The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Alright I was just wandering around the database and was checking out the book section for a potential new read. I went through a few not really getting very interested in anything. Then I stumbled upon a book that caught my attention a little. Seemed a little out of the normal day to day vampire novel. I got to the end of the short but interesting description and I saw that it was an E-book. Now I'm not one to really be too fussy when it came to a good read and where I read it, but it got me thinking. Where are all the paper books going? Doesn't anyone like that new book smell and enjoy putting them up on shelves where they look nice and you can admire all the stories you have read and have yet to read. Sure these kindles and such are nice if you have a large collection of books but I would really like it if I'm reading a book and my batteries don't die. Anyone else agree? Or disagree? Books or these kindle things??

I would rather hold a stack of papers hard bound or paperback then to utilize a Kindle or iPad or any form of technology that is sterile, antiseptic or soul-less.

The technology today, some may argue, is part of our continued progression of evolution. But technology always has a fault...at least in this present age. You'll experience it when the batteries die down and the nearest charger is out of reach.

Sure...you can have access to literally thousands of books with the technology, and pick and choose at a moments notice when one bores you, and have unlimited choices, just as if you were in a book store or library. The technology allows you to pick and choose at a moments notice.

But there is no life there, no soul, no connection to the meat of the the message. And if an EMP hits, your new toy is toast.
Books have a certain...je ne sais quoi....that distinguishes them from others that are superficially similar.

I have nothing against technology...but I also refuse to become stagnant and soul-less. I would prefer the smell of old pages and an aged old shop over the smell of metallic, lifeless, soulless heat generated by a depleting battery generating low doses of radiation that I really don't need or want.

But everyone has their own personal view and choice. I choose the technology that best suits my own thought of existence.

Oh my gosh, this is an interesting question and I was thinking about something similar the other day. My sister had gotten my mother a Kindle for Christmas and since she lives a while away, guess who got to set it up for my mother? That's right, me. I got to explain everything about it necessary for my mom to operate it. She had me put 47 books on it since there was a deal for crime books that day and 12 romance books. She called me yesterday though, she was so frustrated. She was having so much trouble getting the pages to turn on the gadget. I talked to her today and she got it to work finally after me explaining it a few times yesterday but she said it was like a chore.

I find the Kindles and Ipads too fragile for myself. I'm hard on my notebooks and books alike. =) My daughter is four years old. It's much easier to explain to her not to color on the pages of a book than not to color on her Leapster2. I don't want to know what she would do with a Kindle if we got one.

We've thought about it. But I love the feeling of having a book in front of me too much. I often write notes in them and mark them up like my high school teacher encouraged us to do to get a better understanding of the book. And oh wow, that new book smell... I've gone into the book store just to smell that smell. It's an unmistakable scent that can't really be found anywhere else. However the reasons for the Kindle or Ipad, we don't have much room where we live to store things at the moment. I would rather get a good stock of laundry detergent for a month or two than stock up on books that might take me over a year to read. I always reread my books though. I enjoy them. But having a good bit on a Kindle would be a change that may be good in some instances... my daughter has managed to develop a habit of looking at mommy's and daddy's books and she likes to get stickiness on them or possibly rip a page or two if she's mad. >.<

Think of the clutter one can amass if they're an avid reader! It can end up well over 1,000 books. My mom has over that! She's been donating them to the library and plans on selling them at 12 for $1 at a yard sale.

Oh and one the Kindle store... the books seem to cost a lot less than an actual book, even the paperback version of it.

I don't think books are a thing of the past. There's too many people who have a feel for the book in front of them to unwind from the day. It's just not the same to read it on my mom's kindle or the computer.

Heh, plus I must admit one thing preventing me from saving up to get my boyfriend a Kindle for his birthday from our daughter and me is we're on dial up. 0.o Downloading anything at these speeds takes forever a lot of the time.

I can see both sides. I have more conventional books than I can count- plus hundreds on Kindle. I made the decision to start building via e-book collection after hurricane Katrina. I was lucky to not lose my possessions, but most of my friends here did. I imagined what would hurt to be lost worse- and books were way up on that list. I started collecting electronically at that time, putting more of a value on the words than the medium from which I read them from. Most of my e-books are duplicates of what I have in bound form.

I live in New Orleans, probably always will- I had to think differently about what I owned and how I owned it with the realities here. These days I am trying to limit the books I own or want in the future to classic first editions, if possible. I want a very vintage library. Most books today aren't created with such quality as they were way back, anyway. If it's going to fall apart after a few reads- my digital format trumps it.

I hope you can see how e-books are good choices for some people's circumstances. And even if I didn't live here, I have a dream of RV-ing across the country- I could do so carrying thousands of novels with me if I wanted :)

Kindles are just easier for some people. Take me for example. The nearest big book store that we have is an hour away. So putting books on my kindle saves a 2 hour trip and a TON of gas. Not only that but books on the kindle are usually A LOT cheaper than they would be in store. I love holding an actual book, believe me, but it would cost entirely too much money for me to actually go and get them. It's just not worth it. Even putting them on my kindle has proven to be a ton cheaper than buying online and having it shipped. I also have one of the original kindles. I got it after they'd been out for about 2 or 3 months. It's super easy to navigate. I compared my older version to the new version that a friend of mine got for Christmas and I do have to admit that the newer ones kind of went a bit backward. I don't know what they were thinking. I plan on making my kindle last as long as I can so I don't have to get one of the new ones. It sucks though because I only ever got the very basic black cover for mine and they don't make accessories for it anymore. *sighs*

Oh, and Dire, you don't have to use your computer to download the book. It connects to its own internet as long as it can get a signal and downloads books in less than a minute. You can download them on Amazon if it's easier that way for you but if you wanted to avoid all that you just type it into the book itself. S'why mine has a keypad.

I have the latest Kindle made with the keypad, and for Christmas got the Kindle Fire- they're both great. I want an iPad for different reasons, but I do love that with one I can load the Kindle *and* Nook apps to take advantage of what offered with book (not to mention iBooks with Apple itself).

Most everything I have in e-book format is FREE. If you're one for classic literature, you can own hundreds and hundreds of books on a Kindle and pay nothing. That something you can't really argue with. My son has his own Kindle and he reads more than I do. What he's absorbed at only 12 years old, thanks to free e-books, is something I will never regret.

There's also a Dante E-Book Management program you can download. If you buy books through that sometimes it's cheaper than on all the other e-books but you have to check to make sure for certain ones. It's compatible with all the e-stuff though. You can transfer all of your books to the computer and back again using it and if you were to switch from say a Kindle to a Nook you could transfer all of the books you already had.

I wouldnt want a e-book downloading stuff to a computer or anything... say someone stole your computer or it crashed... then you lost it all. all of the money you spent... harder for people to steal books (like they would really want to) and you cant delete books either. just saying i prefer to have the paper. not to mention it is easier on the eyes.

