We all want to stop being controlled by our possessions. But as physical books are being ingested by AI and destroyed, owning less could just replace one form of control with another.
In the same way mp3 files got rid of a ton of clutter from all my cassette tapes and CDs, digital copies of books have freed up a lot of space. I don't keep mine stored on the internet, though. Most of them I have downloaded as PDF files that I can either read on my computer screen, or my older model Kindle that is not connected to the internet. Ever.
I know... if the power ever goes out long term, I won't be able to read my ebooks. But under those circumstances, I may not have the leisure of reading much of anything anyway!
I prefer reading real books as my eyes get sore from too much screen time, but after I read a book, unless it's needed as a reference I'll let them go. I do have favorites that I cling to, but may have to give up one day. I buy books to support authors that I feel are exceptional or maybe controversial, on nonfiction topics that intrigue and interest me. I share them with friends and give them away.
I still know people like myself that like to read books but it seems the trend is now disappearing. Young people especially don't see the need for them. Older people, like me, seem to be reading less too, I find. It's disappointing and concerning. Sometimes I think they can't absorb it any more, or maybe just not interested and don't care.
I had a book I bought and always intended to read, about painting portraits. I still wish I had it. But why? If I ever pick up a brush again, I won’t need it.
My mom had a large stack of newspapers she collected in ‘64-‘65 pertaining to the Kennedy assassination.
We had boxes of books. I contacted every library in the area. Eventually the books were taken, but an English friend took the newspapers. Nobody else wanted them. Even American friends.
I was tasked with getting rid of the books my mother kept until she passed. I took the time to send them to new homes rather than trying to just get rid of them.
In some cases, I failed. I still have a bunch of them. What was easy was the fiction stuff. I took them over to a hospice facility. People just sitting around waiting on the inevitable can pass their time in a different place mentally.
I have slowly been getting rid of some of mine. Passing them along to people with a similar interest.
My own personal reading has been e-books. I built up a collection that will last me for years on end. Of course they were not "authorized" copies that you cannot count on being yours forever. Many are books that I have purchased in the past but got tired of lugging around through multiple moves. Especially those that don't stand up to reading multiple times. Few are of that caliber. Project Gutenberg is a good source.
I always look at things this way. If I died, would anyone else in the world decide to keep this thing. The answer is almost always no. Not a thing wrong with letting go of things that serve you no purpose. 3 Great books on your shelf is worth more than 100 that are never read or given any thought of.
In the same way mp3 files got rid of a ton of clutter from all my cassette tapes and CDs, digital copies of books have freed up a lot of space. I don't keep mine stored on the internet, though. Most of them I have downloaded as PDF files that I can either read on my computer screen, or my older model Kindle that is not connected to the internet. Ever.
I know... if the power ever goes out long term, I won't be able to read my ebooks. But under those circumstances, I may not have the leisure of reading much of anything anyway!
I prefer reading real books as my eyes get sore from too much screen time, but after I read a book, unless it's needed as a reference I'll let them go. I do have favorites that I cling to, but may have to give up one day. I buy books to support authors that I feel are exceptional or maybe controversial, on nonfiction topics that intrigue and interest me. I share them with friends and give them away.
I still know people like myself that like to read books but it seems the trend is now disappearing. Young people especially don't see the need for them. Older people, like me, seem to be reading less too, I find. It's disappointing and concerning. Sometimes I think they can't absorb it any more, or maybe just not interested and don't care.
I had a book I bought and always intended to read, about painting portraits. I still wish I had it. But why? If I ever pick up a brush again, I won’t need it.
My mom had a large stack of newspapers she collected in ‘64-‘65 pertaining to the Kennedy assassination.
We had boxes of books. I contacted every library in the area. Eventually the books were taken, but an English friend took the newspapers. Nobody else wanted them. Even American friends.
I was tasked with getting rid of the books my mother kept until she passed. I took the time to send them to new homes rather than trying to just get rid of them.
In some cases, I failed. I still have a bunch of them. What was easy was the fiction stuff. I took them over to a hospice facility. People just sitting around waiting on the inevitable can pass their time in a different place mentally.
I have slowly been getting rid of some of mine. Passing them along to people with a similar interest.
My own personal reading has been e-books. I built up a collection that will last me for years on end. Of course they were not "authorized" copies that you cannot count on being yours forever. Many are books that I have purchased in the past but got tired of lugging around through multiple moves. Especially those that don't stand up to reading multiple times. Few are of that caliber. Project Gutenberg is a good source.
I always look at things this way. If I died, would anyone else in the world decide to keep this thing. The answer is almost always no. Not a thing wrong with letting go of things that serve you no purpose. 3 Great books on your shelf is worth more than 100 that are never read or given any thought of.
It's a hard lesson to learn, though, when it comes to books. We gave hundreds away in one move and still have a long way to go!