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07-09-2006, 03:30 PM | #1 | |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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Books...Who Reads Books Anymore?
This site has a jillion statistics about the publishing business, some of which I found depressing.
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If you get gratification from reading it's instant, but if the gratification doesn't come till you finish the book, some electronic options might appear more attractive. Yeah, I know....too damn busy. Life can be pretty hectic and it's hard to read when you fall asleep on the first paragraph. But there are a lot of books being published. Especially with the rise of small or self publishers, enabled by electronics. Some of the statistics are dated but interesting anyway.....at least to me.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
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07-09-2006, 03:47 PM | #2 | |
The future is unwritten
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
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Speaking of books;
Everyone knows you're not allowed to have sex standing up because it leads to dancing, right? Here is a free online book, "From Ball Room to Hell", by T. A. Faulkner, "Formerly Proprietor of the Los Angeles Dancing Academy and ex-President of Dancing Masters' Association of the Pacific Coast", Copyright 1892, 40 pages. Quote:
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
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07-09-2006, 04:18 PM | #3 |
Drawn Druid
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Issaquah, WA
Posts: 32
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Yeah it's pretty sad. Nobody at work talks about books, just about movies and TV. (I'm guilty of that too, even tho I do read a lot.)
My partner and I have quite a large library, split into rough thirds by fiction, general non-fiction, and my geek books (computer, math, graphics, etc.) We've actually had a hard time finding decent bookshelves. Nobody seems to sell them anymore. |
07-11-2006, 02:37 PM | #4 | |
Goon Squad Leader
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 27,063
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Dude.
Ballard Bookcase. Practically in your neighborhood. Drive by it twice a day. Check 'em out. Quote:
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Be Just and Fear Not. |
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07-12-2006, 12:19 AM | #5 | |
Drawn Druid
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Issaquah, WA
Posts: 32
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07-09-2006, 05:11 PM | #6 |
Hoodoo Guru
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Mechanicsburg PA
Posts: 296
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I love books and still read them. I also prefer reading the newspaper in paper form rather than on a computer screen. I am currently reading "Rats" by Michael Sullivan who researched the subject of rats particularly in New York City, and wrote abouat them. Interesting stuff.
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07-09-2006, 05:17 PM | #7 |
to live and die in LA
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 2,090
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Explain to me why this is a bad thing. If you look at the quality of most of those books being published, I don't know that we would be better off for having read them.
If I decide to watch something on the History Channel or PBS instead of reading a trash fiction novel, isn't that a better choice? Why is the printed word more sacred than then spoken or visual word?
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to live and die in LA |
07-09-2006, 05:27 PM | #8 |
still says videotape
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
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With your examples, sure. In general, though, books require more interaction than tv, more mental exercise. Of course, many of the folks watching History Channel are the same ones reading real books. I can't have cable in my house, since I'm raising children, so its books for me.
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If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis |
07-09-2006, 05:44 PM | #9 | |
When Do I Get Virtual Unreality?
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Raytown, Missouri
Posts: 12,719
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"To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog |
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07-09-2006, 08:32 PM | #10 | |
(Barbara..smiles)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: From Buffalo NY, now in GA
Posts: 11
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I work in the children's dept. of our public library, and it's SUMMER VACATION. Which means Summer Reading Lists, and there's a ZILLION kids visiting us every single day. Of course, this is good news.....except for those who work in the library and have to lookup, find, and SHELVE all those bloody books!!! Rant over! Thank you....just another month to go. |
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07-11-2006, 11:52 AM | #11 | |
Slattern of the Swail
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 15,654
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I read constantly. I LOVE to read. If reading had been a sport in my high school, I would have lettered. If I could be paid to read-that would be my perfect job. I read classics and crap and the O magazine and National Geographic and the indie paper around here and poetry and...and...
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In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum |
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07-11-2006, 01:59 PM | #12 | |
still says videotape
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
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Quote:
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If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis |
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07-11-2006, 02:09 PM | #13 |
dar512 is now Pete Zicato
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Chicago suburb
Posts: 4,968
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I'm with you Griff. Our girls are now 13 & 14. The only broadcast TV they have ever seen at home were the various Olympics. Otherwise our TV is a monitor for the DVD and VCR. On school nights it's never turned on. Obviously that's just one factor, but both girls do well at school.
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"Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller |
07-10-2006, 01:05 PM | #14 | |
dar512 is now Pete Zicato
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Chicago suburb
Posts: 4,968
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I enjoyed the Jurassic Park movies, but I've also read the books. The images and thoughts in the books become part of me that wouldn't be there if I had not read them. I just finished a collection of writings on software development that gave me a number of thoughts and ideas I would not have gotten had I not taken the trouble. You don't have to read everything that's published, surely. But I think it's awfully limiting to exclude an entire medium. *not seriously - but* The main reason to read books instead of watch TV is that books have no commercials or fund-raisers.
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"Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller |
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07-09-2006, 09:11 PM | #15 |
lobber of scimitars
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phila Burbs
Posts: 20,774
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I would be the one person who still is reading. Given the amount of other stuff I do, my average number of books completed per month is down, but I'm still reading.
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wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis |
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