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Jan 7, 2019 17:52
5 yrs ago
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Spanish term

Persona de un solo libro

Spanish to English Social Sciences Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. Filosofía
Hi,
In my country, we use the term "persona de un sólo libro" not to literally express that a person only reads one book over and over, but a person who is unable to understand the points of view of others, a bit of a bigot, he reads a lot, but only books that support his ideas. He refuses to accept thoughts or ideas that don't go according to his world view. It could also mean a person who only knows one topic, he may actually be an expert on it, but he's ignorant in basically everything else. It's part of a saying: "Teme a la persona de un sólo libro" (beware of the person... with only one point of view???) I am looking for the equivalence in English. Is there any idiom or slang that may have the same meaning? (not about being an expert part, but the part of being a bit of a bigot).

Thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
5 +2 someone with a blinkered view
4 +4 a closed-minded person
4 +1 Ideologue, doctrinaire (person)
5 Beware of the individual who gets his knowledge from only one source.
4 armchair expert
4 know-it-all / smart alec
3 single-minded person
3 pseudo-expert
3 person with a one-track mind
2 blunt, single minded

Discussion

Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 9, 2019:
You're welcome, Abraal. I agree-it was a lot of fun, not to mention interesting, too!
Abraal (asker) Jan 9, 2019:
Thank you all It's been great reading all of your interesting inputs, I had a lot of fun.
In fact, I think I'm smarter now, just by reading you guys :)
Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 8, 2019:
How about... ..."beware of the individual who gets his knowledge from only one source"? In other words, the person who has a skewed or heavily biased, in one direction, point of view.

Yes, I strongly believe now that this is how the phrase should be translated.
David Ronder Jan 8, 2019:
@Jessica I have posted now, thanks for your encouragement.
Jessica Noyes Jan 8, 2019:
David's I like David's "idealogue" or "doctrinaire" because both words make it clear that the person described has solid, and potentially extensive, knowledge of the subject---even though it is limited. If he were to post them, I would hit "agree."
David Ronder Jan 8, 2019:
@Charles Lovely of you to say that. Happy New Year to you, too! I'll be back on the history questions soon enough - expecting to be posting some of my own, too.
Charles Davis Jan 8, 2019:
@David Great to see you here. I've missed you recently on the history questions. Happy New Year!
David Ronder Jan 8, 2019:
An ideologue or doctrinaire person might well fit the bill here, but I'd need more context to be sure.
Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 8, 2019:
I agree with all the comments that Francois wrote under her entry, since it reflects my own input to a very great degree, while taking exception to the ignorant, dumbed down, stereotypical attitude (it seems that it was actually put forth by the lexicographers) that people become close-minded because they are elderly. The most liberal-minded, intelligent people I have ever known have assumed a more mellow, open-minded attitude towards things and people, in general, even more so in their 80s and 90s.
Robert Carter Jan 8, 2019:
@Charles I agree with you, but I also think it worth commenting on some of the answers that stray too far from the meaning here. For me, Francois' suggestion of "closed-minded", and synonymously, David's, are the only ones that actually come close to what Abraal seems to be looking for.
Robert Carter Jan 8, 2019:
@Barbara You're right that the asker was looking for slang or an idiom, but in that same sentence they also mentioned "not about [the] being an expert part, but the part of being a bit of a bigot".
Charles Davis Jan 8, 2019:
I agree with what Phil said early on here about the examples of "persona de un solo libro" quoted (from online references). Each case needs to be handled on its own merits, and he's right that in some of them it would have to be translated more or less literally. I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all solution, and although most if not all the answers proposed might work in certain contexts, they probably wouldn't work in others. Which is why I'm neither proposing an answer nor voting for any of those proposed. Without a specific context I find it an impossible question to answer.
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
anyway I'm sticking to my guns on this
Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 8, 2019:
Monomania... ...is psychiatric nomenclature, not slang or a casual idiom.
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
no need to overthink it here
philgoddard Jan 8, 2019:
Monomaniac Is another possibility.
Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 8, 2019:
Well, bigoted people are often interpersonally ignorant, too, I'll grant you that!
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
getting it right is key
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
anyway, it's nice to see how these go and in the final analysis will be up to asker
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
just go for the meaning
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
pure and simple and to the point Barbara and I don't see why not in this case
Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 8, 2019:
It's Certainly Idiomatic, ...what you propose, David, which is what the asker requested.
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
sometimes we get carried away with references etc. but just think about what it really boils down to here
David Hollywood Jan 8, 2019:
despite the various arguments I don't see why "blinkered" wouldn't work here
Robert Carter Jan 8, 2019:
@Barbara I should have noted that I was specifically referring to this concept (the proverb quoted by St Thomas Aquinas) when I endorsed Phil's idea. It's probably better to render the "homo unius libri" that Charles refers to as "person (man) of one book" rather than "one-book person".
Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 8, 2019:
I find the expression "one-book person" very odd since I've never heard it during 66 years on this planet! To refer back to what Charles has shared, there are people who often fanatically adhere to a single doctrine out of fear, or to find solace, or to attempt to control the behavior of others, even though that attitude might seem irrational, and even exclusionary or tyrannical.
Robert Carter Jan 8, 2019:
I agree with both Phil and Charles here. As Phil says, different words exist for specific cases. In English, we might simply call a person who is narrow-minded politically a "bigot", whereas someone who is an "expert" or a believer in pseudosciences (cryptozoology, chiropractic, homeopathy, etc.) we might refer to as a "true believer".

