I invented a book that listed every word in every language. It wouldn't be a very useful book, but you could hold it and know that everything you could possibly say was in your hands.
In Jonathan Safran Foer's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," the narrator imagines creating a comprehensive book that catalogs every word from all languages. This idea reflects a deep desire for connection and understanding, as having such a book would symbolize the vastness of human expression. Despite its impracticality, the book serves as a tangible representation of language's potential to convey thoughts and emotions.
Foer's quote highlights the paradox of language; while it can be limitless, the actual utility of compiling every word may be minimal. The notion of having all possible words at one's fingertips evokes a sense of comfort and completeness, suggesting that even in the chaos of life and communication, the richness of language is an important anchor for human experience.
