GoKawiilI was a pretty avid reader as a kid, but as I transitioned to adulthood, my ability to focus on the written page withered. It seems I’m not alone: PISA reports reveal unprecedented drops in reading ability, professors in elite universities claim that humanities students can’t finish books, and looking around me, it feels like there are fewer book readers than ever. Fingers point to excessive screen time, and in my case at least, it was certainly the primary culprit.
A few years ago, however, I rebelled against doom-scrolling and sought help from a psychologist. It took me a lot of work to build a modest but constant habit of reading for twenty minutes every day. However, what started out as discipline turned into wildfire, and I now read at a pace of about 1.5 books per week. Russian literature, the history of ideas, ancient philosophy, 19th century Europe, computer science - so many topics, so little time!
Learning to cherish the act of reading in the here-and-now, instead of seeking some future benefit, has been tantamount to the process. But the benefits are many too, and they transcend the purely intellectual: the imagination is more vivid, and the spirit more serene.
I keep books that I'm currently reading lying around the house, and a pile of books that I want to read next (the pile on the shelf in the background). Luckily, Pachi doesn't particularly enjoy chewing on paper.
As reading has become my favorite pastime, I’ve also started buying many more books. Inspired by Umberto Eco’s philosophy on book-collecting I now acquire more books than I can read and find great joy in growing a private library to draw from, depending on the vibes of the moment. Following the spirit of Eco’s recommendations, I stick to a monthly budget that feels generous yet affordable and that grows my collection at a steady pace. It’s a rather economical hobby compared to others I’ve had.
I’ve tried eBooks at several points in my life. The experience is pretty good, but I am skeptical of the ownership model, and above all, for me, nothing beats the physical experience of print books. Being surrounded by so many interesting tomes creates a virtuous mechanism that pushes me to read more. Wandering inside a bookstore, picking up books, and turning the pages is a great way to spend a bit of free time. And receiving books in the mail feels like mini-Christmas, every time.
On the latter, like many others, I purchase most of my books through Amazon. I don’t find the speed of delivery that valuable, but the competitive pricing (especially factoring in Prime), ease of ordering, and above all, the massive selection - including books in Spanish, English, and French, languages in which I read indistinctly - are huge factors for me.
It’s not uncommon for Amazon books to come damaged. There is, however, a problem with Amazon book ordering that to me is significantly worse than mishandled books: the emergence of print-on-demand books, that is, books that are not drawn from a stock edition but are printed on the spot when you order them.
I quite like this presentation, but it's pretty unusual.
The first time I remember noticing a print-on-demand book was with Bertrand Russell’s The Problems of Philosophy. The cover was somewhat funky and out of the ordinary, featuring a cartoon illustration of the English philosopher. The publishing house was nowhere to be found, and upon inspection, I saw “Printed by Amazon in France” at the back. I figured this was a book in the public domain, perhaps with little demand, so I didn’t think much of it.
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