For All Who Seek: Books on High
A stroll along High Street can be quite an adventure and a nurturing experience all at once, especially when you chance upon Books on High that specializes in rare antiquarian and esoteric books. Since his early life, Terry has sought out bookshops and libraries around the world, which held the key for his search for meaning.
When the shop was established in 2022, Terry hoped to provide a space for all who seek knowledge and wish to explore the sense and purpose of man’s existence. Now with over 8,000 books in their catalogue, Books on High presents a curated selection of philosophical, historical, literary, spiritual, and mystical texts aimed to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, mindfulness, and spirituality.
After 40 years in the construction business, observing the accelerating inequity and the declining order and trust in capitalism, Terry posits that society has chucked the baby out with the bathwater in secularising society while promoting science, materialism and the pursuit of profit as being the basis of our meaning.
Socrates said, “Know Thyself”. Marcus Aurelius said “An unexamined life is not worth living”. Vivekananda said “Life on planet Earth is a gymnasium for our souls”.
With teachings from masters such as these in mind, he decided to open Books On High. Books on High stands out among most shops in the city with its towering shelves of antique books and deeply symbolic Egyptian artifacts and esoteric art. Leah Foenander (Bookshop Manager) and Keisha Uy (Marketing Manager) believe that bookshops play a significant role in society as a space for intelligent discourse and community building. For Leah, working at the bookshop is most fulfilling in being able to provide a beautiful, welcoming space, forming meaningful connections with customers, finding rare or impossible-to-find books for them and especially preserving the antique books for future generations. Keisha finds that the beauty and magic of a unique bookshop laced with crystals and artifacts in the city is in being able to provide a sanctuary for fellow book lovers, collectors, and curious minds. Terry hopes that the bookshop will not only help people understand the world, but also allow them to find deeper meaning in themselves in the process.
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