And, as Charles says, "man of narrow learning" might well work in some cases, or as Phil notes "one-book person". Other possibilities, such as "zealot", "fanatic" or "fundamentalist" might work in religious, political and even sporting or cultural (i.e., fanatic) contexts too.
Michele Fauble Jan 7, 2019:
In English there is the expression “one-trick poney” for someone who is good at only one thing, however this does not imply that the person is narrow-minded.
Charles Davis Jan 7, 2019:
homo unius libri You could always quote it in Latin :-) The expression comes from St Thomas Aquinas, though the proverb "cave hominem unius libri" (or less grammatically "cave ab homine unius libri") — beware the man of one book — is attributed to Pliny (and sometimes to Cicero), though I don't think either of them actually wrote it.

Beware the man of narrow learning might sometimes work.

John Wesley said he was an "homo unius libri": the Bible.
philgoddard Jan 7, 2019:
I would translate this differently in each of your examples. There is no exact English equivalent that I'm aware of. In some cases, such as your second sentence, a literal translation would work - a one-book person. Is there one particular sentence that you're trying to translate? If so, which one?
Abraal (asker) Jan 7, 2019:
A few examples The idea is to describe a narrow-minded person.

"Una manera de contribuir a la propagación de ideas es que la gente se informe sobre las visiones y concepciones de otros, evitando el vicio de "persona de un solo libro"

"Hay que leerse ese libro y otros más, porque una persona de un solo libro es muy peligrosa."

"Una persona de un solo libro tiene problemas. Lo mismo va a pasar con la gente de una sola cultura"

"Lo que interesa al final es invertir en miedo, no es cultura. Alguien dijo aquello de "teme a la persona de un solo libro", si solo tienes una forma de ver la vida y de pensar, muy malo."

"El perverso se identifica fácilmente porque es una persona de un solo libro (de un solo deseo), ha de ser así y solo así."

"De su Reforma se deriva la libre interpretación de la Sagrada Escritura, son personas de un sólo libro, y como dijo una persona muy importante en Teología:"¡Que peligroso es ser una persona de un sólo libro" Referido a La Sagrada Escritura, que por los Protestantes es interpretada ad líbitun"
philgoddard Jan 7, 2019:
You've given a very helpful explanation of what it means, but do you have a few sentences of text including it? Thanks!

