Okay, Justin. I love how you throw the topic out without exposing your own thoughts or bias. You’re a crafty one for sure Here’s the deal….I’m an avid reader. I know many people call themselves that, but in the purest sense of the words, I devour books. One of my greatest chagrins about moving (ugh!) is the number of boxes of books I have to cart from place to place. It’s almost an addiction for me. I’ve gone through phases when I’ve given hundreds to worthy causes and I often buy extra copies of books I really like in order to give them away as gifts or as tools to change someone’s mind that i think needs changing (like, right! that NEVER happens All this is to say I LOVE books.
But…! I also love my Kindle. The professor I worked for as a personal assistant until he passed away last June, gave me one as a gift about a year and-a-half ago. Initially, I was a bit put off by the whole idea, but the accesibility, convenience, lack of strain on the eyes, compactness and quick references have completely won me over. My reading habits have increased. I read more now than ever, in part because the books cost so much less, but also because i can carry the damn thing with me everywhere easily and read it while standing in a line or while grabbing an ENL (egg nog latte! yum!) at Starbucks.
In addition, I buy MORE books now, because of the number of cool books i’m able to zip through and then get jazzed about that I want to share with others (“Addiction and Grace”, Gerald May; “Prodigal God”, Tim Keller; “Your Brain At Work”, David Rock; or “My Friend Leonard”, James Frey among a few of the most recent). I even have The Message and the NIV on my little black machine for quiet Divine interaction or reference.
And finally, one of the concerns i have about this crazy, changing world i which we live is how ipods and earbuds are doing their number on closing us off from each other, even when we’re around each other (such as on public transportation or waiting in lines). This Kindle has done more to stimulate interesting (and at times deep) conversation with people from all walks of life as I ride on BART or the bus, or while waiting at the airport or even in my favorite coffee (chai, to be honest) spots. They are curious…wanna see it, know how it works and then talk about the books we’re both reading. Fun stuff!
Colbert’s guest screams about how “impersonal” Kindles are while he talks about it on television for…er…pete and pity’s sakes. I’ll take books. I’ll take Kindles. I’ll take real time conversation. Heck, I’ll take BLOGS! if they promote deeper, broader, more challenging thought and conversation between us all. It’s all about balance. One form of publication doesn’t preclude the other.
Okay…i’m done. For now. Thanks. See ya next Sunday!
sT
It’s an interesting perspective, but I think Sherman Alexie sounds a little nuts. This idea that the music industry is all piracy now and nobody buys music sounds incredibly out-dated. That’s what people were saying when Napster came along, before there were legal ways to buy digital music. It seems the last 10 years or so have proven that if you give people a legal alternative, they will legally buy music. Is there still piracy? Sure. Has the music industry had to change and adapt? Yes. But are people still buying and selling music? Yes. (You’re a musician, Justin. Tell us, do you make any money off digital downloads? Would you be able to do what you do without the web, e-mail, blogs, etc.?)
Likewise the publishing industry is going to change (and has been changing), piracy will be an issue, but it doesn’t mean the Stephen Kings of the world are going to go broke.
It seems more than anything Alexie is decrying change. Change happens and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. A lot of artists are finding that free both stops piracy and makes them more money.
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i guess sherman doesn’t realize that books have been available in pdf formats for years. if it’s good, people will buy it.
Okay, Justin. I love how you throw the topic out without exposing your own thoughts or bias. You’re a crafty one for sure
Here’s the deal….I’m an avid reader. I know many people call themselves that, but in the purest sense of the words, I devour books. One of my greatest chagrins about moving (ugh!) is the number of boxes of books I have to cart from place to place. It’s almost an addiction for me. I’ve gone through phases when I’ve given hundreds to worthy causes and I often buy extra copies of books I really like in order to give them away as gifts or as tools to change someone’s mind that i think needs changing (like, right! that NEVER happens 
All this is to say I LOVE books.
But…! I also love my Kindle. The professor I worked for as a personal assistant until he passed away last June, gave me one as a gift about a year and-a-half ago. Initially, I was a bit put off by the whole idea, but the accesibility, convenience, lack of strain on the eyes, compactness and quick references have completely won me over. My reading habits have increased. I read more now than ever, in part because the books cost so much less, but also because i can carry the damn thing with me everywhere easily and read it while standing in a line or while grabbing an ENL (egg nog latte! yum!) at Starbucks.
In addition, I buy MORE books now, because of the number of cool books i’m able to zip through and then get jazzed about that I want to share with others (“Addiction and Grace”, Gerald May; “Prodigal God”, Tim Keller; “Your Brain At Work”, David Rock; or “My Friend Leonard”, James Frey among a few of the most recent). I even have The Message and the NIV on my little black machine for quiet Divine interaction or reference.
And finally, one of the concerns i have about this crazy, changing world i which we live is how ipods and earbuds are doing their number on closing us off from each other, even when we’re around each other (such as on public transportation or waiting in lines). This Kindle has done more to stimulate interesting (and at times deep) conversation with people from all walks of life as I ride on BART or the bus, or while waiting at the airport or even in my favorite coffee (chai, to be honest) spots. They are curious…wanna see it, know how it works and then talk about the books we’re both reading. Fun stuff!
Colbert’s guest screams about how “impersonal” Kindles are while he talks about it on television for…er…pete and pity’s sakes. I’ll take books. I’ll take Kindles. I’ll take real time conversation. Heck, I’ll take BLOGS! if they promote deeper, broader, more challenging thought and conversation between us all. It’s all about balance. One form of publication doesn’t preclude the other.
Okay…i’m done. For now. Thanks. See ya next Sunday!
sT
It’s an interesting perspective, but I think Sherman Alexie sounds a little nuts. This idea that the music industry is all piracy now and nobody buys music sounds incredibly out-dated. That’s what people were saying when Napster came along, before there were legal ways to buy digital music. It seems the last 10 years or so have proven that if you give people a legal alternative, they will legally buy music. Is there still piracy? Sure. Has the music industry had to change and adapt? Yes. But are people still buying and selling music? Yes. (You’re a musician, Justin. Tell us, do you make any money off digital downloads? Would you be able to do what you do without the web, e-mail, blogs, etc.?)
Likewise the publishing industry is going to change (and has been changing), piracy will be an issue, but it doesn’t mean the Stephen Kings of the world are going to go broke.
It seems more than anything Alexie is decrying change. Change happens and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. A lot of artists are finding that free both stops piracy and makes them more money.