The mild anarchy of piles of second-hand books(historytoday.com)
historytoday.com
The mild anarchy of piles of second-hand books
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/out-margins/non-essential-freedoms
70 comments
> the glug of wine into a glass
damn that gave me a cool visual in my mind, as well as a yearning feeling. nice language usage!
damn that gave me a cool visual in my mind, as well as a yearning feeling. nice language usage!
My experience with used book stores lately is the opposite of many other comments here.
It’s hard to find anything that’s not books 2 through the penultimate book of a airport novel trade paperback at my local second-hand book store. There is a bit of a “no one goes there anymore, it’s too crowded” feeling.
Because of how easy it is to look up the going rate for a used book online these days, a lot of books go straight to eBay/Amazon and don’t even make it to the store. Those that make it to the store are set aside to be sold online and don’t make it to the shelves. Those that make it to the shelves are almost immediately bought if there is any interest in them at all before you even make it to the store. The end result is that the books on the shelves are the books no one wants and you probably won’t either.
The same thing has been happening with used video games where the only games on the shelves are old versions of yearly licensed sports games.
It’s hard to find anything that’s not books 2 through the penultimate book of a airport novel trade paperback at my local second-hand book store. There is a bit of a “no one goes there anymore, it’s too crowded” feeling.
Because of how easy it is to look up the going rate for a used book online these days, a lot of books go straight to eBay/Amazon and don’t even make it to the store. Those that make it to the store are set aside to be sold online and don’t make it to the shelves. Those that make it to the shelves are almost immediately bought if there is any interest in them at all before you even make it to the store. The end result is that the books on the shelves are the books no one wants and you probably won’t either.
The same thing has been happening with used video games where the only games on the shelves are old versions of yearly licensed sports games.
> It’s hard to find anything that’s not books 2 through the penultimate book of a airport novel trade paperback at my local second-hand book store. There is a bit of a “no one goes there anymore, it’s too crowded” feeling.
To be entirely fair, that has been my experience at typical new book stores, too. I don't know how many times I've gone into a B&N or Borders to find books 2, 3, 5, and 8 of some series.
To be entirely fair, that has been my experience at typical new book stores, too. I don't know how many times I've gone into a B&N or Borders to find books 2, 3, 5, and 8 of some series.
I find browsing used-bookstores tranquil and comforting. I've spent far too long in my life craning my neck looking at books in the quiet maze of these stores.
Incidentally, as someone who tends to move around a lot, this has also been a burden. Once I've bought a second-hand book and spent hours reading it, I find it very difficult to abandon it (especially if I enjoyed it). So whenever I move from a city, I inevitably spend a small fortune on funnelling them back to my Ma's house.
When I finally buy a place I plan to gather them all and have my own little library of used books, from all round the world.
Incidentally, as someone who tends to move around a lot, this has also been a burden. Once I've bought a second-hand book and spent hours reading it, I find it very difficult to abandon it (especially if I enjoyed it). So whenever I move from a city, I inevitably spend a small fortune on funnelling them back to my Ma's house.
When I finally buy a place I plan to gather them all and have my own little library of used books, from all round the world.
I once bought a used book, in as-new condition. When I came home I found an inscription in it. From the text I could tell it was a graduation gift. Through some clues in the well-wishing inscription, and some detective work on Google, I found that the gift-givers were Anni-Frid Lyngstad and her late husband, prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss. Anni-Frid was one of the singers in ABBA. That made the book more than worth it's price to me.
Is one of the singers in ABBA.
I'm always torn on inscriptions. Interesting when quite old and both giver and recipient have long since departed, but a bit weird when a book was gifted only recently. As the proud owner of a two year old kid, thrift stores and second hand book stores are a great source for children's books, but reading a lovely written inscription from a loving aunt in a good children's book only a few years old feels awkward.
Personally, I'm of the no-inscription school of gift-giving. Add a note or letter, sure, but leave the book clean. A book that gets re-gifted, loaned, inherited, sold, and endlessly re-read is doing its job well, so don't burden the recipient with an inscription that may form a barrier to doing so.
I'm always torn on inscriptions. Interesting when quite old and both giver and recipient have long since departed, but a bit weird when a book was gifted only recently. As the proud owner of a two year old kid, thrift stores and second hand book stores are a great source for children's books, but reading a lovely written inscription from a loving aunt in a good children's book only a few years old feels awkward.
