A
woman next to me on the train coming into the city was engulfed in her
book. It was a brand new hardcover copy
of women’s rights champion Gloria Steinem’s latest book, My Life on the Road. The
woman looked to be old enough to have lived through the late 60’s and 70’s, a
time when the movement for women’s rights had massive, popular appeal.
I
was happy to see someone reading a book.
Four people to my left filled their commute reading newspapers and a
phone. Others around me did the same,
many on a device of choice. I couldn’t
help but notice the woman was reading a freshly minted copy and not one from
the library. I love to see people still
want to get books as soon as they come out and to buy the hardcover version vs.
lesser expensive formats.
Book
publishing is an interesting experiment.
All kinds of people prefer all kinds of formats. Some only live by paper while others swear
only by digital. Some like to listen to
a book while others choose not to read a single book all year.
People
will read what others recommend to them, from reviews to friends to book clubs, while other readers ignore the recommendations of others and pursue books of
their choice.
Many
times, people discover or stumble upon a book, rather than seeking out a
specific title. Readers want to be
surprised.
Some
readers need to – or prefer to – shop for used books or get them for free at
the public library. There are millions
of books out there, so for many it doesn’t matter when a book was published –
it’s new to them!
But
that new book smell, like the scent of a beautiful woman, the first day of
spring, a new car, or Mom’s home cooking is just something that can’t be
duplicated elsewhere. I love opening a
book as its first owner and reader.
I
also like finding old books that reflect a world that no longer is. The tattered covers and a musty smell to the
book’s pages put the reader in a mindset that welcomes the past as if it were
unfolding right now.
I
went shopping the other day for a piece of furniture for my dining room and
while walking through floors and floors of flowing showrooms, I came across a
number of beautiful wooden bookcases, some of which cost thousands of
dollars. I wasn’t looking for one, but the
bookcase has a way of seducing you. These
bookcases were empty, waiting to be filled with a lifetime of knowledge, just
as readers wait for the next book to consume.
The bookcases – and the books that will fill them – will come in all
sizes, shapes, ages, genres, and price points.
The book is art, it’s furniture, it’s functional, and it’s purposeful. Whatever way you like to consume your book, enjoy it and share it. Let it touch you, from your heart, mind, and soul to your five senses.
I love you, books!
The book is art, it’s furniture, it’s functional, and it’s purposeful. Whatever way you like to consume your book, enjoy it and share it. Let it touch you, from your heart, mind, and soul to your five senses.
I love you, books!
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog
are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter
@theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more
important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2015
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