The books you buy are saved on a database online. You can't lose them. Then there are the smarter people that back everything up on more than one computer or external hard drive.... *shrugs* If I were to break my kindle beyond repair right now and send in for a replacement all the books I have on it would be on the new one.

Also, I forgot to put in.. the e-books don't have backlights. They're also colored like regular books so it looks like you're staring at a screen. You can read it in the middle of the day outside with no problem or glare. If you want to read at night you have to have a book light or just your regular light of course but other than that... Regular book all the way through except that it holds more than one and you click a button to switch pages.

Yeah, it's saved on the server- there's no worry in losing anything if your computer crashed.

I agree, I love books. Having a book is like an accomplishment. You can display it in your library after you have read it. You can wait 5 years and read it again. I don't think I would want to read a book on a screen. I love the smell of new books, its awesome! I just love books, and read all the time.I highly doubt I will ever get a Kindle. Give me a good book any day!

Good discussion from what I have read! Good job on coming up with something to discuss!

Anyways, my thoughts is I would so much rather read a book, in which I think can put on my shelve to either later read again just because I want to. Or to even let someone else enjoy the same story I have. I be damned if I would hand my Kindle to my cousin, because I would never see it again it would be pawned off. At least if she takes a paper back or hard back book of mine, I have a better chance to get it returned. However, I do not no do I ever plan on buying a Kindle, of course that is if books do keep getting printed on paper. If one day which I would not doubt, but if all books went to being only accessible online. Then I will go out and buy a Kindle or such just so I can read. I for one enjoy reading a good book, drinking coffee or some tea in the quite of my bedroom. I do find that it to be ridiculous on how some books now are only available online though.

Wow I had no idea this would turn into such a great discussion. Its seems that most would turn to kindles if they had to but overall you all seem to enjoy turning the pages of a good book. I must agree with you. Nothing compares to that new book smell of course! I am having a harder time purchasing books since my local waldens books closed just a few short months ago. There are a few other small book stores around me but those are closing one by one too. It seems anyone that enjoys books around here either has already switched to a kindle or ipad or is ordering their books online. Its so sad that our beloved books its seems are being obsolete. :( I want my child to read actual books not have there eyes fried by looking at a screen all day. I want them to actually know what a book is when they grow older. Paper cuts while reading is a right of passage!

Heh... I would have to go to McDonalds or somewhere, possibly my mother's if I ever got one to use the internet. My top speed is a whole 26.4 Kbps on most good days. It's great considering there's no other internet offered out here. I would so have wireless if I could. Even the cell phones don't work on our road or the area even though there's four cell towers close by somewhere. LMAO! It's the land that time forgot as my boyfriend says.

And for people interested, I'll post later today sometime from my All You magazine a site where you can actually trade books with people when you're done reading them. It's a great thing to do when you're hard up on money but absolutely love reading! ♥ It's just the cost of sending a book.

But yes, looking at the older design, it looks a lot "tougher" and thicker. I don't want something so small that I can slip it into almost any space. Like I said, I would be afraid of breaking it. It looks fragile to me. I'm such a tomboy when it comes down to it. Haha! I broke my first Gameboy when my mother got me one though and if I could break that... I'm sure I would break a Kindle. Real, paper-filled books for me all the way!

And Imagesinwords, I can see your point completely! I noticed that with my mom's account I set up for her. It's awesome they're there for the owner to get whenever so if the Kindle was stolen or something else happened. I love that aspect of it.

Yea.. My older one is the size of the average paper back. It just barely squeezed into the cargo pocket of my acu pants. Its just a little thicker than the size of a pencil and, yes, A LOT tougher. My cousins have dropped it several times which is why there's a tiny piece missing out of the top right corner but the volume control button for the reader still works. The buttons actually tell you which ones make the pages turn forward or back and which are home and brings up the wireless menu and everything. I lost the guide the second day having it because I moving to a new barracks room at the time. But that one is so easy to navigate that I was able to figure everything out on it by myself. I downloaded a new guide on it later just find out that I already knew all there was to know about the controls just by trial and error. I think the newer versions, just like everything else today, are built just to make people have to buy them again every so often. Nothing lasts very long any more.

Its seems that I won't have a choice of getting the clean fresh pages of a new book on my lap and will have to turn to one of these kindle gadgets. How much does one of these things cost? Am I going to have to save up all my money for the next few months just to put a down payment on one or is it reasonably affordable to the lower middle class citizen. Its seems like it might be a good idea to start looking into purchasing one. Anyone use an Ipad for downloading and reading their books??

The new version without the keypad on the outside of the kindle is only $74. The one with the keypad kind of like mine is about $113 I think. Somewhere around there. So it's really not much considering how much the others go for. And that's just the basic. All it does is download books. It connects to its own internet to the kindle store only to download the stuff you need. It also downloads magazines, newspapers, articles... anything in print really. You can even get how to guides for anything you need, school books and cook books. Check out the amazon site for anything you want. If they don't have it on the Kindle yet there's a link you can click that says "I'd like to read this on the Kindle." It puts it in the system and when it becomes available they send you a notice. Makes it really easy.

Correction.. The basic one with the keypad on the outside is $139. Sorry. I just looked it up.

I would rather have a physical book in my hands to read. I enjoy the new book smell, plus the prices are easier on my pockets compared to the kindle. If i can go to my local used book store and find the book i want to read and can take it back afterwards for trade why would i waste my time with an electronic book? It seems like a bigger hassle than it should plus it makes people to dependent on technology. We have enough technology as it is why not leave some things just the way they are?

MissKitteh: iPad users can download books for iBooks, Kindle, and Nook. I have an iPod touch- which is really just a small iPad. I have all those eBook programs on it. For Kindle at least- you can either buy their device, or load the app on an iPhone, iPod, iPad, Android, Blackberry, OR your desktop all free. Anyone with a computer or smartphone can load it for free, just to check it out (once you load it, check out their free books selection):

Free Kindle Reading Apps

And for those with Library cards- thousands and thousands of libraries across America lend books to your Kindle (and other e-reading devices) for free of course. As mentioned, many live in the boonies. Not everyone has easy transportation. You should be able to read whatever the case, whatever the medium.

*Many of the options I shared are also available with the Barnes and Noble 'Nook'.

I can also go to the local library and find a majority of the books that i want to read anyways and it only costs me nothing to sign up for a library card.

That's something I just addressed in my post.

eBooks are obviously not for everyone. But for those that don't live close to libraries or book stores, and people like me that live in 'hurricane alley' and are trying to build collections easily evacuated with... this is an option that allows us to read just as easily.

