Comments on: Books as conversation

By: anna

anna — Tue, 23 May 2006 07:48:49 +0000

Its not that books want your undivided attention, its you that get engrossed in it. They binds u to the core and i m a avid book reader. But reading online is not that bad.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 22 May 2006 10:27:14 +0000

I was wondering recently about how tourists are getting their information during their trips. While many still bring guidebooks (lonely Planet, frommers, Footprint etc) for reassurance, there isnt any shared reading anymore. They are seeking day to day information about hostels, hoostels, events online.

If they are skipping on travel books, are they also skipping on shared conversation off-line as well as skipping those parts of the guidebook (country history, language, customs, culture), they that simply dont have to read any more?

By: MikeS

MikeS — Sun, 21 May 2006 15:47:17 +0000

I’m glad to see Ben added his link in an earlier comment. I read that debate as well earlier this week. It is stimulating to read pointed debate without all the ugliness you mentioned in a latter post. I used to be an avid book reader, but I must admit that given the choice, I’m reading more online now. To echo Scott Karp, maybe I’m one of those ADD readers he’r referring to. Hmm.

By: steve baker

steve baker — Sun, 21 May 2006 13:39:41 +0000

Jeff, I’ll certainly want the virtual conversation from India. But I’d like to have some face-to-face encounters there as well.
By the way, I noticed in your first post that you face the prospect of writing a book with a certain dread. I’m betting that your book will be interactive throughout the entire process and will be a revelation for all, including you. One of my frustrations has been that my research has been a bit cloistered. I’m trying to figure out how to remedy that. You’ll have no such troubles.

By: Ben Casnocha

Ben Casnocha — Sat, 20 May 2006 21:31:12 +0000

Jeff — this is a good conversation. Check out a related conversation going on on my blog:

http://ben.casnocha.com/2006/05/the_culture_of_.html

It’s on the culture of indie bookstores. Indie bookstores are dying off — should we fear the “culture” that surrounds them will die off too?

By: James Robertson

James Robertson — Sat, 20 May 2006 19:27:40 +0000

The link back to my full post is:

http://www.cincomsmalltalk.com/blog/blogView?showComments=true&entry=3325577626

Thanks!

By: Clinton

Clinton — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:47:48 +0000

Interesting, that point about “sameness” and “blandness” as deadly to a medium with books about books as an example. This is analagous to buzzmachine’s and almost every news source’s obsession with news sources. It all started with novelty as an aim and its all progressing towards insestuous echoes.

By: Diane Ensey

Diane Ensey — Sat, 20 May 2006 18:19:46 +0000

There is a lot of tripe out there - including the books about the books that are about the Da Vinci code. What really concerns me is that if all the truly good writing goes strictly to technology-based mediums, how will children without access to technology read it?

Our own (American) economically disadvantaged population is the very tip of the iceberg. Many charities send donated books to other countries.

I’m still getting my head around the ramifications of declining books for the disadvantaged. Any input is appreciated!