A new book has untold powers for the bibliophile. For the avid reader, you know what I mean. For some reason, though, I always forget this fact. I’ll order a book that I know I need and want for some future day in my research. Inevitably, upon its arrival, I will drop everything I was working on and I will shift my focus.

Last weekend, my copy of Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorum arrived (I couldn’t pass up ordering a like new copy from Amazon for only $25). I haven’t been able to put it down. In my previous post, I mentioned that the Romans had conquered the Greeks in good historical fashion (i.e. I was shifting focus from Greek to my enormous Latin translation project of the Glossa Ordinaria on Esther). It seems, however, as if books have the power to rewrite history: the Greeks, in unprecedented fashion, have rebelled against their Roman overlords (ok … enough with the analogy). I’m having a difficult time refocusing my attention on what needs to get done. I’d much rather translate the Gospels and the citations from Justin Martyr, Clement, the Shepherd of Hermas, etc.

Anyone have any advice on how to conquer the hold this new book has over me?