I do understand the attachment to bound books- but it is the 'story', the WORDS- that is what counts in a book for me over the avenue in which I am reading it. I don't really think that point is resonating with a lot of people. That's wonderful if you are not in a situation like some of us, but it doesn't mean we don't have valid reasons for reading this way. It's valid enough just to be a person who's trying to be free of too many possessions, end clutter, all that. For me, I have both hundreds of bound books and hundreds of eBooks :)

Exactly. I've got hundreds of actual books. I actually need to build more shelves for them. I didn't have the room for them in my old place but my house has plenty of space. But as I mentioned before and as images just stated, a lot of us don't have the means or time to get to an actual book store and my local library is tiny. It also doesn't have very many books just for reading. It's great for students and doing research for papers but not much else. The kindle is really the only option I have. I would love to curl up with a regular book but my kindle does just as well. Like images said, it's the words that matter. What they're put on doesn't matter as much to me so long as I can still get lost in the story. Most of the books I have I've looked up on the kindle just for giggles. The older ones I bought for $10 or more can be found on the kindle for less than $2. So it's a win/win.

This is an especially hard subject for the older generations to wrap their heads around. Not because they are all technically challenged in some way but because they have either witnessed first hand or remember their parents recalling the tales of mass book burnings brought forth by the Nazi party.
History is full of so many examples that even the downtrodden and uneducated folks of times past where able to understand that the first step to dictatorship is the suppression of information and knowledge.
This has always started in the limiting of access to literature.
There is almost an inbred fear which causes hesitation for some people. I truly believe that given the right amount of time those feelings will pass.

On a side note I found this, their is apparently a growing art form where people take old books and carve them into art sculptures. Have a look for yourself.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7mWg7d/www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/intricate-3d-sculptures-made-vintage-books-guy-laramee.html/

I think there is a place for both. I would think the Kindle's etc. would be really good for someone who had to read a lot of information for classes outside of their textbook, such as some of the classics and the like for literature classes. Can you imagine the difference in price it would be if you could download all your textbooks? They could hardly charge the amounts they charge now.

I am sad to see the demise of places like Borders because of inventions like this even if in the end it might be more economical in some cases. I don't want to see the end of book stores or being able to buy a book in hardcover or softcover. They are more expensive but I know very well that authors cannot make much money selling ebooks. I like the idea of going to book signings and getting a first edition of a new book. I would hate to see an ebook on the New York Times Best Sellers list because if there isn't some balance, it is going to eventually be the ruin of all professions dealing with book publishing in my opinion.

I do have books, However we also need to save trees as well. We're losing entire habitats and as much as some may see the electronics as soulful, these things have helped save the environment from paper waste as well

I can't seem to find the article in my All You magazines. I can't remember if I had seen it in there for sure since I looked page by page or a coupon site that I was on with tips to save money. =)

Swap.com is good for different things but I'm not sure how exactly they work. But there's electronics on there as well as books and what not.

http://bookmooch.com/ is a really good one... you have to trade books because it's on a point system. I've been thinking of using this site for some time but right now, I don't have the money to send out a book or two to get the points to get books. As I'm sure, my daughter will be wanting some too like she should for mommy to read to her and her to identify letters and starting to recognize words. =D

Oh and I can't look it up as it loads horribly for me but for the older models of Kindle, wouldn't they be for sale on Amazon.com or eBay.com? I know a while ago when I was looking there was a good bit of them posted there from people upgrading to the newer models.

And Images, I didn't know about libraries renting Kindle books now. 0.o I'll have to inform my mom about that. She speed reads a lot of the time and actually absorbs the material. She's a-mazing in that! She can go through over 7 books in a week. She's already read, I think seven out of the 47 on her Kindle that I had downloaded her. For someone that is having a hard time managing the Kindle with her carpel (sp?) tunnel (she doesn't have feeling in her most of her fingers), she's managing quite well! I'm proud of her! But are the books usually rented for as long as a regular book?

Oh and I have a question... with a book from the library, how do they know you haven't copied it somewhere else? Does the file "self-delete" after so long, even on a computer hard drive? 0.o

i need books , i love to read and theres so many diffrent kinds of books.

Somehow the rented library eBooks know to self-delete themselves after the allotted time. I have never tried to copy one, but who knows... maybe it's possible. However, they are doing it much like iTunes movie rentals- on iTunes you can download a rental and it deletes within 24 hours or so.

That's neat. I'll look into it. I wouldn't be one to try to copy the books though. Heck, you can always get it again since it's from the library or buy the kindle book or actual book.

I've wondered about if there's a limit to how many Kindles you can have one book you bought on. I haven't had the chance to read the "fine print" on the Kindle store. I was trying to get done downloading. I wonder if there's so many copies allotted for the license or something. I know that some music files won't play unless they have a license. I've had that problem multiple times even with copies I made on my older computer of CDs I had bought.

But I've been known to copy a chapter of a particular book for personal use from my mom's book or a friends'. I've cut up older books that were bedtime stories too for my daughter's room. =) So much cheaper than getting prints or posters and it allows one to recycle a book that has crayon or pen in it in a lot of places.

I bought two of her favorite book for that purpose alone. The pictures in it are gorgeous.

Are there images on the Kindle where there's one in a normal book?

I can't see letting a child play with a Kindle or getting them one until they're responsible. 0.o My daughter has an old cell phone with the battery removed to be like other people but I can't see getting her one until she gets in school and then it will be an emergency one.

That's one thing I didn't notice on the box of the Kindle was an appropriate/suggested age. I may have missed it though.

Yes, there are images in the books- and I have 4 Kindle devices registered to me, and each of them has access to all the books I have purchased.

The appropriate age, I'm not sure- but that could vary based on how you feel your child would manage it.

Give me good old fashioned books anyday. I love old bookstores, and have been known to spend an entire day inside one. If books were to become no more it would be a very sad day for me personaly, and a tragic day for mankind. In my very humble opinion.

I love reading books, will read most anything, from horror, to mysteries, science fiction, history, psychology. I like the feel of a book in my hands, the turning of the pages, all you need to read a book is enough light and you are set. I do not think that I could get used to reading on a kindle or any such device.

I really have nothing against technology because I use it everyday. I'm lost without my cellphone or laptop. But when it comes to books. What if one day there was suddenly no more power in the world. But we destroyed all of our beloved books, and all we had were these kindles with our books on them. All our knowledge stored on these tiny devices and backed up and stored else where. Which out the PRINTED word. We could lose all of the knowledge man has acquired over the many many years. I know its a long shot but anything could happen. If 100 years down the line there were no more hard/soft cover books, just these machines and the world lost all power forever. Then we would lose everything. I think we should find a balance. Everything important should be written down and kept safe somewhere and our novels and stories could be on these devices.

