On Books
I love books, the old fashioned kind made from trees. I love how they feel and smell.
Old books smell like wisdom.
I love how books look on my shelves. If you saw my books you might think I was smart. I like that. But the truth is you can be dumb and own lots of books.
It’s hard for me to get rid of books. One time I loaded my pickup truck with books and took them to the library book sale. I never did that again.
I have hundreds of books stored in boxes. I may never look at them again. I talk about getting rid of them. I should pack them in my pickup truck. Maybe someday I will.
When I read, I think my own thoughts. An author crafts a creative idea and I think of something else.
I always read with a pen in one hand. It’s helpful when you pick up an old book to just read some underlined sentences and put it back on the shelf.
As well as underlining, I write in my books. A blank page is an invitation to scribble a barely legible – but brilliant idea. Usually the notes have nothing to do with the content of the book.
Sometimes I wonder why I wrote something so mundane on the last page of a book. Some brilliant ideas aren’t so brilliant a day later.
Occasionally I go back and read the notes I’ve written in books. Usually I don’t. But when I do go back and read old notes, sometimes I find ideas that have stuck with me. That’s disappointing because it means I had the idea before.
Books are comforting. Books never forget.
I hope I’m a better person as a result of reading books.
Very inspirational Dan! You have encouraged me to read a book this weekend!
Enjoy, Tom!
Dan, I was nodding my head with every sentence, thinking, “I get that!” One of my favorite bookstores is an old one in downtown Wilmington, NC that’s large and mostly full of older hardback books. I’ve found many gems there. I also have a 1937 hardback edition of “Think and Grow Rich” I inherited from my dad and two hardback editions of Pushing to the Front by Orison Swett Marden that my great-grandfather had in his library. E-books are great but they lack the personality of a paper-based book.
Thanks for sharing your love of books. I had to smile when you bragged about some of the old books you have. I also enjoy books that have been signed. When I receive books in the mail, the first thing I do is look to see if it’s been signed. 🙂
I’m a big fan of autobiographies and memoirs. Years ago I started the practice of taking notes on the book, then sending it to the author expressing my inspiration from various sections. I ask for their autograph on the book and provide return postage. I get the most wonderful responses, and in a a surrogate way its like meeting the author. I have over 150 books signed by past presidents, heads of state, military leaders, sports stars, coaches, astronauts, businessmen, and other people who have impacted the world with their leadership. My most recent autograph is from great-great-great-grandson of William Wilberforce who ended slavery in England in 1840. His story was made popular in the movie Amazing Grace. I also just received the autograph from his daughter on the biography of Eric Liddell, from the movie Chariots of Fire, titled For The Glory by Eric Metaxas. You can imagine I’m never going to get rid of these prized volumes.
What a great practice!! I’m so glad you took time to share your story. It’s very inspirational.
This is a beautiful tribute to the love of books. Thank you for sharing!
I work with books everyday. My home and office are filled with books. My dad’s basement is filled with my books — first editions, autographed copies from authors I’ve worked with over the years, and books that I love and never want to get rid of. Naysayers used to say that the Kindle would kill the printed book. Luckily they were very, very wrong. I love this post.
Hi Lori. I see your name on the cover letter of some of the books I receive. Technologies like E-books and audio books have made me end up buying the paper versions. 🙂
Couldn’t agree more!
Thanks!
Coming from a librarian I think it’s something in our DNA. Not everyone has it! You’re blessed if you do! 😉
Thanks Nancy. I think I learned to love books because my dad loved books. 🙂
Me too! My mom was a librarian.
I have a masters in library and information studies and worked as a librarian for nearly 30 years before moving into HR so I LOVE this post Dan. Books – particualrly well researched, documented non fiction and great murder mysteries are food to feed the soul! However , one subject has nothing to domwith the other. Reading broadens the mind, and takes you places. A great post.
Love books. Thomas Jefferson once said: “I cannot live without books.” Agree.
I love books too! Thank you for this commonality article. This article frees me to keep loving my books AND to keep thinking/acting on the “creative” rather than the concrete.
