Emerson observes that a lifetime is too short to read every worthwhile book. His suggestion that some books might be read “by proxy” means relying on another person to identify, summarise or assess material that one cannot examine directly. The difficulty, as he notes, is finding trustworthy intermediaries whose judgement is sufficiently reliable.

Within Books, the remark develops Emerson’s broader argument for selective reading. He does not suggest that summaries can fully replace direct engagement with important works. Instead, he recognises the practical problem of limited time and the potential value of informed guidance. The quotation therefore balances intellectual independence with reliance on expertise: readers may benefit from critics, teachers or other trusted readers, provided those intermediaries help them use their attention wisely rather than simply deciding what they should think.