I personally think it's a little bit of a stretch, MissKitteh... only because even if there was a world wide disaster that wiped out power sources and the main sources of fuel, there would always be someplace with books like libraries, people who had stocked them in their personal libraries, colleges, etc. If it did happen, I think books would become a thing of privilege again. Before the printing press really changed things over, books and newsprint were valued greatly. They were costly and a thing that showed a person's social status among their community.

Heh, but needless to say, if the power was gone and there was no gasoline valuable anymore because of financial reasons and whatnot... I would be counting my blessing that I have coal/wood furnace and be burning what I could until my hubs and I could cut enough wood to keep ourselves, my daughter, and probably my family warm. The whole world would change. At that point, if it comes down to my daughter staying warm in winter or keeping my books... goodbye written word.

And we're talking about this on here, there are some places that are still deprived of books on a decent scale. A lot of South American countries and African countries are in need of reading programs. One of the guys I went to school teaches over in Africa. =) I got the addy to send some supplies when I'm able to get the coupons stocked up. But I plan on asking his family (if I can get in touch with them) about what I can send and if I can send some books. But most of the kids only get one pencil, a chalkboard (if they don't have one at home) and one piece of chalk and when it's gone, it's gone. =( I hate thinking about that. They don't have power there. I should look up the article again in the newspaper and put it here. It's an eye opener. Here's the newspaper article:

http://www.timesleaderonline.com/page/content.detail/id/531866/St--C--native-relishes-Peace-Corps-work.html

But losing electronic books isn't that bad of a threat to me because although I love reading... We adapt as humans. If the books were destroyed somehow, we would eventually get used to it and future generations would sadly not know about books existing or it would seem like a fairy tale.

With this question, I like thinking about it because it can hit close to home in places now but not in the sense of them losing the books. It hits because they don't have the option of a Kindle and some have never had a book.

To answer your question from before... You'd probably be able to find an older kindle on ebay or something but I haven't been able to find the older ones on amazon anymore. That's why I'm holding out for as long as I can and being extra careful because I don't like the way the newer ones are set up and I don't trust stuff bought through ebay. I'm paranoid that the product will get to me damaged and I won't get my money back for it.

I agree completely. I buy all my books in book form because I too cherish the different smells, and having the actual book there on my shelves. I don't even have one of those e-readers. Hopefully it won't be necessary to have them later on.

My favorite thing to do since I was a child is to cuddle up by the fireplace with a good book and a cup of hot coco I will not change this for anything.

Me I don't care how I get the material or in what fashion...Call me a nerd if ya want but I just love to read....Any type of book including college and encyclopedias I have read about everything I own at least 5 to 20 times a peice

Got my vote. Paper book psychologically speaking, can penetrate the mind of the reader better then a book reading using a screen. The effect that the light produce in the nerve of the eye, will create a block between your brain and your eye.

I love the bound book as much as anyone and hope we never lose it. I do think that the kindles are nice if you are on the run and can't decide what book to bring or can't bring to many because of space issues, so yeah its nice to have all your books in one place but having both a kindle and bound book by my side might be the way to go. I'm running out of space to put my books even though its hard for me to purchase more.

If I love a book, like Tolkein, a hidden reference to the 1st world war-the Ents were the old West country farmers who were not to be F***ed with once angry...(most people missed that)....It has to be a hard copy.

Every day books, like synthetic life being created by Dr jack newman in CA...thats kindle. Great books are like Ming Vases....quality.

I can see both sides of this... we all use computers so why not have books on one lol but like i said i prefer paper books. Also I wonder how all this crap with SOPA will affect the e-books? If the law passes what will that do to the online books? I personally choose paper books it is simpler!

Yeah books don't die from battery lost on Kindle Iphone or ipod touch. I don't use the E-books at all I still read the old way.

I don't know about SOPA affecting the online bit but the books you already have on your kindle will stay. It doesn't log on to the internet every time just for you to read it.

Loki666: You mentioned something I was thinking about during this whole thread. For every person who thinks eBooks have no place in our world, have no passion, not 'real', and can't stand to read something not held in their hand, everything you are doing on the internet falls in that category. We're all digitally sharing online. It still has soul. We still make meaningful connections. We still get amazing compliments for sharing stories and poetry on blogs and are praised for our 'imagery'- all the while not in bound form. We research here, we hold websites in high esteem, we find what we need. So while I appreciate everyone's desire to not 'lose' books and have them on their shelves (I do)- many of the arguments have no foundation for internet users.

You might prefer to hold an actual book- but a person reading the same book on a Kindle still gets the information, still gets the imagery, still gets the point. The story, the reading is what matters.

For me, I only hold dear vintage books- because I imagine the hands that held them before mine. They have stories beyond their written words. No new book has that for me. So might as well read on my jolly old convenient Kindle that allows me to have a book in seconds without leaving my house.

All that being said, one of my favorite feeling is leaving Barnes and Noble with a bag of awesome books. I love regular books, and I love the electronic version just as much.

imagesinwords I would say I have to agree with you. It is mostly the old books I have that I wouldnt want to get rid of or put on a screen. I also say I have never owned a Kindle so I cant say anything bad. The old saying don't knock it till you try it. lol

Nothing bets a good book. Soft, flexible and you can most likely find one anywhere. There is always one in my back or coat pocket, under my car seat and one even in my toolbox (mini bible). Hand or mail books to my family to share. There is and has always been something personal about a real honest to goodness physical book.

Electric so-called books are nothing but a sign of the times. We'll deal with them but they will never replace a real book. And other than replacing text books for school and college, I see nothing good about them. Granted they can change to large fonts when needed and maybe into different languages as well. But I see them causing more trouble than they're worth. Already we have all seen traditional bookstores closing (both large and small).

Unfortunately however, the books that we do have are not going to last very long either. The paper pulp made for the pages is all going to be history in about a hundred years or so.

If society doesn't get in gear and show an interest in books with value and permanency, we're not going to having much left to pass down. I for one know not to trust in electric books (whatever their name) to keep information. God knows how many times I changed or replaced my computers in the last thirty years.

At less, I still have books older than me. For now.

The number one good thing about an eBook is that it is still a book. Do you read for the sense of touch and smell? Or do you read for the words? What is more important- if it isn't the latter, it kind of seems like bound books are failing the authors in the sense that some people will only give their stories a chance if they also feed other wants.

I love bound books, but will never understand what people find useless about eBooks. I suppose some people felt the same way when cars were invented and owning horses was no longer necessary. "Cars have no soul.". Tell that to the guy today with the '69 Camaro :)

lol i agree with you like i said i prefer paper books but if i ever get the money for a kindle ill try it out just for my own opinion lol until then its paper for me :)

Cars with no souls? Man, someone is dating themselves. I would have went for the cell phone myself. lol

But yes, sounds like people are going for the senses. You can't get that from a piece of metal. Rubber/ plastic coating or not. It's cold.