Personally, I'm of the no-inscription school of gift-giving. Add a note or letter, sure, but leave the book clean. A book that gets re-gifted, loaned, inherited, sold, and endlessly re-read is doing its job well, so don't burden the recipient with an inscription that may form a barrier to doing so.
I find reading the inscriptions fascinating.
I once found a children's book here, for 2-5 year olds, in Finland which was bought from a school library.
The library? In New Zealand.
How did it travel all that distance? No idea, but it's fascinating to think about.
I once found a children's book here, for 2-5 year olds, in Finland which was bought from a school library.
The library? In New Zealand.
How did it travel all that distance? No idea, but it's fascinating to think about.
True. Except ABBA is no more. I don't know whether that matters?
Abba never officially ended - and indeed they are actively working on a new tour at the moment
Especially with the boost to their popularity that Dave Grohl just gave to them, it's a good time to strike.
I enjoy used bookstores, too. But they do curate what they choose to stock. I like to troll the book sections in thrift stores. I'm sure they separate out ones that have collector value, but the rest just get dumped on the shelves. Best of all, if one or three turn out to be duds, there's no onerous investment in them. Just donate them back!
I also love searching for books in thrift stores, so much cheaper, and sometimes there are treasures like autographed first editions of Tom Clancy or Oliver Sacks books (which I flipped on eBay for >$100, ka-ching!)
Sometimes I'll also go to the thrift stores, buy some books in good condition that I think will be resellable (usually nonfiction) and sell them to the used bookstore for credit to spend on their better (but pricier) selection.
Sometimes I'll also go to the thrift stores, buy some books in good condition that I think will be resellable (usually nonfiction) and sell them to the used bookstore for credit to spend on their better (but pricier) selection.
I'm pretty sure that if I found a book I'd just bought was an autographed first edition, I'd keep it unless I had cashflow problems: unless there's some sort of temporary fad going on, its present value is a pretty good predictor of its future value, and if you've bought the thing expecting to enjoy reading it then it doesn't become a less enjoyable read just because it's also valuable. (I guess you might want to be more careful about how you read it.)
But I don't know much about how prices of these things behave. Maybe you expect that by the time you might be wanting to sell, those authors will have been forgotten and the books won't have any special monetary value any more?
But I don't know much about how prices of these things behave. Maybe you expect that by the time you might be wanting to sell, those authors will have been forgotten and the books won't have any special monetary value any more?
Oh yeah, I keep too much already. I buy some for the sole purpose of flipping. You just wouldn't find such treasures in a used bookstore for so cheap.
Over here the thrift / secondhand stores are usually charities, so it's kinda expected the employees are volunteered or low paid.
I'm confident that since they work there, they get first pickings of anything of value - jewelry, rare albums/books, collectibles - before it ends up for sale. I can't begrudge them that, they offer a valuable service and all, but at the same time I'm jealous of others who find great stuff at thrift stores.
I'm confident that since they work there, they get first pickings of anything of value - jewelry, rare albums/books, collectibles - before it ends up for sale. I can't begrudge them that, they offer a valuable service and all, but at the same time I'm jealous of others who find great stuff at thrift stores.
The better used books are sold by the thrift stores on Amazon. It's pretty obvious they pull those out before they reach the shelves. It only makes sense.
Of course, they overlook some good stuff and it winds up on the shelves, too.
I don't begrudge the staff from picking out what they want.
I also know that quite a bit of the donations are simply sent straight to the dump.
Of course, they overlook some good stuff and it winds up on the shelves, too.
I don't begrudge the staff from picking out what they want.
I also know that quite a bit of the donations are simply sent straight to the dump.
I miss my old used bookstores. I had one I went to since I was twelve. The owner's husband was moving to the U.A.E. and she sold it, without telling anyone, apparently, but me. I bought the last book she sold.
The new owners tried to make it into a Christian thing but didn't understand the nuances of the used book industry the way she did, and so it folded after some time.
Meanwhile, I have thousands of used books and I have no idea what to do with them. Old programming books -- what to do with those? Are they worth anything to anyone now? Fiction I can understand, but these seemed to have aged out. I think I have books on Java old enough to drive.
The new owners tried to make it into a Christian thing but didn't understand the nuances of the used book industry the way she did, and so it folded after some time.
