Why Books?

This entry is an incomplete thought and may or may not be edited at another time.

               

              Alphabetization brings me a sense of structure that I can control and keep in precise and easily-filed order. This is why I am well-suited to a book store environment. This is also why I felt so very comfortable as a file clerk at my local community college. Happiness is a room full of words that need alphabetization.

                 

         Books… ah, Books:  informational spines, with titles that entice, authors to follow, material that speaks of publication history and quantity of particular units of print; covers that relay the use and storage and age and valuation, financial and social.

                                 
                                  Remember, though, to never judge a book by its cover.

                 
         The real value of a book is usually found between its covers.  Each book is a different aspect of mind of the writer.  One must remember authors are people. Each book, once read, is the voice of that individual writer in the mind of the reader, floating around with its message that is turned over in the reader’s process of introspection. That information becomes part of the reader’s experience of the world and of reality and forms their perspective of reality. The words used can develop the reader’s sense of language processing and familiarity with aspects of language that the reader would not otherwise have experience of, like a non-collegiate reading the words of a collegiate study, or a city-dweller understanding the of the words of mountain-folk.

               
         The History of Mankind is held in books, especially in books that aren’t history books.  The long view of humanity is held in the works of individuals just writing about what they think about. This many-subject writing gives an image of what life was like to the literate human without drawing the lines of time.  Holding a book in your hand that has, forgive the phrase, ‘travelled through time’ with its own story of use is like holding the hand of the author while the author was writing down ideas. Questions can’t be asked, but similarities between then and now, and them and us can be found easily. Understanding can be drawn. Pages can be turned. 

                A reader who is paying attention to an author’s words can experience something life changing; an eye-opening phrase that alters the way one uses one’s thoughts. Epiphany, understanding, creativity, these are aspects of mind that interest me when I read. I want to see the firing of synapses when I read. When I read, I want to appreciate the way an author puts words together to communicate a particular thought. 

                The problem with reading is the limitation of language, or at least the language that I speak and read. It is hard for many, including me, to portray a thought in real time that encapsulates all levels of thought. That is when art comes in handy.  Books, though, can pinpoint a concept, theme or thesis, and delve into it. 

               The business of books is not easy. Books are underappreciated and are in many places considered disposable because of a lack of relevance.

 It’s been my experience that relevance changes quickly.