4 ms·

> I suspect that in a generation or two, to walk into a home with bookshelves filled with books will be akin to walking into a home with original art on the wal

> I suspect that in a generation or two, to walk into a home with bookshelves filled with books will be akin to walking into a home with original art on the walls. Both will be rare occurrences — even if the art is not by an old master or even if the books are not first editions or even classics. Their material presence on the shelves will provide aura enough This is already the case today, at least for me. So many homes and apartments without books, or just a few decorative ones on a coffee table. Anytime I end up in an apartment with a decent bookshelf I get excited and immediately run over to judge their taste and see where it intersects with my own.

bombcar 4y ago
beware the ones ordered by the foot: https://booksbythefoot.com https://booksbythefoot.com
- martin_a 4y ago
  Wow, there's a business for everything today. :-D
  - hedora 4y ago
    You can tell things have improved since the Great Gatsby, since these appear to have words inside them.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
shadowofneptune 4y ago
I am skeptical myself. Even if people do not maintain large collections, there is clearly still a gigantic appetite for printed books. The author's experience may be colored by his focus on fine books. Cheap paperbacks still sell very well and make up most people's intake of books. I don't see how offset printing could have an aura while digital distribution does not.
kwatsonafter 4y ago
This has been America since it started. Bookishness is a class thing and not necessarily a, "social progress" thing historically despite what everyone thinks.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
WalterBright 4y ago
Have you ever noticed that every remote interviewee on TV has a bookshelf background with a carefully curated stock of books in it?
- boopboopbadoop 4y ago
  Yes, and they make sure the face rather than the spine of the book de jour is pointed at the camera so you’re sure to see how smart the person is.
  - WalterBright 4y ago
    Me, I just use a photograph of a bookshelf as my background!
    - mhh__ 4y ago
      That's goofy
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
poisonarena 4y ago
Having lived in Colombia and Brazil for a number of years, except for the very rich, after visiting hundreds of peoples homes, I have never seen more than the bible in anyones house. Perhaps if I visit a guy in his mid 20s/early 30s he may have some kind of marvel graphic novel/manga. I think lower middleclass/middle class people in europe and USA have at least a small library or collection of novels or cookbooks or coffeetable books. I also noticed people in Mexico had more as well.. I feel like South America(at least CO + BR) has almost no culture of enjoying books since television/Cellphones came around..
- yazantapuz 4y ago
  Argentina is not like that. Althought in decline, large part of the population have an apetite for books.

bombcar 4y ago

beware the ones ordered by the foot: https://booksbythefoot.com https://booksbythefoot.com

martin_a 4y ago
Wow, there's a business for everything today. :-D
- hedora 4y ago
  You can tell things have improved since the Great Gatsby, since these appear to have words inside them.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

shadowofneptune 4y ago

I am skeptical myself. Even if people do not maintain large collections, there is clearly still a gigantic appetite for printed books. The author's experience may be colored by his focus on fine books. Cheap paperbacks still sell very well and make up most people's intake of books. I don't see how offset printing could have an aura while digital distribution does not.

kwatsonafter 4y ago

This has been America since it started. Bookishness is a class thing and not necessarily a, "social progress" thing historically despite what everyone thinks.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

WalterBright 4y ago

Have you ever noticed that every remote interviewee on TV has a bookshelf background with a carefully curated stock of books in it?

boopboopbadoop 4y ago
Yes, and they make sure the face rather than the spine of the book de jour is pointed at the camera so you’re sure to see how smart the person is.
- WalterBright 4y ago
  Me, I just use a photograph of a bookshelf as my background!
  - mhh__ 4y ago
    That's goofy
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

poisonarena 4y ago

Having lived in Colombia and Brazil for a number of years, except for the very rich, after visiting hundreds of peoples homes, I have never seen more than the bible in anyones house. Perhaps if I visit a guy in his mid 20s/early 30s he may have some kind of marvel graphic novel/manga. I think lower middleclass/middle class people in europe and USA have at least a small library or collection of novels or cookbooks or coffeetable books. I also noticed people in Mexico had more as well.. I feel like South America(at least CO + BR) has almost no culture of enjoying books since television/Cellphones came around..

yazantapuz 4y ago
Argentina is not like that. Althought in decline, large part of the population have an apetite for books.