Books?

[Kriegsspiel]

I love libraries. They maintain my book collection for me.

The last couple places I've lived, they've been a block from my gym, which is very convenient. My current one (and my gym) is a quick 10 minute walk away. I'm guessing, Vinny, that you meant 5-10 minutes driving, so maybe 30 minutes walking? Once every few weeks? That's not bad. But if you have hundreds of Kindle books in the hopper I could understand you not bothering so that you could blast through that backlog.

[vnatale]

It’s funny, I like libraries because they want the books back. The converse of your friend’s outlook. I used to have a quasi-hoarding problem. I still have clutter that I need to deal with, and books are among the things I find it harder to part with...if I buy them.

I still buy some books that I don’t want to wait for, but how great is the library! They give you books and CDs for free, and they store them for you when you’re not using them. I make a donation a few times a year, but it’s way less that what I’d be paying to get these titles new.

I am a hoarder. But less than in the past. And, books are just one of the items I've collected. As a result every single room in my house has shelves. The bathroom alone has 500 books in it.

However, as frugal as I am, I find my own personal library far superior to a library on three counts:

1) I like oftentimes like reading a follow up to a book I just read. And, even sometimes a specific time. I remember the time I had that feeling and all I had to do was walk over the next bedroom next to this one (which used to be my "library" until the books multiplied exponentially and spread all over the house), got that next book I wanted to read, and started reading it. Absent having that book I would have had to spend time going to the library plus been delayed in getting to read the book. And, that assumes that they even would have had it. Which leads me to the next point.

2) For categories of which I have specific interest like personal finance where I have over 500 books regarding it my selection of books regarding that category is going to dwarf what any public library will have in that category. Thus, I'm not going to be able to get it from one of my local libraries and even on of all the libraries in my area via inter-loan.

3) And, finally, my already mentioned issue of having to spend time returning the books on time if I'd not been able to prior return them.

Vinny

[vnatale]

how great is the library! They give you books and CDs for free, and they store them for you when you’re not using them. I make a donation a few times a year, but it’s way less that what I’d be paying to get these titles new.

They are indeed awesome....but you do know that an insane amount of property tax goes to fund them? Making an additional donation seems like voluntarily telling the IRS that you prefer to pay a higher marginal rate.

I have somewhat gone the opposite direction by donating the books to libraries that I have been able to part with and, thus, got a charitable deduction for doing so. Takes far less time and probably nets me more in the tax savings than the time I've have to invest plus the little return I'd get in actually trying to sell them.

Vinny

[vnatale]

I recently finished "The Wright Brothers" by David McCullough. That guy can really write. I've rarely found non-fiction books to be ones that I can barely put down, but this one was like that. I learned a lot about the Wright brothers that I never appreciated before.

This describes my experience with "Hero of the Empire", a story of Churchill's time in the Boer War around the turn of the century. Absolutely fantastic.

Just added that to my Amazon wish list. Would have bought it because it is cheap enough but I know I recently purchased in the last several months some Churchill book but don't know if that was the one. Will know once I got through the recently purchased books pile to organize them into categories.

Vinny

[vnatale]

I love libraries. They maintain my book collection for me.

The last couple places I've lived, they've been a block from my gym, which is very convenient. My current one (and my gym) is a quick 10 minute walk away. I'm guessing, Vinny, that you meant 5-10 minutes driving, so maybe 30 minutes walking? Once every few weeks? That's not bad. But if you have hundreds of Kindle books in the hopper I could understand you not bothering so that you could blast through that backlog.

Yes. I have at least 7,000 paper type books in this house plus many more books than that in ebook form. And, generally, I just do not go out of my way for anything. Always try to fit it into my natural travels.

Vinny

[dualstow]

how great is the library! They give you books and CDs for free, and they store them for you when you’re not using them. I make a donation a few times a year, but it’s way less that what I’d be paying to get these titles new.

They are indeed awesome....but you do know that an insane amount of property tax goes to fund them? Making an additional donation seems like voluntarily telling the IRS that you prefer to pay a higher marginal rate.

Or maybe it means I like libraries.
I looked up the sources of funding for a nearby library once. I didn’t see anything that bugged me. My property taxes have more than tripled since I got my house and local taxes are pretty high, but the IRS takes very little. I don’t know, I just feel good donating to the library. (We should bump the old charity thread).

Vinny, I don’t know if you live in a castle or what, but I couldn’t fit 500 books in my entire home (and remain married). I gave a beautiful wooden bookcase, huge, with thick glass in front, to my contractor after we renovated and it didn’t look right anymore. Then I got rid of 1/5 of my book collection. Very painful. But, I have plenty of books laying around that I may very well never get to.

I pick up and return the books on foot. Walking is almost the only exercise I get.

[vnatale]

how great is the library! They give you books and CDs for free, and they store them for you when you’re not using them. I make a donation a few times a year, but it’s way less that what I’d be paying to get these titles new.

