“The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another.”

I want to read this book in its original intended form with Richard Avedon’s photos. A conversation between two former high school classmates in the languages most comfortable to them, Baldwin with words and Avedon with images. Unfortunately I’m unable to find an edition less than $325. I’ll ask a librarian for assistance.

#bookstr

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Discussion

That is interesting because Love is actually an object of philosophical investigation.

The ancient Greek had the notions of affection or fraternal love - Storge (στοργη), friendship - Philia (φιλια), romantic love - Eros (έρως) and admiration or unconditional love - Ágape (αγαπη).

C.S. Lewis has a book investigating the history of those concepts, titled "The Four loves" under the Christian perspective.

It has happened through time that people mistake Storge for Phila and Philia ends up mistaken by Eros.

Apparently people don't know how to cultivate friendship anymore.

Philautia happens to be love to oneself and ends up corrupted to egotistical ends.

The excerpt you have shared points to some of those above.

Maybe do a zapraiser

I think I should be able to work with a librarian to find a copy of the original and do an interlibrary loan. I’ll be honest an extra $325 would go right to medical bills.