Rule #121: Buy and Read Books
Today Borders Books filed for bankruptcy. They may restructure their debt and come out of it, or they may just die like so many other bookstores have.
Writing a blog entry to encourage my children to read and own books might seem odd. After all, this very medium—blogs, ebooks, and digital platforms—has been blamed for the death of print. But I argue that electronic media, while valuable, is a different experience entirely from reading the printed word.
When fictional ghost hunter Dr. Egon Spengler said in 1984, “Print is dead,” he might have been warning us of the age of ebooks, iPads, and the blogosphere. All the statistics confirm it: in recent years, printed material has sharply declined while electronic content has exploded.
In Jurassic Park (1993), mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm described the problem of misused science:
“I’ll tell you the problem with the scientific power you’re using here: it didn’t require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn’t earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don’t take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses… packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox.”
The danger of electronic publishing is similar: it is too easy and too accessible. You have a thought—boom—two minutes later it’s published. Little discipline, little reflection.
The world hasn’t seen this kind of seismic shift in communication since Johannes Gutenberg rolled off the first printed pages from his movable type press in the 1440s. I imagine there was a balding 50-year-old monk somewhere complaining that the loss of handwritten manuscripts would cheapen the word. I’m fairly certain his name was Bob.
But since I wasn’t that Bob in 1440, I couldn’t argue for preserving illuminated manuscripts. What I can do is argue for the preserving and continuance of books today.
There is something magical—even artistic—about bringing thoughts through the long process that leads to a published book. When words are bound between covers, it feels like a frame around a piece of art. Paintings can be scanned and displayed in digital perfection, but the brushstrokes on canvas make it feel real, human, personal. Books carry that same man-made weight.
And that personal quality makes books some of the best gifts to give and receive. There’s a unique joy in walking through a Borders (if they survive) and hunting for the perfect book for someone. That process connects you more deeply to the recipient. Some of the most remarkable gifts I’ve seen in my life were books—including the early edition of The Wizard of Oz Matthew gave Bobbi last Christmas. I’m not sure if he was hinting that she was Glinda the Good Witch or Elphaba the Wicked Witch, but either way the gift said she was loved. Thoughtful books remain one of the most affordable and meaningful ways to connect with others.
Of course, the true purpose of a book is to be read. Over the years, I’ve interviewed thousands of people, and no question has been more revealing than: “What are you reading now?” and “What’s your favorite book?” Those answers told me more about a person’s mind and character than transcripts or résumés ever did. Without exception, the people who read more were more valuable employees.
And here’s something else I’ve noticed: it doesn’t really matter what you read, as long as you read a lot. I’ve known people who devoured nothing but vampire romance novels for a year, and others who binged on self-help books. Both grew from the experience. Readers take what they need. Still, my advice is to read a variety of books by a variety of authors. Like a healthy diet, variety matters—because if all you consume is chicken nuggets and Coke, it will eventually catch up to you.
Kids, as I’ve said from the start, this blog has always been about leaving you with whatever wisdom—or at least the random thoughts—I’ve accumulated in my life. In that spirit, I’d be proud if each of you made book-giving a family tradition.
But of course, a new Harley isn’t a bad gift either.
Takeaway: Owning and reading books is more than a pastime—it’s a gift of knowledge, empathy, and connection that lasts a lifetime.
Love, Dad