Meanwhile, I have thousands of used books and I have no idea what to do with them. Old programming books -- what to do with those? Are they worth anything to anyone now? Fiction I can understand, but these seemed to have aged out. I think I have books on Java old enough to drive.
>Meanwhile, I have thousands of used books and I have no idea what to do with them. Old programming books -- what to do with those? Are they worth anything to anyone now?
Mot really. Maybe some old programming, guide books, etc. are vaguely interesting for someone to flip through if they're old enough but, for the most part, no. And anyone you donate them to will just throw them out. No one wants my 1970s Encyclopedia Brittanica out in the garage either.
As an individual who doesn't want to maybe earn minimum wage or less selling them, the only real answer is donate your books in general. Understand that those that don't get sold at the library book sale or whatever will probably end up in recycling.
Mot really. Maybe some old programming, guide books, etc. are vaguely interesting for someone to flip through if they're old enough but, for the most part, no. And anyone you donate them to will just throw them out. No one wants my 1970s Encyclopedia Brittanica out in the garage either.
As an individual who doesn't want to maybe earn minimum wage or less selling them, the only real answer is donate your books in general. Understand that those that don't get sold at the library book sale or whatever will probably end up in recycling.
Oh yeah. Part of the pain is that I used to work for a library (though not as a librarian) and am therefore familiar with the well-intentioned donation concept.
Yeah. There are a ton of things where "surely someone somewhere would want this and might even pay a nominal sum for it" is probably true. But spending a couple days setting up a yard sale, arranging things on Craigslist (much less individually packaging up and selling items online), etc. just isn't worth it.
It's a tough problem if you aren't just mass-dumping. Better World Books just doesn't need that many copies of a particular biography.
Old programming books really depend on the book: “Sam’s teach yourself Java in 24 hours”? Or “Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs”?
> But there are books you don’t know you want and you won’t know you want them until they’re standing on a shelf in front of you.
This is why I love the libraries and old book shops. There's a lot of value in the serendipity of browsing, since you can discover related monographs that one's search queries somehow missed. Also it's great for inspiration: you see unconnected things which might spark new ideas or interests.
> It feels increasingly difficult to access forms of historical material which haven’t been diligently curated for your good, filtered into bland homogeneity to suit some corporation’s agenda.
It's good to escape that algorithmic curation of one's interests.
This is why I love the libraries and old book shops. There's a lot of value in the serendipity of browsing, since you can discover related monographs that one's search queries somehow missed. Also it's great for inspiration: you see unconnected things which might spark new ideas or interests.
> It feels increasingly difficult to access forms of historical material which haven’t been diligently curated for your good, filtered into bland homogeneity to suit some corporation’s agenda.
It's good to escape that algorithmic curation of one's interests.
I'll go further, browsing draws you into the here and now.
I think I'm beginning to see a change in the way I function now as compared with two decades ago.
Before internet browsing allowed me to sit and decide "Where do I want to go today", I did physically have to go somewhere.
I have not studied it enough to figure out exactly what I've lost or the causes but I definitely feel that I have begun to live more in my head and less in the moment. Certain things though like browsing used book stores remind me of a positive thing that I used to do....
I think I'm beginning to see a change in the way I function now as compared with two decades ago.
Before internet browsing allowed me to sit and decide "Where do I want to go today", I did physically have to go somewhere.
I have not studied it enough to figure out exactly what I've lost or the causes but I definitely feel that I have begun to live more in my head and less in the moment. Certain things though like browsing used book stores remind me of a positive thing that I used to do....
Absolutely. I love browsing university libraries specifically for this reason. Find where they shelve books on a topic I'm interested in and just browse what's around it. See the different types of books available, the different ways people have interpreted or written about a thing.
I read/listen to lots of nonfiction books(30 so far this year) and the only benefit of buying books instead of using a Library is being able to write notes in them.
With digital copies I'll screenshot a page.
Not sure what is better, both seem to have their problems. Underlining requires flipping through every page. Screenshotting gives you more and less information than you need.
But library digital books are free and don't require transportation to obtain.
As a side note, read science, history and philosophy books. It's mind boggling how much better these books are than social media. If a book sucks, move onto the next one(or tell yourself you will read it later).
With digital copies I'll screenshot a page.
Not sure what is better, both seem to have their problems. Underlining requires flipping through every page. Screenshotting gives you more and less information than you need.
But library digital books are free and don't require transportation to obtain.
