Stories, Reflections & Journeys
Back in 1953 Ray Bradbury published a dystopian science fiction/fantasy novel called Fahrenheit 451. If you’ve not read it, do! It’s not only a rattling good story, but it remains soberingly relevant today.
In fact, in many ways, we are living in the future Bradbury imagined. [Read more…]
Back in 1916, Harry G Aldis wrote: **
Imagine, if you can, the world suddenly bereft of books. What would it mean? Practically, the record of the accumulated sum of human knowledge swept away, and the processes of civilization limited to the experience of a single life-time, supplemented only by tradition and hearsay, dependent upon the memory of individuals. It is only by some such feat of imagination that it is possible to realize in any degree, the great part that books play in the daily life of the civilized world.
Books are the world’s memory. In them is preserved the record of human thought, action, experience, and intellectual activity. We are, it is true, heirs of the ages, but our heritage consists to a large extent of books, and what we are pleased to call progress is made possible mainly through their aid. Books have come to be one of the commonest objects of everyday life. We turn to them instinctively for information of all and every kind, for intellectual recreation, and even for recreation that cannot be called intellectual.
When I came across this passage recently, I loved it – perhaps especially the idea that books are ‘the world’s memory’.
But I also found myself wondering … Does it still resonate for us, almost a hundred years later? After all, in this day and age, we could indeed imagine a world without books – or, at least without printed books.
So then I tried re-reading his words, mentally replacing ‘books’ with ‘computers’ as I read.
And I figured what Aldis had to say – with a bit of a twist – is just as true today as it was then. :)
** From The Printed Book by Harry G. Aldis, M.A. Cambridge at the University Press 1916
I’ve always loved having books read to me.
When libraries first started lending books on audio cassettes, I was one of the early adopters. It was wonderful to be able to kick back, relax and listen. Perhaps especially when I was in the car.
With stories to keep me company, long trips were a breeze. Peak hour traffic when the freeway was a car park? No problem!
Catching every red light on the way? No hassle at all – it just meant I’d get through another chapter.
So it was a very natural next step when I could borrow downloadable audio-books from the library and listen to them on my Android phone instead.
But, once upon a time, if you’d suggested I’d start reading e-books on my phone, I’d have laughed. After all, nothing could replace the ease and enjoyment of holding a real book in my hands. And reading on a small screen? That would be a total pain – no way I’d do it!
I was wrong! :)