benefit your life significantly more than the fleeting and temporary mood regulation from music during the commute.
âŚ
Some of my favorite quotes related to reading that strongly resonate with me are in this dropdown:
A reader lives a thousand lives before he diesâŚThe man who never reads lives only one.
It is often said that one has but one life to live, but that is nonsense. For one who reads, there is no limit to the number of lives that may be lived, for fiction, biography, and history offer an inexhaustible number of lives in many parts of the world, in all periods of time.
A book is really like a lover. It arranges itself in your life in a way that is beautiful.
(Not saying I completely agree with this next one, but it is an interesting thoughtâŚyou could certainly learn a lot about me by seeing my bookcase, but I donât think itâs necessarily a global truth):
A manâs bookcase will tell you everything youâll ever need to know about him. ~Walter Mosley
Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world. ~Napoleon Bonaparte
Most of our lives are led by our subconscious first and then the conscious doing a post-hoc justification. Reading books is one of the only ways to reverse the normal function of our brains to where your conscious now takes initial primary control of all input and then your subconscious does the post-hoc analysis. Most of life is spent the other way around.
According to the research, music is great, but limited by comparison according to the researchâŚCognitive benefits are mostly limited to mood regulation and emotional expression. Immersion is mostly atmospheric and emotion immersion. It can be beneficial as both a distraction or enhance focus. Itâs emotional impact is in evoking emotion through melody and rhythm. It can certainly inspire and uplift and it is universally accessible.
These are all AWESOME things. Yet, they are somewhat superficial in comparison to what good books may do.
According to the research, Books can improve memory (multiple aspects of memory), vocabulary, critical thinking (this benefit alone canât be understated), analytical skills, concentration (It actually physically strengthens the white matter in your brain), capacity for reading comprehension and overall cognitive processes. They can do DEEP immersion in narrative and character to the point the limbic brain itself cannot distinguish fantasy from reality even if other parts can. It is highly conducive to multitasking, it can evoke a wide range of emotions through storytelling. It offers opportunities for self-reflection and learning. It develops empathy and fosters connection with perspective taking that does transfer to real life situations, it changes mindsets, it teaches social skills and allows for ârehearsalâ of universal experiences. It was proven to more effectively reduce stress better than music, an excellent alternative to meditation. It actually improves sleep, and better relaxes the body mind than music. Among many others.
You see, Hollywood has long lied [some in ignorance] about the mythical sirens in Homerâs âThe OdysseyââŚHollywood implies the sirens lure men with music and ⌠[sensuality], but that is not accurate. It was actually them being trapped by the tantalizing promise of learning hidden special knowledge, wisdom, and truths that they dangled over the heads of the unwary to the degree that for this genuine love of knowledge they would linger sitting on the rocky shores to listen to it until they died.
That resonates with me for sure.
âBooks are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.â - Anna Quindlen
But I also agree with thisâŚ
Mostly I just wanted to say, I DO love musicâŚbut my love for books and knowledge is just that much higher.
Yes, Iâm a nerd. Itâs okay if others arenât.
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Arenât you just trying to increase your odds of being included in the big glom (the worthy glommed all others discarded) that Master intends?
I think you agree with Bobby D: Ya gotta serve somebody.
Okay. From your previous posts, I got the illusion (not allusion) for your distaste of music. I probably skipped over the clarification.
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I could see that. I like audio books while driving, but donât care to read book when I am not driving, as I tend to fall a sleep. My Dad and sister got the reading genes.
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Ok Iâm late to the awesome music party⌠(out celebrating my birthday with the family and then back to my folks to play games). Just got home and trying to catch up.
Some said something about candy mountain and my brain went here:
Keep in mind, that is a 5 part saga⌠The first part is admittedly the best. Buckle up. Itâs quite the ride.
As an elder millennial this lives in my brain.
In other news, my mom and I got into the wine.
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Cheers! 
Iâll check the video later. Right now itâs Stravinskyâs time.
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Oh man! If you have never seen the Charlie the Unicorn Candy Mountain video, you have to at least watch part 1!!! Itâs a classic.
I feel ashamed I did not know there were sequelsâŚI only knew about part 1. I was rewatching part 1 and thought to myself that someone should use AI to create a sequel and then read the following comment you made about it already having 5 parts! 
I do question the sanity of whoever created these.
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The 00s were a wild time.
Spoilers
Magical leopleurodons
And I love that in a Supernatural blooper they referenced Charlie the Unicorn:
And speaking of Supernatural, this outtake also lives in my head.
Iâve only ever seen maybe a handful of episodes, never got fully into it⌠But the ones Iâve seen were good.
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I stopped after that much. Itâs aâight, I guessâŚon par with other absurd-ish and bizarre cartoons Iâve watched in the past (Aqua Teen Hunger Force comes to mind). Maybe Iâll check out more later, but Iâm trying to get a few other things done at the moment.
âŚand/or substance (ab)use?
I have only a glancing awareness of that one, so I plead ignorance.
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Speaking of âEye of the tigerâ.
Say this rendition last night.
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Iâm sorry, but⌠https://media.tenor.com/lYDabatsMp8AAAAM/harry-potter-emma-watson.gif
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Understood.
His Bohemian Rhapsody was better.
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I watched enough to see that it reminds me of Pogoâs âTrumpularâ and also of the edit that makes it look like Brian Williams is rapping Warren Gâs âRegulateâ.
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And donât think I dislike Jazz because there are no lyrics, I LOVE lots of stuff with no lyrics. I could listen to Lindsey Stirling all day long and love every minute of it. Violins and non-lyrical music can be very enjoyable to me even without the superb performance she does in both music videos and live concerts. I can actually get a lot of work done more effectively while listening to âLindsey Sterling Radioâ stations on Alexa or Spotify.
I also like a lot of the covers she does of other music that has lyrics, but for the point I was making, stuck with mostly a few non-lyrical examples. She has lots.
Just not huge on most Jazz. Canât really get into it. It doesnât speak to me or move me.
I do wish more people who âplayâ classical type of instruments would also step up their performances to be entertaining like Lindsey does. I honestly thought I did like the violin until I saw Lindsey Perform and heard her music and then I thought âWow, itâs not all boring! I actually LIKE the violin!â
Just my preferences. No worries about those with others. 
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