Proposed translations

+2
7 hrs
Selected

someone with a blinkered view

I would say in your context

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Note added at 7 hrs (2019-01-08 01:28:04 GMT)
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A blinkered person is unable or unwilling to understand other people's beliefs, and blinkered opinions or ways of behaving show someone is unable or unwilling to understand other people: He's very blinkered in his outlook.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2019-01-08 01:32:03 GMT)
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A blinkered view, attitude, or approach is narrow and does not take into account other people's opinions. A blinkered person has this kind of attitude. [British, disapproval] They've got a very blinkered view of life.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2019-01-08 01:36:53 GMT)
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have just read through all the jazz and "blinkered" was mentioned (quite rightly) so up to you to decide now

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Note added at 7 hrs (2019-01-08 01:37:31 GMT)
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"blinkered" is just right
Peer comment(s):
agree Susan Andrew
8 hrs
thanks Susan
agree Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
11 hrs
muchas gracias Beatriz
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you :)"
5 mins

armchair expert

"An armchair expert is somebody who speaks with authority on a subject while having little to zero practical experience in the topic at hand."

Perhaps not exactly a 100% translation of the term, but I think it retains enough of the gist of the original to get the meaning across.
Example sentence:

The song is a wee response to all the 'armchair experts' who tell you what you can and can't do,...

Reference:

https://www.pinterest.es/pin/543317142532665598/?lp=true

https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/3273/what-do-you-call-a-person-who-usually-talks-about-a-matter-he-she-doesnt-know-m

Peer comment(s):
neutral philgoddard : I don't think this necessarily covers it - the asker says it can also mean blinkered or bigoted. That's why I've asked for context.
34 mins
More context would be nice, but I think this covers the main idea (an opinionated git)...
neutral Robert Carter : I agree with Phil; I don't think this is what the asker meant.
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

know-it-all / smart alec

other suggestions
Peer comment(s):
neutral Robert Carter : I don't think that's the idea.
2 hrs
or, "a person of limited knowledge" maybe...
Something went wrong...
5 hrs

single-minded person

But this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Prejudiced would be a synonym for bigoted.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Robert Carter : Hi Molly. I'm not sure "single-minded" is the idea here. Prejudiced or bigoted, maybe.
1 hr
You´re right. That´s why I said it isn´t necessarily a bad thing. I guess I didn't need to post that suggestion.
Something went wrong...
+4
6 hrs

a closed-minded person

Definition of closed-minded. chiefly US, disapproving. : not willing to consider different ideas or opinions : having or showing a closed mind He's becoming increasingly closed-minded in his old age.

Source: Merriam-Webster
Peer comment(s):
agree Robert Carter : I'd say this is probably the closest and most broadly-applicable translation proposed so far.
1 hr
Thanks!
agree Susan Andrew : Closed- or narrow-minded
9 hrs
Thanks!
agree Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
12 hrs
Thanks!
agree MollyRose
1 day 18 hrs
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

blunt, single minded

Can't seem to think of an English equivalent, sorry.
Something went wrong...
12 mins

pseudo-expert

No one can really be an expert on anything if they only read what supports them in what may very well be an untenable point of view.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2019-01-08 01:02:42 GMT)
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Or "dictatorial pseudo-expert".
Peer comment(s):
neutral Robert Carter : I don't think that captures the notion.
6 hrs
I tend to agree with you, and thought afterward that it might be better to say "dictatorial pseudo-expert", which is an attitude that I have seen exercised, and to an excessive degree, by some individuals on this very website.
Something went wrong...
21 hrs

person with a one-track mind

Would fit in some of the instances.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Barbara Cochran, MFA : I associate "one-track mind" with individuals who are hell-bent on one course of ACTION, like a greedy capitalist who wants to make all the money she/he can, or a teenage boy, who unless he's smart, wants to get the obvious from willing, or not so, girls.
3 hrs
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+1
22 hrs

Ideologue, doctrinaire (person)

Someone well versed in their own rather rigid view of the world, not disposed to adapt or take on other points of view. We tend to use 'doctrinaire' as an adjective - 'doctrinaire person' - but it can function as a noun on its own.

I actually rather like 'one-book person' and might start using it in English.
Peer comment(s):
agree Michele Fauble
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 day 1 hr

Beware of the individual who gets his knowledge from only one source.

The source being a single book.

See my comments in linguistic discussion regarding this entry.

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Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2019-01-08 20:02:00 GMT)
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I think I should edit this entry and replace "knowledge" with the more generic term "information", since it might be debatable that what she/he is reading is actually "knowledge", as far as people who might disagree with her/him are concerned.
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