As a side note, read science, history and philosophy books. It's mind boggling how much better these books are than social media. If a book sucks, move onto the next one(or tell yourself you will read it later).
To me, the main benefit of buying books is that I can keep them for reference, I often use technical books for years. Old books also have a sentimental value for me and I'm having a hard time getting rid of them.
BTW, I would never write anything in a book. I wonder if I'm the only one.
BTW, I would never write anything in a book. I wonder if I'm the only one.
I rarely write in a book besides my name in pencil in the front. But when I see an error that I can't ignore, I'll make a copyediting mark or note in the margin so I can move on. Very occasionally I'll get a book that I need to argue with, and then the margins get filled, sorry to anyone who eventually finds these.
I think my reluctance is mostly about keeping a book in the state I got it, since I do frequently mark up interesting sections of PDFs in my e-reader.
I think my reluctance is mostly about keeping a book in the state I got it, since I do frequently mark up interesting sections of PDFs in my e-reader.
It varies. I grew up not writing in books, because until high school most of the books I handled were either school books, mine to use for the school year, or library books. That was a while ago. These days, I have no scruples, but I tend to write only in work that requires some concentration, mostly philosophy. I read a fair bit of history and fiction, but don't tend to write in them.
> BTW, I would never write anything in a book. I wonder if I'm the only one.
You're not. I don't consider myself the final owner of the things I possess.
You're not. I don't consider myself the final owner of the things I possess.
I like seeing little notes from prior readers. References to other works, question marks, and angry exclamation points are all fun to see.
Underlining or highlighting can be interesting to see what the other reader thought was important. Highlighters can be distracting when they overdo it, but even then it can be fun to see where the highlighting tapers off were the prior reader just gave up.
But dog ears or times when someone folded a whole page in half is just painful.
Underlining or highlighting can be interesting to see what the other reader thought was important. Highlighters can be distracting when they overdo it, but even then it can be fun to see where the highlighting tapers off were the prior reader just gave up.
But dog ears or times when someone folded a whole page in half is just painful.
I don't imagine myself to be the final owner of the things, but I am definitely the current user--and chances are the future user, and writing in the book makes the use better. Somebody may wear some of my clothes someday. Does that mean I can't have them altered for better fit?
I've found that second-hand bookstores are good for figuring out which books people treasure the most. Pick an author, scan that author's bibliography, and visit second-hand bookstores.
The works you can't find? Those are the ones people treasure.
Or, at least, the ones people won't part with for some reason.
The works you can't find? Those are the ones people treasure.
Or, at least, the ones people won't part with for some reason.
> The works you can't find? Those are the ones people treasure.
I would say that you're mostly right, but it depends on the size and number of the print runs. If something's deemed a "classic" (frequently reprinted), or if it was a modern bestseller (mass printing), you'll find multiple copies and versions regardless of whether people treasure the book.
Despite being treasured by many people, there are tons of copies of "The Hobbit" in second-hand bookshops. 100 million copies sold will do that! [0] Yet there aren't many copies of "Tree and Leaf", and as you suggest, it's usually treasured thus not easily found. It was a special delight when I found a copy while browsing, as I'd never seen it before and haven't since, and I'm certainly not giving up my copy.
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books
I would say that you're mostly right, but it depends on the size and number of the print runs. If something's deemed a "classic" (frequently reprinted), or if it was a modern bestseller (mass printing), you'll find multiple copies and versions regardless of whether people treasure the book.
Despite being treasured by many people, there are tons of copies of "The Hobbit" in second-hand bookshops. 100 million copies sold will do that! [0] Yet there aren't many copies of "Tree and Leaf", and as you suggest, it's usually treasured thus not easily found. It was a special delight when I found a copy while browsing, as I'd never seen it before and haven't since, and I'm certainly not giving up my copy.
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books
Availability can absolutely be highly contextual.
Frank Herbert's Dune, for example, has been difficult to find in second-hand bookshops (even the old mass market paperback) because there is (and has been for some time... thanks COVID) a film adaption by a prominent director (Denis Villeneuve) on the cusp of release.
Frank Herbert's Dune, for example, has been difficult to find in second-hand bookshops (even the old mass market paperback) because there is (and has been for some time... thanks COVID) a film adaption by a prominent director (Denis Villeneuve) on the cusp of release.
