I’m not a fan of ebooks or streaming services. There are numerous reasons for it, but a big one is how insubstantial media denies ownership.
Some might disavow that notion. Why should someone else own their creations? Well, for one it’s better than books, movies, and music in the hands of corporate greed.
When I pay money for something, I want to own it. I want it to be mine, sitting there on my shelf. Even when the internet is down or a streaming service decides to remove something from their platform.
This isn’t merely for reasons of greed on my own part. Sure, I keep some precious books and I want them on my shelf, not only to read at a later date, but to look at. To pull down and admire, to sample passages.
I want to own them for other reasons as well.
When you have something in your physical hands, a genuine object, it’s more real than a computerized file. It has weight, mass, it stimulates the senses. I can see my collection, hear it, touch it, smell it, and if I really wanted to, I could taste it. The latter hasn’t happened yet.
I’m getting ready for a book club meeting and I’m gathering some titles to give away. That’s part of the beauty of a physical object. You can hand it to someone, can share it.
I’ve always taken great pleasure in giving books away. In some ways I enjoy it as much as reading and collecting. Some think it’s odd, but to me it’s perfectly logical. I love something and I want to share it. I can hand it to a person, an offering of friendship and of hope.
This is my religion and sharing books and movies seems like bringing gifts to the Maji. I’m not so deluded that I think every book will be read, or that every one will be loved or even finished. Most of them go unread. I’ve done the same thing with books given to me. It’s inevitable.
I often miss the target, but once in a while, a great while, I land a bullseye. I’ll give a book to someone, and it will change their life. Those are the times that make it all worthwhile.
You don’t get that with ebooks.
Once upon a message board I was practically hysterical about the idea of books and bookstores becoming obsolete. That thankfully didn’t happen. Many people use both. Kindles are nice for travel or to sample various books with. You can get free ebook usage from the library, which is an unbeatable deal.
Many readers prefer a real book when it comes to their favorites. Some readers share my romantic ideas of books are works of art that should be cherished.
I see a disappointing number of readers on their narcissistic bookstagram platform boasting of how they love to break spines, dog-ear pages, and most horribly, write inside their books. I see it as the same thing as a lout who’d draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa.
Every book I get is like a gift. A gift from the gods of literature. I almost see myself as a caretaker. So many books have come and gone out of my life and that’s how it should be.
It’s why I always choose to have books flatsigned rather than personally inscribed. Sadly, some authors don’t want to give you the choice. It’s become a point of pride for them. I guess they see it as a way to discourage profiting on ebay. Trust me, the vast majority of books sell for considerably less than I pay for them.
Some writers actually act offended if you don't want their book personalized. Deliver us from the offended, please. If they don't like it, take your business elsewhere. Any writer worth reading should be grateful for the sale and will happily grant your wish.
Take the streaming services…please! Renting and buying movies was a much better system. I’ve spoken to so many people who say they get overwhelmed by the sheer number of movies on Netflix or the other services. They can’t choose, and when they do they often second guess themselves and stop the movie and try another.
When we had the physical object, it meant something. We were much more likely to see a movie through to the end, and in many cases, we were rewarded for our patience.
Movies are coming back. Decent DVDs are rapidly disappearing from the thrift stores. And it’s not just nostalgic old timers who want them. The kids are starting to comprehend the value of owning your own piece of magic. The lack of ads is another powerful incentive.
It happened with music and despite some claims that it was a fad, vinyl is still incredibly popular. Compact discs are on their way back.
They are all gifts to us. Artistic creations in physical form. To own, to share, to cherish for a lifetime.
Books are the most precious of them all. Readers have always been a rare breed, and I get along with them better than almost any other group of people. That’s why I love to share the things I’ve spent a lifetime pursuing.
Written by Mark Sieber
Some might disavow that notion. Why should someone else own their creations? Well, for one it’s better than books, movies, and music in the hands of corporate greed.
When I pay money for something, I want to own it. I want it to be mine, sitting there on my shelf. Even when the internet is down or a streaming service decides to remove something from their platform.
This isn’t merely for reasons of greed on my own part. Sure, I keep some precious books and I want them on my shelf, not only to read at a later date, but to look at. To pull down and admire, to sample passages.
I want to own them for other reasons as well.
When you have something in your physical hands, a genuine object, it’s more real than a computerized file. It has weight, mass, it stimulates the senses. I can see my collection, hear it, touch it, smell it, and if I really wanted to, I could taste it. The latter hasn’t happened yet.
I’m getting ready for a book club meeting and I’m gathering some titles to give away. That’s part of the beauty of a physical object. You can hand it to someone, can share it.
I’ve always taken great pleasure in giving books away. In some ways I enjoy it as much as reading and collecting. Some think it’s odd, but to me it’s perfectly logical. I love something and I want to share it. I can hand it to a person, an offering of friendship and of hope.
This is my religion and sharing books and movies seems like bringing gifts to the Maji. I’m not so deluded that I think every book will be read, or that every one will be loved or even finished. Most of them go unread. I’ve done the same thing with books given to me. It’s inevitable.
I often miss the target, but once in a while, a great while, I land a bullseye. I’ll give a book to someone, and it will change their life. Those are the times that make it all worthwhile.
You don’t get that with ebooks.
Once upon a message board I was practically hysterical about the idea of books and bookstores becoming obsolete. That thankfully didn’t happen. Many people use both. Kindles are nice for travel or to sample various books with. You can get free ebook usage from the library, which is an unbeatable deal.
Many readers prefer a real book when it comes to their favorites. Some readers share my romantic ideas of books are works of art that should be cherished.
I see a disappointing number of readers on their narcissistic bookstagram platform boasting of how they love to break spines, dog-ear pages, and most horribly, write inside their books. I see it as the same thing as a lout who’d draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa.
Every book I get is like a gift. A gift from the gods of literature. I almost see myself as a caretaker. So many books have come and gone out of my life and that’s how it should be.
It’s why I always choose to have books flatsigned rather than personally inscribed. Sadly, some authors don’t want to give you the choice. It’s become a point of pride for them. I guess they see it as a way to discourage profiting on ebay. Trust me, the vast majority of books sell for considerably less than I pay for them.
Some writers actually act offended if you don't want their book personalized. Deliver us from the offended, please. If they don't like it, take your business elsewhere. Any writer worth reading should be grateful for the sale and will happily grant your wish.
Take the streaming services…please! Renting and buying movies was a much better system. I’ve spoken to so many people who say they get overwhelmed by the sheer number of movies on Netflix or the other services. They can’t choose, and when they do they often second guess themselves and stop the movie and try another.
When we had the physical object, it meant something. We were much more likely to see a movie through to the end, and in many cases, we were rewarded for our patience.
Movies are coming back. Decent DVDs are rapidly disappearing from the thrift stores. And it’s not just nostalgic old timers who want them. The kids are starting to comprehend the value of owning your own piece of magic. The lack of ads is another powerful incentive.
It happened with music and despite some claims that it was a fad, vinyl is still incredibly popular. Compact discs are on their way back.
They are all gifts to us. Artistic creations in physical form. To own, to share, to cherish for a lifetime.
Books are the most precious of them all. Readers have always been a rare breed, and I get along with them better than almost any other group of people. That’s why I love to share the things I’ve spent a lifetime pursuing.
Written by Mark Sieber
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