How Important Are Books To You? What Purpose Do They Serve? Could You Go Without Them

[tubemonkey]

If ebooks disappeared, I wouldn't go back to paper. I'd switch completely to audiobooks.

[ccowie]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Define book... (yeay, the old argument )

A book for me is a medium on which there is written a story. The paper medium has come and gone for me, however, the electronic medium is something I cannot do without.

A book is a few things for me. I read ebooks almost exclusively now and have for about 8 years. But, I still have a library of books that despite my wife's best efforts, I'll never be able to give up. My favourite place to read my ereader is nestled in a room with wall to wall books. I even go to the library with my ereader, find a comfy chair in a corner, and read.
So, my ereader is my ever-present companion with whatever I may be reading at the time, my old books live with me in my home like old friends and any book can contribute aesthetically to a comfy reading place.

[DiapDealer]

If all books disappeared, I'd probably gouge my own (now useless) eyes out with a grapefruit spoon.

After waiting an sufficient amount of time to make sure books don't suddenly turn up again, of course.

[din155]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

If all books disappeared, I'd probably gouge my own (now useless) eyes out with a grapefruit spoon.

After waiting an sufficient amount of time to make sure books don't suddenly turn up again, of course.

Really?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by din155

Really?

No, not really. But in light of other responses, I felt I might not have been dramatic enough my first time around.

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

No, not really. But in light of other responses, I felt I might not have been dramatic enough my first time around.

Hehe, I just pictured the old Twilight Zone episode where the guys glasses break in the library after the apocalypse.
"It's not fair...there was time now! There was time!"

As far as my own opinion goes, books belong in the bottom of the basic needs triangle along with food, water and shelter. I couldn't go very long without my books before devolving into some sort of feral pseudohuman.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Hehe, I just pictured the old Twilight Zone episode where the guys glasses break in the library after the apocalypse.
"It's not fair...there was time now! There was time!"

Ack

In short: I'd give up TV, movies, internet, music, and books, in that order.

If I can't read anymore, I can just as well not live.

[poohbear_nc]

I was viscerally made aware of the importance of books (and reading) to my existence when I read Richard Powers' "Plowing the Dark" - in one of the plot lines an American teacher is kidnapped and held hostage in Beirut - with NOTHING to read. As the teacher struggled to remember books he had read, and tried to recreate them in his mind to maintain his hold on sanity during his captivity - I realized that I would go completely crazy in a situation where I could not read a book. This would be for me a truly unimaginable, and unsurvivable, experience.

[xg4bx]

I'd go mad without books. If I could only save one material item in the event of fire it would be my ereaders.

[crich70]

I think this old poem expresses a very good answer to the question.

"Who Hath A Book"

by Wilbur D. Nesbit

Who have a book
Hath friends at hand,
And gold and gear
At his command;
And rich estates,
If he but look,
Are held by him
Who hath a book.

Who hath a book
Hath but to read
And he may be
A king, indeed.
His kingdom is
His inglenook-
All this is his
Who hath a book.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Hehe, I just pictured the old Twilight Zone episode where the guys glasses break in the library after the apocalypse.
"It's not fair...there was time now! There was time!"

No sympathy. Where are his spare glasses?

[dreams]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Hehe, I just pictured the old Twilight Zone episode where the guys glasses break in the library after the apocalypse.
"It's not fair...there was time now! There was time!"

I loved that episode!

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

No sympathy. Where are his spare glasses?

At the home that was completely blown way?

Now that I sometimes wear glasses to read, I always remember that episode. So, just in case * *, I always carry a spare pair with me at all times.

[ebusinesstutor]

I enjoy movies and television, but if I had to choose between them and books - books would win for me!

A good movie is great, but I love that anticipatory feeling when I pick up a favourite book to enjoy it again.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ccowie

A book is a few things for me. I read ebooks almost exclusively now and have for about 8 years. But, I still have a library of books that despite my wife's best efforts, I'll never be able to give up. My favourite place to read my ereader is nestled in a room with wall to wall books. I even go to the library with my ereader, find a comfy chair in a corner, and read.
So, my ereader is my ever-present companion with whatever I may be reading at the time, my old books live with me in my home like old friends and any book can contribute aesthetically to a comfy reading place.

Hmm, we bought a new house in 2006 because we didn't have room anymore for more books... And in the new house we want to have a library, with shelves full of books, two hammocks (one "couch" and one standard one), and plenty of places to lay down and relax to read!

But I do read most of my books in bed and the paper medium is annoying then. As it doesn't have a built-in light. So, I prefer to use my digital medium. But, let's say there's such a huge solar flare that all our electronics are fried, yes, I would go back to the clay tablet if I had to (but I doubt they'd publish them on it, especially not the backlog items!).

[Marcus365]

like it or not I'm about to share this poem on other social networks...thanks.