Thursday, March 21, 2013

What is a book?


         A book is more than a past time, more than a story, more than words on a page. “One must always be careful of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”(The quote is actually from one of my favorite books, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.) Books aren’t like any other media out there. They are their own unique little world on their own, that many people have long forgotten about over the years.  It is sad now that being an avid reader is something unique about people, now a days. I mean way back books were the only things people had.  Now we have cell phones, television, computers, etc. If you think about it, books are a lot like cars. When books were “officially” in use for everyone, there probably weren’t many to choose from, just like cars. When more and more people start using books or cars, new types come out. Now, there are so many to choose from. Then things started to get really innovative and then suddenly there are bikes, trains, planes, subways, motorcycles, and much more. Eventually that first car isn’t in use anymore or as much. There are better and more improved things to choose from. This hasn’t happened yet, but maybe one day we won’t need cars anymore. They will just be a prototype to something bigger and better. This is like books. When new and improved ways of doing something different (i.e. kindles), from what you have always known is an awkward stage. There are some people who like to stick with their own ways and don’t like change, and then there are some people who are all about making progress and getting the next big thing. I guess I am one of those people who is stuck in the middle.

3 comments:

  1. I like the Cassandra Clare quote--thanks for adding it! I think I'm stuck in the middle, too. You give some good thoughts about progress and how change is sort of at the heart of the argument when it comes to physical v. digital books.

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  2. I like the simile you used to compare books and cars and I agree with it. I think that with books and cars eventually they both won't become a huge part in our lives because there are always bigger and/or better things out there. As of now it even seems that books aren't very important things in peoples' lifes as much anymore because of the new technological advances in our world as we move on.

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  3. I sadly agree that physical books will be gone some day. Im in the middle, i love holding a physical book, i dont like reading electronically,but im all about the new gadgets coming out. I guess we just have to enjoy the physical books while there still here.

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