Who else likes books?
- Thread starter JJEH
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And one of my favorites is:
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
-Groucho Marx
-Groucho Marx
BLACKHAWKNJ
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No TV for 25 years means more time for reading.
I have several first editions of Charlie Askins' books, also an original copy of J. Henry Fitzgerald's book.
I have several first editions of Charlie Askins' books, also an original copy of J. Henry Fitzgerald's book.
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OP
JJEH
Member
TennTony
US Veteran
Since January 2017 I have read 308 books. Probably a few thousand before that. I guess I like books.
The actual quote is by Mark Twain: The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.
The actual quote is by Mark Twain: The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.
I go into home town library quite often. It’s not like it use to be. They have 6 computers and there is always people playing games on them. They have audio books, DVDs and such to. Seems books are decorations like the old times stuff on the wall at Cracker Barrel. Library use to be full of kids that were studying.
I like books. I remember the first book I ever saw ... "Go Dog Go." I was in 1st grade. There was no library at my school. A bookmobile came each Friday and we were allowed to check out one book. That book has been the first one I have read to each of my grandchildren.
When we married, I was privileged to have access to the collected libraries of two fine pastors ... my wife's father and grandfather. These books were absolutely priceless to me. Some had not ever been razored open. What a surprise it was to open a book written maybe 100 years earlier and read what at that time would have been current thought. These books formed the core of my library for the early years when I simply could not afford to buy good books except on the odd sales that took place on campus.
Over the last 40 years most of my pastoral ministry has been to congregations in rural areas where libraries, etc. were small with limited collections. My wife and I maintained a large personal library of hundreds of books for our daughters. They grew up surrounded by books. At night we would spend time reading. This was often forced simply b/c television reception in rural areas was poor. In hindsight, it has proven a happy turn of events.
Some of the books I've held onto are significant to me b/c an author signed it, etc. Some are significant to be b/c of struggles through which I was having to navigate. A number are significant b/c of those who gave them to me.
Through my years of pastoral ministry, I have bought mostly study books, commentaries, language books (Greek/Hebrew), etc. Over the last several years I've been reading a variety of history books ... Through a distant Mirror, August 1914, The Forgotten Soldier, etc.
This year I've spent a lot of time listening to audio books. Each day I walk about 7 miles. I can listen to extended works, symphonies, and best of all ... I can listen to the Bible. In two hours I can listen to just about any book in the New Testament and many books in the Old Testament. In the course of a month, I can easily listen to the entire Bible. Since this Covid stuff hit, I have listened to the Bible and thereby come to appreciate afresh many of the books that I had previously read ... often at a high rate of speed. Listening has forced me to pay more attention to what was written simply because I cannot get lazy and merely skim along.
Currently we have two book cases ... built for us by a dear church member in 1986. These cases are solid oak, measure 5 x 7 feet, deep enough for oversize reference type books. These cases currently hold a little over 700 books. I have some other books in my office at the church ... maybe 100 or so.
One day my wife and I will be gone. Our books, they will live on to be used of God in the lives of our children and our children's children. Cool! Sincerely. bruce.
When we married, I was privileged to have access to the collected libraries of two fine pastors ... my wife's father and grandfather. These books were absolutely priceless to me. Some had not ever been razored open. What a surprise it was to open a book written maybe 100 years earlier and read what at that time would have been current thought. These books formed the core of my library for the early years when I simply could not afford to buy good books except on the odd sales that took place on campus.
Over the last 40 years most of my pastoral ministry has been to congregations in rural areas where libraries, etc. were small with limited collections. My wife and I maintained a large personal library of hundreds of books for our daughters. They grew up surrounded by books. At night we would spend time reading. This was often forced simply b/c television reception in rural areas was poor. In hindsight, it has proven a happy turn of events.
Some of the books I've held onto are significant to me b/c an author signed it, etc. Some are significant to be b/c of struggles through which I was having to navigate. A number are significant b/c of those who gave them to me.
Through my years of pastoral ministry, I have bought mostly study books, commentaries, language books (Greek/Hebrew), etc. Over the last several years I've been reading a variety of history books ... Through a distant Mirror, August 1914, The Forgotten Soldier, etc.
This year I've spent a lot of time listening to audio books. Each day I walk about 7 miles. I can listen to extended works, symphonies, and best of all ... I can listen to the Bible. In two hours I can listen to just about any book in the New Testament and many books in the Old Testament. In the course of a month, I can easily listen to the entire Bible. Since this Covid stuff hit, I have listened to the Bible and thereby come to appreciate afresh many of the books that I had previously read ... often at a high rate of speed. Listening has forced me to pay more attention to what was written simply because I cannot get lazy and merely skim along.
Currently we have two book cases ... built for us by a dear church member in 1986. These cases are solid oak, measure 5 x 7 feet, deep enough for oversize reference type books. These cases currently hold a little over 700 books. I have some other books in my office at the church ... maybe 100 or so.