The best used book stores are the ones that build their stock by buying the libraries of retired/deceased scholars. The few that I used to know went out of business, so I don't know what happens to good collections now.
Well, or their heirs don't treasure. I've found some fairly remarkable stuff in used bookstores.
I passed an old UK telephone box (one with full transparant sides - not the red ones) full of (presumably) 2nd hand books.
Someone had put shelves in the telephone box and it has a small plastic curtain to protect the books from the rain
It's still there since I first saw it over 18months ago, so I'm assuming the kids have not found a creative way of using the books for other purposes or may be they use it
Someone had put shelves in the telephone box and it has a small plastic curtain to protect the books from the rain
It's still there since I first saw it over 18months ago, so I'm assuming the kids have not found a creative way of using the books for other purposes or may be they use it
We have this in The Netherlands in a lot of cities, where people have made wooden boxes, phone boots, and other places outside, filled with 2nd-hand books. You can freely take them, but the unwritten rule is you put another book back in return.
There are sites where you can become member, and see locations on a map: https://minibieb.nl/minibieb/buiten-boekenkast/
There are sites where you can become member, and see locations on a map: https://minibieb.nl/minibieb/buiten-boekenkast/
It's a little free library! They are pretty common around the world these days.
In Spain too, at least in Salamanca. But Salamanca has been a University city since the Middle Ages, so something like that has always been a logical thing (thousands of people do an Arts/Humanities Bachelor Degree in Salamanca). You know, historians and such.
I like all print books, but especially used ones for their texture, smell, and other intangible factors like holding a piece of history. Whenever I travel I make it a point to also stop by a used bookstore to pick something up. I try to avoid ebooks when possible, but sometimes things like technical manuals are easier to digest/search/etc electronically.
In addition to second-hand book shops I enjoy visiting book villages like Hay-on-Wye: http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk
Are there many other "book villages" out there?
There's also Wigtown in Dumfriesshire:
https://www.wigtownbookfestival.com/visit/bookshops
https://www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk/bookshops/
It's about the same size as Hay-on-Wye.
https://www.wigtownbookfestival.com/visit/bookshops
https://www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk/bookshops/
It's about the same size as Hay-on-Wye.
The chap who runs the biggest bookshop in Wigtown is a funny character who's written a hugely enjoyable book called "The Diary of a Bookseller" about the ins and outs of running such a book shop. A way to get rich it is not.
If you weren't aware there is a sequel too:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/303571-the-diary-of-a-books...
https://www.goodreads.com/series/303571-the-diary-of-a-books...
:
2) Write book about losing money running a book shop.
3) Profit!
2) Write book about losing money running a book shop.
3) Profit!
I don't know about that, because if there's famously one profession that makes even less than running a book shop.. :-)
Touché.
Cheers for the recommendation.
There's Archer City, Texas. The late Larry McMurtry moved his used book operation there from the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, ago. I don't know what its long-term future is, now that McMurtry's gone, but the website says that it's still operating: https://www.bookedupac.com/.
I think Hay is the most famous in the UK, but there are others such as Sedbergh.
For a digital equivalent, I quite like openlibrary.org It's got a similarly chaotic vibe (partly because they've not totally normalized their metadata yet) and lots of obscure stuff.
One particularly weird benefit is searching for your fave author and finding some PhD or other obscure fan produced work about the author (and/or their works) that would never make it into an actual bookshop, even a digital one.
They have some digital experiments to recreate the browsing a library feeling too (similar to the rash of Mac book cataloging apps that appeared on the Mac way back and may have kicked off the most recent revival of the skeumorphic design trend.)
One particularly weird benefit is searching for your fave author and finding some PhD or other obscure fan produced work about the author (and/or their works) that would never make it into an actual bookshop, even a digital one.
They have some digital experiments to recreate the browsing a library feeling too (similar to the rash of Mac book cataloging apps that appeared on the Mac way back and may have kicked off the most recent revival of the skeumorphic design trend.)
On second hand books, the Fabled Land gamebooks are almost a solo RPG/analogic RPG video game which can be played with no power :).
Also, a lot of the older books on technical terms are far better because the skills on similar education levels were far higher back in the day. For example, today's Electrical Engineering books from the first year in College were on par on senior HS years.
Also, a lot of the older books on technical terms are far better because the skills on similar education levels were far higher back in the day. For example, today's Electrical Engineering books from the first year in College were on par on senior HS years.
