I’m a bit emotional right now. I love bookstores. I’m getting ready to open one, but this post isn’t about that. This post is about a world where we only buy books from Amazon because it’s $4 cheaper and so darn convenient.
I no longer have to go through the effort of getting into my car and driving to the bookstore. I don’t have to find a place to park, wander the beautifully laid-out aisles, learn from the knowledgeable bookstore owner, or enjoy a tasty coffee from their café. I don’t have to pet the beautiful tabby cats napping by the piles of books in the corner, and I don’t have to sit in their comfy reading chairs, paging through books before I decide to buy them. I don’t have to feel memorized by the thoughtful lighting, the artwork, or the rugs that fill the room. And I don’t have to feel the book in my hands and appreciate its existence.
Nope, I can skip all of the bookish atmosphere, the community, and much of the reading experience. All I have to do is click a button on my phone and my book will arrive in a stale cardboard box, packaged without love, concern, or literary care. I get a life of complete convenience. Isn’t it great?!
Actually, the more that I think about it, the more I want inconvenience in my life. For some reason, the “inconvenience” and the extra $4 of a local bookstore bring me immense joy.
Where do you stand on the issue?
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Eddy
Published by