I'm not unsympathetic to the desire that more people should read but one should beware of insisting that other people do what we enjoy doing. For example, if everyone indulged in *my* love of dry martinis one shudders at the likely outcome!
And anyway, I'm not sure it is true, Amazon appears to be thriving mightily. Also, I would remind Mr. Bradbury that sometimes a little knowledge can be an exceedingly mischievous thing!
Maybe you would like this quote from another science fiction writer. "I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got out of the public library. For an impoverished child whose family could not afford to buy books, the library was the open door to wonder and achievement, and I can never be sufficiently grateful that I had the wit to charge through that door and make the most of it. Now, when I read constantly about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that the door is closing and that American society has found one more way to destroy itself." - Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), "I. Asimov: A Memoir"
The 'early' Catholic Church (of my parents era) would regularly ban books and movies so that its 'faithful' would not read or view them. My parents, who were 'good' Catholics would always eagerly await the publishing of the 'banned list' and immediately make plans to buy the book or go to see the movie. It was their little bit of 'sin'. If you want to get someone to read a particular book or go to a particular movie..have the church or some governmental authority ban it and watch the sales skyrocket!!!
Right on Banana!!!! Thank secular knowledge for the library! I read so many books at libraries thru my teen years. And I can say that one of my favorite authors is also dead on target, they were the extension to my education into things that were censored by the schools and church. My atheism started with the buyBull and enlarged with the library. Also I learned more science at the library then in school. Also when they talk about books, are talking books included??? As I have some 700 talking books in my private library. Reading various posts by fundie nutjobs definitely points to the image here, they suppress the availability of open science and related books as much as they can get away with. They don't censor the books themselves, as nothing attracts teenagers like saying NO, they just discourage the reading of them as being of the devil.
ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. And neither will racist,homophobic, or misogynistic comments. I do not mind if you disagree, but make your case in a decent manner.
I'm not unsympathetic to the desire that more people should read but one should beware of insisting that other people do what we enjoy doing. For example, if everyone indulged in *my* love of dry martinis one shudders at the likely outcome!
ReplyDeleteAnd anyway, I'm not sure it is true, Amazon appears to be thriving mightily. Also, I would remind Mr. Bradbury that sometimes a little knowledge can be an exceedingly mischievous thing!
Maybe you would like this quote from another science fiction writer. "I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got out of the public library. For an impoverished child whose family could not afford to buy books, the library was the open door to wonder and achievement, and I can never be sufficiently grateful that I had the wit to charge through that door and make the most of it. Now, when I read constantly about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that the door is closing and that American society has found one more way to destroy itself." - Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), "I. Asimov: A Memoir"
DeleteThe 'early' Catholic Church (of my parents era) would regularly ban books and movies so that its 'faithful' would not read or view them. My parents, who were 'good' Catholics would always eagerly await the publishing of the 'banned list' and immediately make plans to buy the book or go to see the movie. It was their little bit of 'sin'. If you want to get someone to read a particular book or go to a particular movie..have the church or some governmental authority ban it and watch the sales skyrocket!!!
ReplyDeleteRight on Banana!!!! Thank secular knowledge for the library! I read so many books at libraries thru my teen years. And I can say that one of my favorite authors is also dead on target, they were the extension to my education into things that were censored by the schools and church. My atheism started with the buyBull and enlarged with the library. Also I learned more science at the library then in school.
ReplyDeleteAlso when they talk about books, are talking books included??? As I have some 700 talking books in my private library.
Reading various posts by fundie nutjobs definitely points to the image here, they suppress the availability of open science and related books as much as they can get away with. They don't censor the books themselves, as nothing attracts teenagers like saying NO, they just discourage the reading of them as being of the devil.