Really interesting article. I'm quite convinced that digging through a heap structure is an excellent way to discover 'new' or 'unexpected' knowledge for oneself.
I can see from at least one comment that there is some disagreement, but I've been frustrated for years that as the internet has evolved into its modern form, the 'heap-like' structure of Usenet/gopher directory/irc server LIST command has been mostly lost/deprecated.
I can see from at least one comment that there is some disagreement, but I've been frustrated for years that as the internet has evolved into its modern form, the 'heap-like' structure of Usenet/gopher directory/irc server LIST command has been mostly lost/deprecated.
Are there any left? The last one I knew of on the SF peninsula was on Castro St. in Mountain View, and they moved to Gilroy or something. I still had about $70 of credit with them.
I live in Gilroy. They're still here, thankfully. I feel pretty lucky to have them nearby.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/bookbuyers-gilroy
https://www.yelp.com/biz/bookbuyers-gilroy
If you want random book suggestions online: https://recommendmeabook.com/
Or you can just search a few random words on Google/Amazon/whatever, then pick a random title.
The article's other point seems to be that modern literature is too curated and bland. I don't know if the author's joking or if they're just not very well-read.
Or you can just search a few random words on Google/Amazon/whatever, then pick a random title.
The article's other point seems to be that modern literature is too curated and bland. I don't know if the author's joking or if they're just not very well-read.
I've heard others mention that modern literature is too curated. I am also confused when I hear it. We are living in the age of digital books, digital reviews, and self publishing. There is more choice than ever and it's easier to be informed than ever. Anyone complaining about bland books needs to spend an extra 30 minutes on duck duck go and try something new
I haven't read a new fiction-based novel in ages. Does anyone know if smartphone texting and usage encroaches the storyline like it does with modern tv shows?
Seems like there's a ton of stuff out there, so it's kinda whatever you want.
No need to read just new-publications, though. If you want to read Greek mythology, Euclid's "Elements", biblical texts, or whatever, it's out there.
No need to read just new-publications, though. If you want to read Greek mythology, Euclid's "Elements", biblical texts, or whatever, it's out there.
Yeah I have a lot of older books, but was specifically asking about modern novels and if texting/smartphones were written into the plots like all modern tv shows
Seems like you should be able to find just about anything. There're a lot of books out there.
Are you looking for a narrative set in modern-day America, but in an alternative timeline in which texting/smartphones weren't a thing?
Are you looking for a narrative set in modern-day America, but in an alternative timeline in which texting/smartphones weren't a thing?
I am not seeking a particular storyline but rather was addressing the question of whether smartphones have factored into the storylines of modern novels as they have in modern tv shows. Apologies if the question wasn't clear.
Everything's good!
I guess my main thought would be that narratives are written by many different authors, using different styles, telling different stories. So I'd imagine that there's stuff all over the place -- including narratives that heavily focus on text-messaging and others that don't mention it.
Incidentally, if you're finding some of the slice-of-life narratives a bit boring, @deregulateMed [brought up a great point](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27904980):
> As a side note, read science, history and philosophy books. It's mind boggling how much better these books are than social media. If a book sucks, move onto the next one(or tell yourself you will read it later).
I mean, I'm not 100% sure why you're asking about smartphones/texting, but if I had to speculate, you might find some of the stuff on TV a tad boring? If so, you'd be in good company!
As the above comment described, non-fiction tends to be far-superior for intensive consumption (while some light-hearted fictions, especially web-comics, can be neat compliments on the side -- xkcd and SMBC being obligatory examples).
If you do take to consuming fiction, the most interesting stuff would seem to be things that can be viewed from different angles. For example, the concept of "demiurge" has been commented on many times, from ancient philosophy/religion to modern variants, in manga/anime, serial-fictions, discussed in philosophy forums, occult texts, etc. -- so if you explore that, then it's not really just some simplistic linear narrative, but rather can be an exploration through many different lenses in many different media, adding depth not found on TV or in books.
Broadly, a lot of existential-ist conception can be a basis for such explorations. Like Heaven/Hell -- there a lot of kids might start with the Bible, then expand to other biblical texts (as a starting place: [Biblical Hermeneutics](https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/)), Dante's "Inferno"/"Purgatorio"/"Paradiso", the take from "Paradise Lost", and a whole slew of modern stuff all over religion, philosophy, books, comics, video-games (seriously -- some video-games have neat lore systems!), and more.