Clay tablets, and scrolls we still have. Several types of writing in between too. Other than the immediate pleasure of luxury and volume of info, I don't see the point. In time, I don't see them (the electrics) at all.

I'm downloading the free application now, 2 hours and 29 minutes left. =)

I doubt I'll be disappointed. The only thing that could really disappoint me is if the books would not load right and I'm sure they definitely will. I'll be saving the application file to flash drive to hand it over to my boyfriend, fyre, who loves reading different types of books.

I'm sure I'll be borrowing some of my mom's Kindle books soon if all goes well. I'm sure she won't mind.

Images, I'm mostly downloading the app because you are right about it being about the words contained in the book and not the medium it's on. I used to love reading classics but I've gotten out of the habit since my first year in college because of money issues. It seems there's always something else that is more needed than a good book. So downloading free books, even with the wait, would be much better than having nothing at all than books I've read many times over with the exception of a few. It'll be nice to download some books... even if it's one a day for a week or so and then I'll enjoy them while downloading some more.

Now for other reasons, I'll be limiting how much I read. =)

Well in the next 5-10 years we will have lost enough forests to warrant more books being in the electronic format. We simply will not have the paper resources unless we can recycle enough waste paper to meet the demand.

You make a good point. Do you think people won't be able to download certain books because of this whole SOPA thing? That would really suck if you saw a new shiny book online you wanted to download and read and then a message pops up that basically says, "Nope you can't read this! Muwhaha the government is evil and we hate it when people express themselves on the internet!"

I don't think SOPA will interfere with books. These are business transactions- and I think that's different. At least, I think so.

Let's assume for a moment that the government remains the same. That our constitutional rights continue to erode and fall under democratic socialism. What books do you think will become offensive towards the government?

Think.

Many of you remember, through history, of the book burnings in Germany under the Nazi regime. But that was only one moment in history. There was the destruction of the library in Alexandria, the library of Baghdad, the burning of books and burying of scholars under Chinas Qin Dynasty, the destruction of Aztec codices.

The Ray Bradbury novel Fahrenheit 451 is about a fictional future society that has institutionalized book burning. In Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, the euphemistically-called "memory hole" is used to burn any book or written text which is inconvenient to the "regime", and there is mention of "the total destruction of all books published before 1960".

1Chinese philosophy books (by Emperor Qin Shi Huang and anti-Qin rebels)
2 Protagoras's "On the Gods" (by Athenian authorities)
3 Zoroastrian Scriptures (by Alexander the Great)
4 Jewish Holy Books (by the Seleucid monarch Antiochus IV)
5 Aeneid (unsuccessfully ordered by Virgil)
6 Roman history book (by the aediles)
7 Torah scroll (by Roman soldier)
8 Sorcery scrolls (by early converts to Christianity at Ephesus)
9 Rabbi Haninah ben Teradion burned with a Torah scroll (under Hadrian)
10 Burning of the Torah by Apostomus (precise time and circumstances debated)
11 Epicurus's book (in Paphlagonia)
12 Christian books (by Diocletian)
13 Books of Arianism (after Council of Nicaea)
14 Library of Antioch (by Jovian)
15 "Unnaceptable writings" (by Athanasius)
16 The Sibylline Books (various times)
17 Writings of Priscillian
18 Archives of Ctesiphon (during Arab conquest)
19 Repeated destruction of Alexandria libraries
20 Etrusca Disciplina
21 Nestorius' books (by Theodosius II)
22 Qur'anic texts with varying wording (ordered by the 3rd Caliph, Uthman)
23 Competing prayer books (at Toledo)
24 Abelard forced to burn his own book (at Soissons)
25 The writings of Arnold of Brescia (at France and Rome)
26 Nalanda University
27 Samanid Dynasty Library
28 Buddhist writings (in the Maldives)
29 Destruction of Cathar texts (Languedoc region of France)
30 Maimonides' philosophy (at Montpellier)
31 The Talmud (at Paris), first of many such burnings over the next centuries
32 The House of Wisdom library (at Baghdad)
33 Wycliffe's books (at Prague)
34 Codices of the peoples conquered by the Aztecs (by Itzcoatl)
35 Non-Catholic books (by Torquemada)
36 Decameron, Ovid and other "lewd" books (by Savonarola)
37 Arabic and Hebrew books (at Andalucia)
38 Tyndale's New Testament (in England)
39 Angelo Carletti's theological works (by Martin Luther)
40 Servetus's writings (burned with their author at Geneva, and also burned at Vienne)
41 "The Historie of Italie" (In England)
42 Maya sacred books (by Spanish Bishop of Yucatan)
43 "Obscene" Maltese poetry (by the Inquisition)
44 Bernardino de Sahagún's manuscripts on Aztec culture (by Spanish authorities)
45 Luther's Bible translation
46 Uriel da Costa's book (By Jewish community and city authorities in Amsterdam)
47 Marco Antonio de Dominis' writings (in Rome)
48 Books burned by civil, military and ecclesiastical authorities between 1640 and 1660 (in Cromwell's England)
49 Earl of Worcester's library (by New Model Army)
50 Book criticising Puritanism (in Boston)
51 Quaker books (in Boston)
52 Great Fire (London)
53 Hobbes books (at Oxford University)
54 Mythical writings of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (by rabbis)
55 Protestant books and Bibles (by Archbishop of Salzburg)
56 Amalasunta (by Carlo Goldoni)
57 The writings of Johann Christian Edelmann (by Imperial authorities in Frankfurt)
58 Books that offended Qianlong Emperor
59 Anti-Wilhelm Tell tract (at Canton of Uri)
60 Books by Voltaire
61 Vernacular Catholic hymn books (at Mainz)
62 Egyptian archaeological finds (threatened burning by French scholars)
63 "The Burned Book" (by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov)
64 Records of the Goa Inquisition (by Portugese colonial authorities)
65 The Code Napoléon (by German Nationalist students)
66 Early braille books (in Paris)
67 Library of St. Augustine Academy, Philadelphia (by anti-Irish rioters)
68 Chinese literary works (By Anglo-French troops in Beijing)
69 Edmond Potonie's papers (by French Police)
70 "Lewd" books (by Anthony Comstock and the NYSSV)
71 Emily Dickinson's correspondence (on her orders)
72 Ivan Bloch's research on Russian Jews (by Tsarist Russian government)
73 Many books (by Communists in Russia)
74 Leuven University Library (by World War I German Army)
75 Valley of the Squinting Windows (at Delvin, Ireland)
76 George Grosz's cartoons (By court order in Weimar Germany)
77 Irish National Archives (in Civil War)
78 Jewish, anti-Nazi and "degenerate" books (by the Nazis)
79 "Undemocratic, military and Nazi" literature (by the Allies)
80 First Superman comic strips (by creator Joe Shuster)
81 Theodore Dreiser's works (at Warsaw, Indiana)
82 Pompeu Fabra's library (by Spanish troops)
83 Norman Lindsay's artistic work (by anti-pornography US officials)
84 Leuven University Library (by World War II German occupation troops)
85 Chinese libraries (by World War II Japanese troops)
86 Works in the British Museum (by German bomber planes)
87 André Malraux's manuscript (by the Gestapo)
88 Various libraries in Warsaw, Poland (during World War II)
89 Books in the National Library of Serbia (by World War II German bomber planes)
90 Books in German libraries (by World War II Allied bomber planes)
91 Books in Kurdish (in north Iran)
92 Comic book burnings, 1948
93 Books by Shen Congwen (by Chinese booksellers)
94 Judaica collection at Birobidzhan (by Stalin)
95 Communist and "fellow traveller" books (by Senator McCarthy)
96 Wilhelm Reich's publications (by U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
97 Brazil, military coup, 1964
98 Chinese genealogy books (in the Cultural Revolution)
99 Burning of Jaffna library
100 The Satanic Verses (in the United Kingdom)
101 Oriental Institute in Sarajevo (1992)
102 National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992)
103 Abkhazian Research Institute of History, Language and Literature & National Library of Abkhazia (by Georgian troops)
104 The Nasir-i Khusraw Foundation in Kabul (by the Taliban regime)
105 Abu Nuwas poetry (by Egyptian Ministry of Culture)
106 Independent Librarians (in Cuba)
107 Iraq's national library, Baghdad 2003
108 Various books (by the Cuban government)
109 Harry Potter books (in various American cities)
110 Inventory of Prospero's Books (by proprietors Tom Wayne and W.E. Leathem)
111 New Testaments in city of Or Yehuda, Israel
112 Non-approved Bibles, books and music in Canton, North Carolina
113 2010 Florida Qu'ran burning
114 Operation Dark Heart, memoir by Anthony Shaffer (by The United States Pentagon)
115 The burning of the library in the Institute d'Egypt in Cairo