I also love reading books. Thought I’d never give up the paper but am now totally e books all the way. I devour books have since I was 5 or so, have easily read over 10000 in my life. If it’s a good story I will finish a 400 pager in one evening and will not put down till completed. I am truly addicted to anything C.J Box writes especially Joe Pickett stories. I’ve found very few young people read for pleasure anymore. Was involved with the youth Group at church for many years found roughly 2 of 10 girls read for pleasure maybe 1 of 20 guys. The ones that read were the sharp intelligent young people and I believe there is a direct link to them reading for pleasure.
Marginalia works.
I have many books that I’ve encouraged others to read, handed to them, and got them back.
Years later … I re-read them, discover their comments to my comments to the text … and we reconnect; across time, across memes, across ideologies.
Handwriting matters. The best rediscoveries are from offspring, and then theirs. Awesome, in the literal sense.
Thank you for this post! It resonates with me so much! At the end of the day, how do we index all of these insights? I do the same thing with all of my many books, and I love going back and reading my notes/highlighted passages.
Dan
I truly enjoy reading all of your article – full of insights, dynamic thoughts, and creative ideas. I believe books are also meeting the needs to keep our minds active as part of our learning journey. Self-reflection leads to self-discovery.
Once available, I will send to you a copy of my leadership book that will be on the market this summer – The Chemistry of Leadership.
Enjoy and share your insights. Paul (paulefein@gmail.com)
Thanks for sharing. I think we are kindred spirits in this. In the past, members of my teams have wondered why my office or workspace was full of books with scribbles and underlines and bookmarks. Why don’t I just get a Kindle and save space and paper? I love the feel of a well-bound book in my hands. I like shelves full of books. I like to read about 10-15 books at once in small chunks. I often go back and look at a few of the underlined passages to see if they are still meaningful or if they spur new thoughts. My garage has a loft with several hundred books that I just can’t get rid of. When we get through an upcoming move, one of the goals is to have more shelf space inside to keep more of the books available for perusal.
My wife and I just moved. The boxes and boxes of books that are still waiting to be unpacked and placed on our new shelves are a back-breaking reminder of the degree to which we share your love for books. Thanks, Dan.
The instant i was reading this it seemed someone dictacting the same with all his emotions and love towards book. Thnx for sharing👌👌
Like you’re reading my mind!
My heartfelt agreement. I have never mastered reading on a Kindle as the feel of a book in my hands is a part of the connection to the content.
Every once in a while I will go back and revisit the passages I have hi-lighted or comments I have written in a particular book to remember and be thankful for the impact of the moment that made a difference.
Totally Agree! To top it off, there is this (based on a longitudinal study): https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100520213116.htm
Biggest “bang for the book” … ’tis so true … the more books at home, the more educated the developing child and then young adult, no matter their learning style, education of the parents, or economic status.
So true.
I love to underline my favorite quotes and write comments on themes in the margins. I also enjoy finding used books with writing inside. My copy of Dr. Dolittle’s Circus was a young boy’s Christmas gift in the 40’s, and I adore the inscription.
Dan
Thanks for the great thoughts. I completely agree .My Daughter bought me magnet from Strand’s Bookstore in New York Book “Book Collector not Book Hoarder”
I really appreciate Harry Truman’s thoughts on this topic
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
My Best
John
Love my books, I have also packed up many and donated them and I regret that to this day. I wish I had them all back even if they were packed and in my attic.
Middle school and high school students where I live rarely, if ever, refer to books. All of the research they conduct is online, and they must be careful about the veracity of the Internet sources they use. Of course, books can be tendentious, too, but I think there is something lost when students don’t use them as sources, at least some of the time.
I’m with you on this Dan, as I felt like I was reading about “me”. I love my books and also underline ideas and truths that stand out to me, write notes in the margins and inside covers, and enjoy re-reading my scribbles sometime later to remember what was important to me at that time. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding me of the importance of reading, writing, and reflecting with a book in hand.
My husband and I love books. When we built our house we redesigned walls to have built-in bookcases up the stairs and in the office. We recently moved and had 2,000 pounds in books. Good thing there’s not a twelve-step program for book addicts. We’d never make it past step 1.