"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it"

This quote is implied to be amusing, however it likewise recommends that we must constantly bear in mind our own individual image and the legacy we leave when reading. The author is stating that we ought to select books that enhance our intelligence, knowledge, or social status to the level that if we were to die while reading it, others might think highly of us. Basically, we ought to strive to be well-informed and well-read individuals, participating in literature that broadens our minds and makes us appear more exceptional to others.