One day my wife and I will be gone. Our books, they will live on to be used of God in the lives of our children and our children's children. Cool! Sincerely. bruce.
islandguy
Member
"Who else likes books?"
Guilty.
Me too. Been a bookworm since 1st grade.
I too can thank my parents for installing in me the love of reading. I have stopped buying though and for the past 10 or so years get my books from the library.
I just learned about CJ Box and his game warden character series from friends I introduced to the Longmire series of books.
I read 99% fiction, a great diversion from reality, mostly mystery stories. I have a portable hammock I set up in my yard during the warmer months to read from and a very comfortable couch for the colder times.
Last year I got True Grit and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m also a fan of the remake much more than the original, stayed very true to the dialogue of the book with far better actors as well. However both films weren’t as true to Rooster as he’s only in his mid 30s in the book.
Rarely does a film come close to the source. One recent exception is 13 Hours, the book/film about Benghazi.
I just learned about CJ Box and his game warden character series from friends I introduced to the Longmire series of books.
I read 99% fiction, a great diversion from reality, mostly mystery stories. I have a portable hammock I set up in my yard during the warmer months to read from and a very comfortable couch for the colder times.
Last year I got True Grit and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m also a fan of the remake much more than the original, stayed very true to the dialogue of the book with far better actors as well. However both films weren’t as true to Rooster as he’s only in his mid 30s in the book.
Rarely does a film come close to the source. One recent exception is 13 Hours, the book/film about Benghazi.
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Not only books, but newspapers/magazines. Several times in my lifetime that reading was only affordable activity, when in proximity to a library. Now a days a lot of small local libraries don't have much for newspapers or magazines.
One real advantage to getting older is memory loss. Read a book and put it down for a year. The next year ya forgot what was in it and can read it again.
One real advantage to getting older is memory loss. Read a book and put it down for a year. The next year ya forgot what was in it and can read it again.
Was able to start reading again after addressing my sleep apnea. Couldn't read a page & a half without dropping off. Now, I head out to the patio after dinner with a book and a coffee, read till it gets dark. Only problem now is the days are getting shorter.
Me too! Especially love reading history concerning WW2. Right now reading "Retribution" by Prit Buttar" Details the fighting in the East following the battle of Kursk and for the remainder of 1943. Book follows "On A Knife's Edge" Excellent reads by the way.
Although I enjoy OpenLibrary/Internet Archive and ZLibrary I also enjoy cracking open an old tome, with all the associated smells going with it especially since there are some you can not find online in digital format. 
tndrfttom
Member
When I was a kid I didn’t have access to a TV until the next door neighbors got one that we were invited over to watch it on Saturday nights. So books were a source of a lot of my early entertainment. Started out with everything on aviation but once I found guns my tastes changed. I found a copy of WHB Smith’s “Small Arms of the World” in the library and was hooked. When I found the “Samworth Books” and “Stackpole Books” I stocked up on such “classics” as:
Ordnance Went Up Front
Shots Fired In Anger
A Rifleman Went To War
The Book of the Springfield
With British Snipers to the Reich
Small Arms Design and Ballistics
Hatcher’s Notebook
And a host of early gunsmith books.
Anything by Howe, Hatcher, Whelen, Dunlap, Crossman, Sharpe, Brophy, Ackley was tracked down and added to my library.
And the American Riflemen of the 50’s 60’s and 70’s had good original, scholarly, research articles and of course the “Dope Bag” always held something of interest. (To me, the content of The Rifleman today is a shadow of its former self).
More recently the books from “Collector Grade Publications” and various self-published researchers have taken over the scholarly study field on firearms. While there isn’t much you can’t find on line these days I still enjoy having my old books close at hand.
Ordnance Went Up Front
Shots Fired In Anger
A Rifleman Went To War
The Book of the Springfield
With British Snipers to the Reich
Small Arms Design and Ballistics
Hatcher’s Notebook
And a host of early gunsmith books.
Anything by Howe, Hatcher, Whelen, Dunlap, Crossman, Sharpe, Brophy, Ackley was tracked down and added to my library.
And the American Riflemen of the 50’s 60’s and 70’s had good original, scholarly, research articles and of course the “Dope Bag” always held something of interest. (To me, the content of The Rifleman today is a shadow of its former self).
More recently the books from “Collector Grade Publications” and various self-published researchers have taken over the scholarly study field on firearms. While there isn’t much you can’t find on line these days I still enjoy having my old books close at hand.
Chubbo
Member
Books have always been a major part of my life. My Mom taught me to read at about age three. I attribute my skills to them, both by my teachers, and by myself. the first word that I learned to spell was "gun". I unlearnedly pronounced it Shotgun, as it was in reference to my uncles Mod. 97, 16ga. Winchester shotgun, that he promised to give me on my 21 birthday. I have literally thousands of books, some of which I've read several times, and none of which I can bear to part with. I will leave my family the task of getting rid of them. I've tried Kindle books also, but don't enjoy them with the same passion as I do "real' books.
Chubbo
Chubbo
