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Favorite books post...

To those that got here after reading my post at Richard Dawkins.net I wanted to start a discussion about books , fiction and non fiction and what they mean to you. In this increasingly digitally delivered world, I find reading a good book a great way to clear the mind in order to fill it with other ideas. The books I've read have shaped a great deal of my world view, unlike many people I know I don't read as voraciously (well not non technical subjects anyway) I wonder how close you are to your books? Are you a reader and giver or a reader and keeper? Books I love , I can't part with, I still own the texts that I used in High School (which I was able to procure after the fact) I also have boxes filled with the many (expensive!) texts that I had to buy as I acquired my BS EE degree. How do you treat your books?
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Anonymous said…
Hey David, that was a great posting you left at RD's site. All of the comments have now created for me an insanely impossible list of MORE things to read. I have about 6 - 8 books on the go now, I read about a chapter in each every couple of nights. Its a strange way to read but as long as it is non-fiction I an keep it all seperate. I am a book hoarder but having said that I am intrigued by a website I heard about where you purchase a book, register it on the website, print off a label that you fill in after you read the book, attach said label to book, leave book on a park bench somewhere. The theory is that someone picks the book up, reads it, comments on the webpage listed on the label and repeats. I think it would be interesting to see the travels your freed book would make. I think if I follow up with this my choice in a book would be Demon Haunted World, everyone on the bloody planet should read it at least twice.
Great blog, I will return. BTW is there anything you are not involved in? You have such a canvas of interest and talent. Good on ya.
APPlet (Peter)
February 27, 2008 at 2:51 PM
David Saintloth said…
Hello Peter, I am glad you enjoyed the details on my books list. As I mentioned in the originating post, I don't read as avidly as many people I know when it comes to fiction. Most of what I do read is restricted to technical subjects (journals, trade publications and magazines) as that has been the focus of my work for the last decade or so. The book sharing idea of that web site you mentioned sounds interesting but it assumes that the next person to find the book will want to just read it and give it away! I have a hard time giving away books (the physical bound entity) especially ones I have learned from but I am totally free (much to the dismay of those who aren't as passionate about the topics) sharing what I learn from them. I am a pack rat in this way of not just books, but pretty much everything. You should have seen my bedroom during my college years...I was storing the notebooks that I used as a 6th grader when I was still in college, the requirements for space in my parents home was the only reason I had to part with them..that's how much of a pack rat I am. For books that I consider dear, it would take my death to get them from me. The ones mentioned on my list easily meet this criteria. Thanks for the comments on the blog, I will try to keep the posts as varied as my interests.

Regards,

David
February 27, 2008 at 3:35 PM
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