In our most recent Youtube video, we break down why, in an age of online censorship, you should consider owning physical literature as opposed to using digital readers like Kindle.
Our aim has always been to spark interest in the classics and challenge our readers to delve into these works by whatever method suits them best. With the rising popularity of audiobooks, digital E-readers like Kindle, and free online PDF’s, more people than ever have accessibility to the Great Books. This is no doubt a positive development; however, here I would like to focus on a topic of growing importance as we continue to progress in our digital age: owning physical copies of great literature. In this video we present 3 reasons why you should own physical books in the digital age.:
For some reas
Adam, I laughed out loud at reason no. 3. In the early 1920s, Double, Page & Company, Inc. published a collection called The Pocket University. Twenty-three small volumes of literature, poetry, American wit & humor, autobiography, etc. Volume XXIII, Guide to Daily Reading, was written by the series’s editors-in-chief, Asa Don Dickinson and Lyman Abbot–two big names in the world of books at the time. (Do you know all this? If so, sorry to prattle on.)
Abbot wrote the first introduction, “Books for Study and Reading,” which begins: “There are three main services which books may render in the home: they may be ornaments, tools, or friends.” Ornaments are fine. As you say they are an extension of your self. Your friends are those you don’t want edited or erased. But you don’t mention tools. Old encyclopedias, dictionaries, language dictionaries, textbooks, cookbooks, books on literal tools, household maintenance, and others. When the lights go out, you’re not going to be watching a YouTube vid on how to patch that leaky roof.
Great point! I did not mention annything about their actual utility. In our original article (published several months ago) I did have the final point as “physical books are not dependent on electricity” though I failed to include this point in the video out of sheer laziness lol.
Regarding the pocket university, I’ve heard of it but have never read it – perhaps this would be a great set to explore next!
As all collections, it has its strengths and weaknesses, mostly attributable to the times, but it’s pretty good. On both my personal blog, and the old books blog, I’ve spent months posting readings from the Daily Readings, day after day. Learned a lot. An added bonus is that the books are small and don’t take up much shelf space!