It’s the technophobes versus the technophiles. At least that’s the knee-jerk assessment of the debate between those who praise the latest e-book portable devices and those who say that nothing tops the printed page. Where do you fall? In many ways it can be seen […]
I think I am rushing out to buy a new book this morning. It’s A Reader on Reading from writer Alberto Manguel, who just might be the most well-read person on the planet. Read more about him here. I’ve previously written (enviously) on this blog […]
From More Intelligent Life, this interesting story takes a quick look at something I’ve always wondered about: What are some of the most popular books at those book stalls outside well-known New York bookstores? Simon Akam writes: “Arriving in New York from Britain to study […]
It practically goes without saying, but throughout history our nation’s presidents have been avid readers. This Washington Post article highlights some of the books that have helped shape presidential viewpoints over the years. From the article, written by Tevi Troy: “In a historical sense, Obama […]
In the past, I’ve blogged about some of the most interesting book stores around the world. Along that same line, this link shows some of the most interesting libraries across the globe. What great environments. This photo is from the Libray Parabola, which is the […]
I just finished reading Jaron Lanier’s wonderful new book titled “You Are Not a Gadget.” In it, one of the topics he discusses is the increasing “mash-up” nature of the new digital age. In particular, he speaks of a not-too-distant future when words could lose […]
From the most recent New York Review of Books comes this wonderful essay on the Future of Publishing: “Though Gutenberg’s invention made possible our modern world with all its wonders and woes, no one, much less Gutenberg himself, could have foreseen that his press would […]
It’s the end of the year and I think it’s time to throw my choice into the “best-of” mix. My choice this year is The Evolution of God by Robert Wright. I wouldn’t necessarily call it the best book of the year, or my favorite. […]
I wanted to like it, but I also love books too much. So when I went into Barnes and Noble lately and saw the Nook, the new digital reader, I have to say that my first impression was good. The design is wonderful: sleek, easy […]
A fun article. In England, a phone booth has found new life as perhaps the world’s smallest library. From the BBC: “Villagers from Westbury-sub-Mendip in Somerset can use the library around the clock, selecting books, DVDs and CDs. Users simply stock it with a book […]