Thoughts On Books
Seth Godin announced today that he’s not publishing any more books. Not in the traditional way at least. The way I read it, he’s a little unclear as to what he’s going to do, but it’s for sure not going to be the ‘hard cover – sold in a bookstore’ type of way. Pretty interesting huh? He’s living out what he wrote in Linchpin.
Sure, I’ve got some mixed thoughts on the whole thing, but here’s what I like about it. 1: I like that he’s stepping out and doing something different. I like that he’s taking what he talks about and putting it to practice. To me he’s going against what’s easy and testing out what could quite literally change things. 2: This might be the thing that pushes me over the edge and I’ll go get that iPad I’ve been on the fence about for so long.
Seriously though. This post originally had nothing to do with Seth Godin, but it seems to fall in line perfectly with what I was going to talk about. You ready for that?
I’m not what you’d call an ‘avid reader’ but I enjoy a good book now and then. You all know about our SkörInc Reading List and I’m doing pretty well on that. So here’s my question. Once you’re done with a book, what do you do with it? Pass it on to a friend? Take it to a Used Book Store? Shelve it? Kindling for the fire place? I guess the reason I’m wondering is because I’d like to hear your opinions on how passing books around among friends. Come on. Be honest. Who does this? Is there a difference between doing this and passing on a CD? Do you think that this is attributing to Seth Godin changing his format?
Now obviously passing books around has been the same forever. It’s not like digital music and how it became easy to duplicate, but what’s the consensus here? Is passing a book to a friend for them to read the same as burning them a CD? Thoughts?
Ready? Go.
I feel like it is different. I had someone mail me the book Make Ideas Happen
It was perfect because I had not heard of it and gave me a chance to read it. In turn I then started telling people about it and why they should go and buy it.
If it was music I would say, wow this album is awesome and then pass it on. But a book is different, its not mine so I had to mail it back.
I think books are a little harder to share then music. As well, after I read the book and sent it back I went out and bought it to have for the future.
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one of the reasons it’s different is because of the duplication factor.
if you buy a book, then hand it to someone, there’s still only 1 book. even if you only meant to loan it, it’s not in your possession.
burn a cd, you’ve duplicated your album and now you and your friend both retain a copy when there was only 1 original purchase.
ironically, now that books are joining the digital marketplace, book piracy will increase exponentially.
I pass books on, and shelf others. I always like to get them back, but rarely do!
I don’t know why, but it does not seem to carry the same guilt as copying cds. Is it illegal to pass a book on?
Where do libraries fit then? That’s where I get most of the books I read. If I do end up purchasing a book, I let others borrow it, but I have a thing for books, and like to get them back.
i usually keep every book i read. i have a dream of on day having a library with tons of books in it like beauty and the beast. lol. if i like a book enough and think someone else would like it too i usually wait for a birthday or christmas and buy it for them.
i think books are different that cds though for the same reason as gene. you are making copies of CD, and everyone involved gets a copy. where as with a book you are not usually, (unless you are a HUGE nerd with way to much time on your hands,) copying it and giving out copies of the original. so it is not really piracy . i can take any of my personal belongings and give them to whomever i choose. as long as i am not copying them and trying to make a profit on them then i don’t think it crosses any lines.
my 2 cents anyway
I agree with the comments…Not only do I personalize my books (I tend to write in them which for me is a habit that makes it harder to pass on.), ditto CDs. However, CDs are easier to dup than books.