There is a fine line between an individuals right to do as they please under the constitution, between anarchy, and between democratic socialism where anarchy and freedom of speech are both put down by force and mind control.

What? Does mind control seem so far fetched? Yes you have your own mind to think with as you please. But the psychology involved to change ones view is very subtle. It is performed over a period of time...quietly at first, with hardly even a hint of its final intent. The process is carefully planned and has been for over 70 years. 70 years...see how long it has taken. Induce the minds of the grandparents, whose children are raised within a parochial or public social group and indoctrinate them with the ideas of the time, they in turn will raise their children in accordance with what they have learned. And so on and so on. It doesn't work with everyone for there are those minds that refuse the indoctrination and those minds are different...they are a threat...and for the ones that don't slip thorough the system, those that do are treated with drugs and their conditions given politically correct syndrome monikers that many adults and children have placed on them today.

The mind, the spirit, the very soul rebels against what is wrong...and then it is dumbed down by a new drug to "CONTROL" the mind.

But I've started a rant...my apologies.

Books....Secret libraries that you contain the knowledge of a past where once the grass was green and the skies a bluer blue than one can remember.

No matter how you choose to read..what is most important is that the knowledge be retained for future generations. It is very important that you see past the subtle coercion.

The purpose of coercion is to substitute one’s aims to those of the victim. For this reason, many social philosophers have considered coercion as the polar opposite to freedom.



But the subject question was: Books? Who needs them?


"Words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth."


Electronic of Paper: The defense rests. A book by any other name is still as true and as pure as the heart that wrote it.

Good stuff. I thought about this discussion last night and it sparked an interest for a new Member Page regarding the evolution of books. It's a passionate topic and definitely worth talking more about.

Images if you make the page send me a link. would love to see all of this discussed out

I would be interested in reading the article. =)

And I must say, I like the Kindle for Win PC a lot better than my mom's Kindle. Even though it isn't as portable as a Kindle that could fit in my purse, the laptop can go with me some places too. Plus I like the fact I can read at night without worrying about where my daughter placed my book light and without worrying about waking anyone up when I can't sleep.

There can definitely be more positives to this than I thought. Haha! Oh, and even though I'm on dial up, it takes a maximum of 40 minutes but some of the short stories I've downloaded a few of took about 5-10 minutes.

There are also plenty of different FREE books. It's not just classics. I got a fairy tale book for my daughter to enjoy, a few romances for my mother, and also some crime books that seem pretty interesting. It's no other site other than the Kindle Store on Amazon that I've been on. =)

It's not the same as a physical book but I could definitely get used to being able to take the laptop with me to read some. It's a great option for me since the application Images offered above is free and I do not have money to use on books for my shelves. I'm glad I took the time to get the application and download some books. I've been reading Aesop's Fable which I haven't read any since I was in high school.

I hope I can be clear that I still love bound books. It's a dream of mine to have large home with a grand library- but I also come from a very specific perspective. Not only are hurricanes a concern where I live, but in my early adult years I spent 8 years in the Marines, living in the barracks most of that time. I always had way too much stuff. I could tell my roommates were uncomfortable with the books, movies, and music collections I always had- taking up way too much space. I think now about how I can own large libraries of these things digitally, and how convenient it would have been then. I had way too much shipped to Japan when I moved there in the 90s.

I dream of having a main residence that houses my hard copies, and a kick-ass RV that totes my collections electronically so I don't have to miss any of it when I am gone. Today, when I take roadtrips, I always have a world of information with me in my purse. It's unbelievably awesome.

I like both Kindle and the looks/smells of simply having books on my shelf. Book stores are one of my favorite smells in the world.

The kindle at times doesn't work properly for me but then it behaves again and it's fine. I have no issues with a newer technology. I think it's a great idea if we're saving trees or trying to reduce the use of paper products. Not a bad idea for environmentalists.

I think it's a great addition to try and keep folks in the loop with the future growing more towards the use of such gadgets. They can be fun and useful for those boring waiting rooms, since games can be played as well.

I'm neutral, what can i say? :D

i love books esp second hand ones.computer books seem unreall to me.the same goes for online manga.the internet wont be here forever but reall books always will be.if somebdy has kindle and no books oneday when the net is gone they will have no books at all.

I was w/out electric. for a week , thank god for a good old paper book. Candlelight works well.

love books especially if reading a non fiction and can make notes in the books for future reference
if have the money will buy a kindle that way dont have to worry about my purse get to heavy cause of a book in it along with the other stuff have in it already but my preference is books over the kindle

I have actually had a Kindle for 2 years and have never even used it,I thought I would use it a lot but going to bookstore is one of my fav things to do so I guess I will probably always just get books plus I don't like that it is black and white. I had thought of putting magazines on it

If you were without electric for a week- just an FYI, those Kindles (not the Fire version) have a battery that lasts almost a month.

