Comments on: Purchasing Books With Wisdom

By: Owlhaven

Owlhaven — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 01:12:09 +0000

This plan sounds like something I need to try. I swear I support at least one Amazon exec single-handedly.

Mary, mom to many

By: dmaxwell

dmaxwell — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 12:30:07 +0000

Michael,

Yeah, I had the same problem. Then I solved it. I became a Librarian. If I can’t buy the item out of my meager professional growth allowance, I buy it for the university’s library. With a budget in excess of 6 figures, there’s little I can’t have. I truly feel like a kid in the candy store. And the best part is, we’re a religious institution so Theology is one of our major collections.

Maybe you can get a part-time appointment as a Librarian somewhere, preferably at a religous university with a little bit of money. Then just go wild. The wife won’t mind because it’s not your money. My wife couldn’t be happier about my recent career change. All I do now is buy and collect books. It’s part of the job.

By: graham

graham — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 10:31:50 +0000

Good move, Michael. I’m sure your wife (and your wallet!) will appreciate it.

It will be interesting to see if using the wish list helps. I wonder if it might counteract some of the impulse nature of many book buys. (I.e. you still get to click a button and choose the book you want.)

Wordsworth, I agree on the giving of books. In fact, if there was much interest, I’d gladly set-up and host an online database of books that people were willing to give-away. (Maybe there could also be an option just to lend it out.)

By: leifrigney

leifrigney — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 20:39:56 +0000

Yes, the library is a wonderful thing. I keep them in business with late fees, because I scatter the books all over the house, picking up a different one and reading it depending on which room I am in. And here in Lexington, I have access to five or six public libraries and several college libraries (although I can only check stuff out of the community college where I work and the University of Kentucky).
I think that’s where Michael may have trouble — I have lived in Oneida (roughly a fifth of my life was spent there) and I know full well his feasible library choices: none and noner. That must make it tough. And the “books” they give away at the local thrift shop are comprised mainly of books he himself has donated or books that are as obsolete (even for a bibliophile like myself) as the Brother portable word processor I had in college.

By: SarahIrani

SarahIrani — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:39:39 +0000

Like so many bibliophiles, I have this very same problem. But in a effort to save money, I now frequent the local college library. It has been a great deal for me, especially since I work right next to the library. It keeps me honest and I read the books I check out in the four weeks allotted and then I get a new one. I did, however, purchase two books yesteray from Amazon, but they are the sorts of books I like to scrawl in the margins with a pencil. Some are worth pruchasing. We need to be wise!

By: leifrigney

leifrigney — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 18:25:54 +0000

Michael:
I can appreciate what you’re going through, with a variation: I rarely buy new books. In fact, I prefer used books. Sure, it’s thrilling to get a package from Amazon, but I have thus far resisted its siren call for the most part. Of course, most of the stuff I like is readily available used, whereas the theology and things you like are probably not as easy to find except new. But it’s not just that — I love a book that’s a little tattered and used.
I admit to being very impractical about books. The whole idea of “can I USE this book” does not resonate with me. I admit that I love books simply because they are books, and their “bookness” attracts me in ways I can’t explain. I am happy when I am around books. Yes, I read them, but I have trouble thinking I am “finished” with a book because I have read it. Sometimes I like to just take a book off the shelf that I have read and that I loved (or was challenged by) and just caress it and flip it open and read a short passage.
Anyway, you’ve made me think a lot, as you always do. But I can’t say I will be getting rid of any books soon (unless I cull the herd a little to make room for new ones). In fact, I have been trying to psyche myself up to try my hand at building built-in shelves all along the walls of my home office.

By: Augustinian

Augustinian — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 20:38:58 +0000

“When I get a little money I buy books, and if any is left over I buy food and clothes.”
~Dessiderius Erasmus

At least I heard him quoted as saying that before.

By: GL

GL — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:44:28 +0000

You’re lethal to idolatry. At least to my idols.

By: wordsworth

wordsworth — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:26:15 +0000

Wouldn’t it be useful if we could cultivate an ethic is GIVING books away when we no longer use them? If I knew you were looking for a certain book and I had it on my shelf (not all that likely, but still) and it was headed to the thrift store anyway, I’d much rather stick it in the mail to you! If the Christian community/church community/blogosphere/local community/whatever parameter you want to talk about had an ongoing discussion going about which books we’re looking for and which books we’re bailing on, we’d all benefit.

All that to say….I think you should add one step to your list. Let people in your various circles know WHAT is on your list, just in case. You never know….

By: aaron arledge

aaron arledge — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 03:51:14 +0000

Michael, I have found walmart.com the cheapest place to purchase books. They do not have the current book you are seeking but do have a bunch of others that I never expected they would have. They might charge more for shipping but the base price of a book is usually better.