Total Reading

For my birthday my Mum bought me a copy of Gods of New York by Jonathan Maher. The book is a history of New York in the 80s that centres around some of the cities most interesting characters.

“Gods” to me suggested power in a traditional sense: politics, money etc., and with this in mind, the title lets the book down as the cast is as actually a much more diverse set. Yes there is Ed Koch, Roy Cohn and Donald Trump. But there is also Al Sharpton, Twana Brolley and Larry Kramer. I can’t recommend the book highly enough, but this isn’t a really review. It’s about how I read it.

Alongside the brilliant writing and vivid history, my enjoyment of the book was compounded by immersing myself in the contemporary cultural output of New York while reading it. I read Bonfire of the Vanities in parallel, it’s quoted heavily by Maher. Watched The Taking of Pelham 123 with its cast of dated, late 70s, caricatures.

Listened to New York by Lou Reed, watched Do the Right Thing, listened to People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by Tribe. And read Urban Theater: NYC Art in the 80s.

Gods of New York was followed up with a murder mystery set in Lagos. Alongside this I read An African History of Africa, watched The Wedding Party, a wonderfully glossy bit of Nollywood, listened to African Giant by Burna Boy, listened to Fear No Man, a podcast series on Fela Kuti, and of course, listened to Fela himself.

A quick search online didn’t find a term to describe this pattern, but when recounting my experience to Alex Deschamps-Sonsino she suggested “total reading”. Her idea is in the spirit of Gesamtkunstwerk, the German term which is most commonly associated with the architectural practice where:

…all aspects of the design; interior, exterior and furnishing were created to complement one another.

Borrowing from this idea I guess total reading is the practice of deliberate engagement with the art that complements the book you are reading.

It has proved to be a much more enjoyable way of reading than I have experienced before. I’ve found that the history has stayed with me for longer because of it. I’ve gone back to art, books, music and movies I’ve always loved, but have developed a deeper understanding of, and made new connections. For example, the wonderful Shinici Atobe album from 2017 is titled for a Chuck D line in Fight the Power:

From the heart, it’s a start, a work of art.

That feels pretty appropriate.