Perhaps,' I wearily suggest, 'reading is the opiate of the educated classes.' 'Is it? Are you thinking of becoming a flower child?' he says, lighting up a new cigar.
In Philip Roth's "The Professor of Desire," a character suggests that reading might serve as an escape for the educated, much like an opiate. This implies that for those who are well-read, books can be a means to avoid reality, providing a comfortable detachment from the complexities of life.
The response from another character hints at a lighthearted exploration of alternative lifestyles, as he teases the idea of embracing a more free-spirited, carefree existence. Their interaction reveals a juxtaposition between the intellectual pursuits of reading and the desire for a more spontaneous way of living.