My older version lasts 2 weeks if I remember to turn the wifi off and turn the screen off when I'm not using it. If I leave the wifi on and the screen on all the time it'll still last 4 or 5 days. The batteries are pretty powerful.

TAKE A LOOK AT #2 Now This would be great for a Kindle or any Laptop or Phone or any emergency device. Now this is what would make a Kindle a VALUABLE piece of equipment if and when all Hell breaks loose.




ENERGY



Explore the site and keep the web page on bookmark.


And here's a thought. When the proverbial $#!T hits the fan...and it WILL it's just a case of when and not IF, what books would you wish to preserve? With #2 and a Kindle or other such device you could preserve human history.

So what books would you preserve on the Kindle. They hold what? about 1500 books? More? Educate me. I'm a shooter and looter still at my Uncles beckon call if it's Tango related. The only technology I show devoted deferential honor to is MILTECH.

But Sarah Conner is beginning to convince me otherwise.

While information can be shared more widely via the internet, I personally prefer an old fashion paper book.

Oh yeah...those electronic readers can't do a big coffee table art book any justice!

eBooks don't replace bound books- they just make words easier to own. I'm finding now I am just more selective about what I buy in bound form. No more paperbacks. And just think of it that way... eReaders keep you from having yard sales :P.

A bound book is like a solid home, a paperback is like a deteriorating trailer. Pay less for a Kindle In the long run, and read over and over without having it fall apart.

The latest Kindle that I bought just before I got the Kindle Fire has a 2 month battery life. I just had to go check it out. It goes faster if you are constantly using it, but really- not that fast.

I personally love new books and old books. I love the way they feel and smell and just having the information around. This new nook and kindle bother me greatly because they die, are traceable, and have too many inconveniences than a real book. So in other words books are good and I'll stck with them.

I Love Books. I have over 4 bookcases filled and overflowing with the real thing (Not to mention the boxes full of them lol). Personally I have trouble getting into an e-book but that's just me. It is nice to be able to look up a book online if you don't have it, but Id rather be able to hold it in my hands and read it. It is comforting.

Oh. Just because there was one e-book does not necessarily mean that all paper books are going obsolete! :)
Books (paper books) are stilll circulating just fine. I have a ton of old, second-hand books that wonderful people found the heart to give away. Some books have become collector's items. Like the Sweet Valley series, for example. What happened to them? You can hardly find them in bookstores or second-hand stores.
I prefer the smell and touch of an old, used book to an e-book. I believe books have souls. HOwever, in this time and age, e-books (I am not sure what Kindle is) have taken precedence. With all the gadgets being released, e-books are more accessible and convenient to the users.
That's all there is to this, I guess.
I myself have read many e-books that have been put up in electronic form because the paper books have stopped circulating.

Master DavyD makes a great play here, I love the detail you went to, it is very true. Books and Media, even knowledge is a perceived threat.
Images, bows to your thoughts on a library of the old and unusual, I collect unusual art works, that which invokes thought.
As you say, I lack the means to collect the rare books that I would like to but I have "Great expectations"....
Many old books have hidden meaning, for fear of religious persecution.
A modern book about Arthur, I highly recommend the read. The "Winter King" by Bernard Cornwall who cleverly mixes fiction with fact. As did the mathematical genius Tolkien.

Now this is an interesting discussion :)


I absolutely adore my hard bound and paperback collection of books. I find comfort in being able to take an old friend out for a day or two of memories. But there are many old friends that have passed on due to age or even lost to disasters, think of a house fire and all your library lost, it's heartbreaking. I will continue to purchase my favorite "keepers" in hardback to hold when I need that old friend feeling.

I have had an older model kindle and now have the fire and I love them both. My older one isn't back lit and does have more resemblance to the paper page of a book than the Fire. I do worry about the world's forests and if electronic media can save some of them by moving the less "historic" tales to ebook I'm happy.

I read a lot and take my kindle everywhere as it's easy to transport and has hundreds of stories from romance to mystery to sci fi and this allows me to choose a story to fit my mood no matter where I am or how long I'm going to be waiting.

I've borrowed ebooks from my local library via Internet and so didn't have to make a trip anywhere to have a new read available immediately. You can wait for the "borrow" time to expire or send it back early if you finish in a hurry.

I'd also like to point out that while a hardback book is a wonderful thing, there are some physically unable to hold them to read, while a kindle at it's much lighter weight, lets them enjoy books too. It's the sharing of knowledge and stories that matter the most to me.

These are indeed very valid and very solid thoughts and ideas. There are no Pros or Cons unless of course it's an individuals personal preference as it is relegated to their own quirks.

BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER...Because everyone here can agree upon one VERY IMPORTANT IDEA.

WE all love the written word regardless or method of presentation.

That is the least important of the original thought.

Now indulge my madness for a moment.

I attached a link in one of these posts for ENERGY. Given the new technology that will hit the market...that which is in particular related to long term power use...If you were to have a Kindle or other such device...what books would you store on it for the purpose of retaining knowledge as a piece of Human history.

WHAT IF...the books that shaped human evolution, that sparked human thought and morals and became the pillars of civilization...

WHAT IF these books are BANNED.

Now that might seem impossible...but is it really? We have the Internet...FOR NOW, we have libraries, we have our own personal collections.

Colleges and Universities have their sources...FOR NOW.

WHAT IF...

I'm sure that every past society had their skeptics as well, who assumed that the only way was FORWARD...only to have reality slap them in the face and their history, the words of scholars and the intrepid "Trepidants" of their social structure, become BANNED and or Destroyed by a Totalitarian Regime.

WHAT IF?!

What books would you preserve on your Kindle?
What Tomes of History would you keep hidden for the preservation of the Human Race?

WHAT IF...it was up to you to become a keeper of Human History.

What if it was necessary to rebuild society...

What's on YOUR KINDLE???

I don't do e-books.

I'll take my beautiful looking, lovely smelling, old and fragile books any day.

I just made a journal entry about this, but I will share it here as well. My son who is in the 6th grade, tested at college freshman reading level (I just got the Diagnostic Report today). I home-schooled him for a couple years and he went back to school at the beginning of this year. All his reading was on Kindle. And you know, it definitely served an awesome purpose :) They 'work'.

Honestly? I wouldn't save a darn thing that I couldn't remember for myself. Most histories were passed down by word of mouth for thousands of years. Horribly embellished, yeh, but that's how people got their quality time with their families. They told the "histories" and stories of their people. What we learn now in schools we never use and almost none of us remember unless we're really interested in it. So IF those books were ever banned and it were up to me to preserve human history, we'd be screwed. Sorry. Just being honest. *laughs* Then again, it all depends on who you talk to that says whether or not having that knowledge is really all that important. No matter how much of our history we know it just repeats itself anyway. I don't even get my school books on my Kindle though I could. I buy them through my school bookstore for half off and then sell them back when I'm done. My Kindle is for me and me only.

