Books, Books, Books

The December issue of Playboy includes "Dust in the Wind," an interesting essay by Brazilian author and journalist Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage, The Winner Stands Alone). For many years Coelho has shown an intensive interest in the Internet and its ability to increase access to literature and other media. Back in August 2008 he wrote in his blog that " books are trendier than ever - people are reading again, and writing again and why? Internet." A couple months later he delivered a keynote address, "The Internet’s Impact on Culture," at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

The Playboy essay addresses the question why Coelho "is shelving his book collection and going viral." He freely admits that he no longer has many books; years ago he decided to keep only 400 books (give or take a few) in his personal library - books he found himself rereading along with a few that have sentimental value - while giving the rest of them to a public library where they might be enjoyed by others. "Why should I keep all these books at home? To show friends I am cultured? To decorate the walls?" When I look at my offices at home and at work, and the walls of our bedroom and den, I begin to think that Coelho has a good point. He originally kept all of his books, thinking that one day he would need to consult them. But considering that the Internet is one of the most comprehensive reference libraries in the world, he decided to share his books with others . . . "trying to obtain a maximum quality with a minimum amount of things." In this case, books. He still buys books, but once he finishes them, he allows them to travel "like the mind of the author traveled as he wrote it." It is his belief that "a book has a course of its own and should not be condemned to remain immobilized on a shelf." But don’t get him wrong. Coelho still believes in personal libraries - "The first contact children have with books is usually through curiosity about those bound volumes with figures and letters." What could be more important than that?

I must confess that I love books. I always have and I will until the day I shed these mortal shackles. It is difficult for me to imagine ever giving them up once I have read them and found them to be the sum of all that I hold dear to my heart. And Coelho is correct about the importance of making books available to children as early as possible. My son has been around books all of his life and to this day he goes nowhere without one stuck in his pocket or satchel. We taught him well! But now I am beginning to understand why Coelho has decided to simplify his life. There comes a time when one must come to terms with a lifetime of buying and saving books.

There are boxes of books packed up in our basement. Most of them date back to college and graduate school, and although I have no place to display them now, I have held fast to the dream that one day that space will materialize. Our den and bedroom have floor to ceiling book cases packed tight with our favorite books. Yet there is still an overflow of books stacked up next to each side of our bed and the couch in the den ("current reading"). And then there is my office at work where more floor to ceiling bookcases cover two entire walls. Every time my wife visits my office she looks at them and shakes her head and asks where I intend to put them when I retire. Good question! My response is quick and to the point. I haven’t got the faintest idea. On top of all this, new books appear almost daily as if out of thin air. Another one for this pile or that. I cannot see myself ever not buying a new book. But Coelho may have found an equitable solution to this dilemma. Perhaps it is time to let some of them travel and seek their own course.

I am not sure the Internet is what Kant referred to as the "Ding an sich;" I still prefer to pick up a book when I am doing research. But I definitely like the idea of sharing books with others. And, to be honest, I just don’t have anywhere else to put them. So I am going to have to start making some of the hard decisions I have been putting off until another time. That time has finally arrived. I will keep you posted on the success or failure of my efforts. Wish me luck!