Bookshare thoughts
One thing about me is my book collection. I’ve dragged the one I currently have, around the country when I was doing the RV living thing. I’ve added to it since settling down but I don’t get rid of ‘Friends’: and my books are the bestest of Friends.
I rarely lend books, for many reasons. Usually due to lack of trust that they will be returned: see above, you take one of my books, you have kidnapped a very dear friend of mine. I take that shit kinda personally,,,,
BUT, If I do lend you books, 1) I trust you to respect my friends whom have no self defenses of their own. and 2) I am opening a window into ME!!!! The books I keep close have had some impact on my life, spirit, thinking, outlook, what have you, and when I am sharing that, I am sharing a part of me with you. That sort of thing is very intimate to an introvert, usually jealously guarded and kept behind 10000′ foot walls. One book in particular comes to mind right now: Illusions: the tale of a reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. I have had a few copies of it over time, and its getting harder to find used copies of it, and ALWAYS because someone ‘fell in love’ with my friend and failed to return it home.
I’m writing this now because I went to the shelf for THAT book and realized, its out on loan currently. I’m pretty confident I know where, and if thats the case, no worries, but I wonder,,, Has the borrower read the book? what did they think about it? etc etc,,,, Those questions mean something to me since that book had a lot to do with HOW I think about the world around me. It started my thinking about the quantum world and how we are all tied together in some way, even down to our thinking and how identical ideas seemingly pop up on opposite sides of the planet at the same time.
Hell, I admit it, I want to discuss the damned book with whomever borrowed it. Partly because I want others opinions and perspectives, and also because I don’t want to live in an echo chamber,,,, I feed my mind daily, and yet there are so few I can discuss things with and I end up edging to that black-pill stage.
And a lot of reasons why I need to just set the phone on charge and walk away for a day or two.
Dio's Workshop 
Agree completely about the dead trees. Not real sure how many are here in Casa Mikee, but it ain’t an inconsiderable number – likely 3-500 at least. Also some at my storage/shop. Like you, I VERY rarely loan one. Kinda thin on the philosophy type, though.
Favs are Sci Fi – of a particular kind, that being they hafta NOT be the kind that are socialist/whatevs. That’d be, 1stly, The Grand Master (Mr. Heinlein), followed at a distance by others like Mr. Niven, Mr. Poretto, and others.
Basically they’re tied fer 1st place with history type books, primarily dealing with American History, but also many others.
And that ain’t counting the E versions on my ‘puter (several 1k’s)! Those outnumber the dead trees by a considerable amount (mostly ’cause they were free to download!).
Basically just a bookworm/nut😜, rather introverted. Always have been. Good stuff! Still buying ’em, too! Purty much outta space fer ’em right now – bummer. Lord only knows how many I have on my ‘Zon list(s)!🤪 Probably good I’m outta room!
Y’all take care,
Mike in FLA.
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February 24, 2024 at 7:53 am
At some point if you haven’t, read “Unintended Consequences”. My Dad a book collector said never loan books, givem a cheap copy, his were mostly first editions
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February 25, 2024 at 12:06 pm
I re-read it about once a year. Mention it here frequently too.
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February 25, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Got the 1st edition Hardcover, a paperback, and the e version. Try to get around to re-reading it as often as possible, meself.
Y’all take care,
Mike in FLA.
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February 25, 2024 at 5:23 pm
Mike in Fla. Look up the value of that hard cover first edition and guard it with your life. I know someone who got theirs stolen
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March 1, 2024 at 4:39 pm
agreed! the price on that book is outrageous now (and its available online as a free pdf now, which is what I pass along, not my hardcopy)
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March 1, 2024 at 4:57 pm