In such explorations, Wikipedia and search-engines (like Google) can be great because they help call attention to connections to explore. Because it's these connections to look at things from multiple dimensions that can add depth, beyond just the perspective of a single source.
Anyway, long rant short, my point's that if you're bored, then perhaps time to stop reading old-fashion fictional books in favor of some more interesting stuff. 'cause common narratives really are pretty dull.
(Alternatively, if you like old-fashion fictional books but just didn't like smartphones, sorry for the rant. =P)
I guess my main thought would be that narratives are written by many different authors, using different styles, telling different stories. So I'd imagine that there's stuff all over the place -- including narratives that heavily focus on text-messaging and others that don't mention it.
Incidentally, if you're finding some of the slice-of-life narratives a bit boring, @deregulateMed [brought up a great point](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27904980):
> As a side note, read science, history and philosophy books. It's mind boggling how much better these books are than social media. If a book sucks, move onto the next one(or tell yourself you will read it later).
I mean, I'm not 100% sure why you're asking about smartphones/texting, but if I had to speculate, you might find some of the stuff on TV a tad boring? If so, you'd be in good company!
As the above comment described, non-fiction tends to be far-superior for intensive consumption (while some light-hearted fictions, especially web-comics, can be neat compliments on the side -- xkcd and SMBC being obligatory examples).
If you do take to consuming fiction, the most interesting stuff would seem to be things that can be viewed from different angles. For example, the concept of "demiurge" has been commented on many times, from ancient philosophy/religion to modern variants, in manga/anime, serial-fictions, discussed in philosophy forums, occult texts, etc. -- so if you explore that, then it's not really just some simplistic linear narrative, but rather can be an exploration through many different lenses in many different media, adding depth not found on TV or in books.
Broadly, a lot of existential-ist conception can be a basis for such explorations. Like Heaven/Hell -- there a lot of kids might start with the Bible, then expand to other biblical texts (as a starting place: [Biblical Hermeneutics](https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/)), Dante's "Inferno"/"Purgatorio"/"Paradiso", the take from "Paradise Lost", and a whole slew of modern stuff all over religion, philosophy, books, comics, video-games (seriously -- some video-games have neat lore systems!), and more.
In such explorations, Wikipedia and search-engines (like Google) can be great because they help call attention to connections to explore. Because it's these connections to look at things from multiple dimensions that can add depth, beyond just the perspective of a single source.
Anyway, long rant short, my point's that if you're bored, then perhaps time to stop reading old-fashion fictional books in favor of some more interesting stuff. 'cause common narratives really are pretty dull.
(Alternatively, if you like old-fashion fictional books but just didn't like smartphones, sorry for the rant. =P)
No offense, but my eyes glazed-over at your post. Yes, my point is it seems like every tv show on netflix etc, incorporates people texting/interacting with their phones which bores me but I guess since it is part of normalized daily life now, it is what it is. Thanks for the suggestions though.
Yeah, sorry, perhaps indulgent on my part. I enjoy different perspectives, being both why I'd advocate what I did above and why I'm so curious about your comment about smartphones -- which, I imagine, for you was merely a passing comment of little import that it's weird for someone to be so curious about.
Thanks for the responses!
Thanks for the responses!
I managed to build a decent sci-fi collection almost purely from charity shops. It was fascinating to me to map out the relative fortunes of charities just by their second hand book prices. Cancer charities always seemed quite flush, the shops well kept, the books priced in whole pounds. Charities for elderly people usually had the best prices (and for me the best selection), perhaps because much of the stock was bequeathed in bulk. I'd be sure to overpay for my bag of 20 novels for less than a fiver, it always felt like a steal.
My favourite finds are old chess books, especially old books about chess programming. One of my favourite ways to learn a subject is following its history, from primitive approaches through successively more complex and effective ideas.
It's always been infinitely comforting to me that even these cheap, dilapidated stacks of paper each contained whole worlds, days of entertainment for pennies. I got the same feeling about computers from a young age, the fractal quality of always being able to dive deeper, never hitting walls. In some ways I feel sad that these days I get caught up on authors not publishing the next book in a series (some for many years) or having to wait for the next series of something I've just binged on Netflix, or even being forced to wait for the next episode of something. Second hand bookshops remind me of a different (and perhaps more sustainable) pace of life.