Post #2: What is a book?

A book is an experience.
Q: Why do so many people see books as being so sentimental?
A: I honestly do believe that books hold a significant value over a Kindle or iPad. I've never had to plug my book in at night to make sure it doesn't die, and I've never had it run low on battery when I was  in the middle of reading it. I can read it for hours on end without getting a headache because I've been staring at a screen. Unfortunately, screen staring has become somewhat of a national pasttime. If you don't get in your eight hours of screen staring every day, you're mocked as having an old way of thinking and not being in touch with the modern world. Mr. LaValle says we treat books like stone tablets, but we're really just trying to get in touch with a world where you aren't constantly being stimulated by electronic media. The sentimental thing about books is that they only exist to be read and enjoyed by people, and they have been doing that for thousands of years. I think there's something tragic about that, because if people stop reading them then they have no purpose anymore and were created for nothing. But long after your iPhone has broken or died, books will still be there, waiting for you to read them or pass them on to the next generation. Sitting down to read a book is like an event, an experience. You have to plan out the time to read it, turn to the page you read last, turn on the lamp beside you, get comfortable in just the right place. I can flip out my smartphone at any moment and read something. It's almost too convenient, and takes away the value of reading something impactful or memorable. So in this respect I agree with Mr. Piazza. You don't get to see the ambition of the author or the magnitude of the work if you're reading everything on a two inch screen. That's why an electronic book isn't the same as the actual thing. You know how they say the sequel is never as good as the original? This still holds true today. I hope that books last forever, and I think they will, so long as we take the time to understand their meaning and true value.

Post #1 Why I read

I read because books allow me to escape the reality of the world and go into an alternate universe where I can freely explore and imagine any possibility I want. Also with non-fiction books they allow you to gain the knowledge and wisdom of previous generations and learn from their mistakes or triumphs. It is also good for your mind to read every once in a while so you stay fresh and active mentally and it allows you to keep up with current events so you're more aware of the world around you. My favorite books are the Lord of the Rings series because they have vivid imagery and wistful tales of adventure in them. They also let me escape into another world where practically anything is possible. When I was younger I pretty much read exclusively baseball books. I had a Ted Williams book, a Roberto Clemente book, a Sandy Koufax book, a Pete Rose book (even though I despise Pete Rose), and countless historical books detailing every chapter of baseball. I was also addicted to statistics back then, so if you named a player I could whip out a ton of stats on him.