I LOVE books, but my Kindle is just more convenient.
It holds a lot of books.
It only takes 3 hours to charge, but it has a 2 month battery life.
I like the E ink screen.
I can check out books from the library without leaving my house.
(I can only take the bus half of the way to library and I have to walk the rest. It's a long walk down a busy road that scares me.)
While I do miss paper, I'm not totally deprived from my access to free books.

I prefer books to E-books. My collection is modest but it is mine and I can even read them in the tub.
I prefer antiques and textbooks over nonsense but enjoy a good thriller or Sci Fi.

I need them! I love books! I love the smell of them. I love the feel of them. yes, I still buy books and always will

...you know, before I read through this thread, I'd have argued that an e-book reader wasn't something I'd be interested in.

I've changed my mind though. I think Images got it right - it's the pleasure of reading - the words themselves are what grab me, not the medium they're printed on.

dear sweet kitteh :) lol, I'm so proud of you, amazing topic.

I loathe that books like so many other things are becoming a lost medium. Nothing to me is more impressive to see in a person's home than an actual library, a room devoted to the storage, organization, and study of actual books. Books, real paper and ink has more heart and soul than any electronic device ever will. The very feel of a Kindle or an Ipad to me seems cold and borderline lifeless, plus looking at any screen like the ones on the above items for too long, hurts my eyes, however to deny the convenience of said devices would be foolish. And having books solely for the purpose of collection seems a tad bit pointless.

So for personal comfort, a more personal experience, no fear of malfunction, and the knowledge that it will never need and upgrade power supply or memory, go with a book

For convenience, cost, and the inevitable fall of all mankind ;) lol go with the machines

I use the internet as a quick reference guide but any book that I actually want to enjoy will find it's way into my home and into my hands. I will enjoy it in comfort without causing eye strain by staring at a pulsing screen.

the day there's no power, for whatever reason...

there's no choice, a book.

Bishoptheprophet, you say, Books, real paper and ink has more heart and soul than any electronic device ever will. ---Yet... they are still made on machines, computers, and electronic devices :) If you are really looking for the soul- you need look no further than the words.

We are not buying personally handwritten materials bound in hand-stitched leather at the book stores. If that were the case, I could understand some of the statements here. I can also understand simply preferring to turn manual pages. I don't understand finding no soul where words and stories are still found.

I do not think anyone is 'wrong' for preferring conventional books. However, I do believe it is wrong to think the very same book read on a Kindle would be a lacking experience. I got an iPad 2 a few days ago- and now I am experiencing iBooks...

what a good question

myself i like both , i enjoy a good paper back in the tub or at the beach. and i enjoy e books from books that i have to buy more then 3 times in 2 years

iPads are not cheap. Given the choice between paying insane amounts of money(which I don't have anyway)to read a book via transportable handheld electrical device or paying $2 for a hardcover novel at the Salvation Army thrift store. I will lean toward the thrift store.

No, they aren't cheap. They are not for everyone for a variety of reasons- but I still champion them and argue the point that you can't get the heart of a book via e-reading. Is the 'heart' holding mechanically generated bindings? I challenge this idea that choosing something a different electronic device created has more heart than an e-Reader.

"I like reading the old school way." That's valid.

"You miss the point and don't get the real experience with an e-Reader." That's not valid.

What's a valid point is this: People will never agree on any one thing. People will always have the choice, the option of their fundamental reasoning that is unique to their ones self.

Either medium is a popular avenue to enlightenment, education and mental relaxation. Both arguments are valid given the individuals "taste" and personal philosophical view of how words are transmitted.

What is also a valid point is that both mediums are fallible. Both mediums are susceptible to break downs. Electronic readers can be rendered useless by EMP's and Paper can be burned...both can be banned and outlawed.

It doesn't matter how you prefer to acquire your knowledge bot have their good points. It doesn't matter if one seems more antiseptic and the other more crude, some people enjoy the ability to move between either and both respect and enjoy the accomplishments of both technologies.

Whatever your preference is be advised, they both need to be protected. I brought up a question a few posts back, regarding what books you would consider to preserve if humanity, human kind had to start all over again. Your enjoyment of reading is part of your mental and spiritual growth, your enjoyment of life is the same. If you choose to stunt your growth, and continue to live in denial; placing your faith in government and God, then proceed on as you are. Both of these realities are going to surprise you eventually...if they already haven't.

In Annapolis Naval Academy there is a statue of Tecumseh, a Delaware chief who welcomed William Penn to America. It's funny, although understood, how an American Military Institute could have a statue of a Native American Chief after the history of military battles with the Native Americans. Bit it's called RESPECT & HONOR and that is how the statue is treated and utilized. There is also a quote from Tecumseh that we fashioned our lives by. It not only made sense but is probably the reason why there is such a difference between the Military Services.




"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and Demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and Its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, Even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and Bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and For the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, The fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing, For abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts Are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes They weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again In a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."


The point is this: Live your life in Honor, Pride & Humility, treating all men with respect and never backing down in the face of adversity or at the threat of death...never fear the ultimate and preserve that which is fundamental to your existence: THE WRITTEN WORD.



As Always SEMPER FI:

Images, I didn't say anything about the heart. I prefer books to ereading because I like books, I don't always have access to a computer when I want to read, I can't afford an iPad but even if I could I would enjoy the treasure hunt involved in building my Scarpetta collection via thrift store finds.
In a pinch there are things I can find online when I need them but again I don't always have access to the Internet.

To me this is a matter of comparing apples and oranges.

I know you didn't say that, I was just mentioning it because the prophet dude up there said that.

Oh yeah! He did.
I think anything that keeps people reading is of the utmost importance.

I'm not denying that the soul of any piece of literature is found in its words and perhaps i should have specified a bit more, however, I still find e-readers to be just as i stated before, cold, lifeless, and without soul, So much can be determined about a book just by holding it in your hands or flipping through the pages. The weight of the book, the feel of paper between your fingers, the wear and tear of the cover and bindings, they all tell a story of their own without ever even having to read the story. Simply said, I discredit no author or their words, only the medium that they are presented in.

I have to disagree. While I do enjoy actual books the "soul" of any piece of literature is to be found in the mind of the interpreter or reader not in the medium in which it is read.
This is the same as believing that a Deity lives in a piece of stone.

“Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.”
― Stephen Fry

I am one who learns by doing and experience,but when it comes to books,I can never get enough!! LONG LIVE BOOKS!!!

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