They are indeed awesome....but you do know that an insane amount of property tax goes to fund them? Making an additional donation seems like voluntarily telling the IRS that you prefer to pay a higher marginal rate.

Or maybe it means I like libraries.
I looked up the sources of funding for a nearby library once. I didn’t see anything that bugged me. My property taxes have more than tripled since I got my house and local taxes are pretty high, but the IRS takes very little. I don’t know, I just feel good donating to the library. (We should bump the old charity thread).

Vinny, I don’t know if you live in a castle or what, but I couldn’t fit 500 books in my entire home (and remain married). I gave a beautiful wooden bookcase, huge, with thick glass in front, to my contractor after we renovated and it didn’t look right anymore. Then I got rid of 1/5 of my book collection. Very painful. But, I have plenty of books laying around that I may very well never get to.

I pick up and return the books on foot. Walking is almost the only exercise I get.

I live by myself (other than 19 pets). My house is not that big - 900 square feet (with an equally sized basement below it, which is absolutely packed along with a 500 square foot garage, also packed but with my car in it). It's amazing the amount of materials that shelves can hold. Also, have 7,000 records and 5,000 CDs and 1,000 DVDs and plenty of other things.

And, my true exercise is in my living room where I have a half rack with 275 pounds of Olympic weights. Just fits my desires to get done whatever I want to in the least amount of time (with no wasted travel time) so as to leave time over for all the other things I never have enough time to do.

Vinny

[Cortopassi]

My front yard:



Love books, love reading, but am loving my Kindle a lot as well, even though not paper. We are at the library 3+ times a week. If we lived within walking distance, I'd be there every day.

[dualstow]

Corto. Nice! Used to have one of those in my neighborhood, but it has vanished.

19 pets! I hope 16 of them are goldfish.

[vnatale]

My front yard:



Love books, love reading, but am loving my Kindle a lot as well, even though not paper. We are at the library 3+ times a week. If we lived within walking distance, I'd be there every day.

Looks good! We have some of those around here but none as good looking as yours!

I am still reading books in all forms - paperback, hard cover, on this computer, on one of the various Kindles I own, my iPads, my iTouch.

I'm mainly buying the books in either paperback or hard cover form because they are cheaper from Amazon new than buying them in Kindle version (I guess there will never be a "used" Kindle version)?

I did buy Craig and Tex's book in the Kindle version as I knew it would be a book I'd want to study and take excerpts from.

Vinny

[vnatale]

Corto. Nice! Used to have one of those in my neighborhood, but it has vanished.

19 pets! I hope 16 of them are goldfish.

Never on my own have had any kind of pet fish. Way too much maintenance.

All of mine are relatively low maintenance and don't require me to be home by any time for them or for me to do anything with them ("take the dog for a walk")

3 cats
16 rodents (6 rats / 10 gerbils)

I had at least one dog from 1982 to 2005, 23 years straight, but realized my life style is far more suited to the 19 above than to dogs. Also have had rabbits, ferrets (magical little creatures), mice I catch in my house and keep until I release them in the spring, hamsters, degus. I think that might be it.

Vinny

[vnatale]

I'm mainly buying the books in either paperback or hard cover form because they are cheaper from Amazon new than buying them in Kindle version (I guess there will never be a "used" Kindle version)?

That's my main gripe with Kindle. I used to buy used paperbacks on Amazon for next to nothing, and the Kindle books cost more (why?) and can't be resold, lent out, or donated to the library.

But on the recommendation of one of the posters here (I can't remember who) I bought a Kindle and never looked back. The convenience is unmatched. I love looking up words I don't know the definition of, taking 300 books on vacation etc.

I have many ebook readers of tablets of different brands. My three favorites - the ones I like the most - are my ipad, my iPad mini (because it not that much smaller than the iPad but much lighter), and my paperwhite Kindle. The latter one was a total impulse purchase strictly because it was on sale and I even asked myself why I was buying it in the light of all I already owned. And, when it arrived I was quite disappointed because I'd not checked it's size. Generally I like reading on devices that give me about the same number of words on it as a book. But one night I took it with me to a restaurant and it was quite pleased that I could use it by holding it in my left hand while using my right hand for eating and could do all the page turning with my left hand. And, then I realized it was small enough to fit in my back pocket. So now, whenever I go to live music and not enough is going on stage to keep my interest, I pull out that Kindle and start reading it. Certainly use it all the time between sets. I'd buy a smart phone if it could give me the same reading experience that that Kindle does. From my limited search it does not seem like such a phone exists?

Vinny

[dualstow]

That's my main gripe with Kindle. I used to buy used paperbacks on Amazon for next to nothing, and the Kindle books cost more (why?) and can't be resold, lent out, or donated to the library.

cost more: The answer is publishers. They keep the price up. Not Amazon’s fault.
can’t be loaned: my library lended out kindle books, but I got tired of waiting for a digital copy. I haven’t tried in ten years.

[vnatale]

That's my main gripe with Kindle. I used to buy used paperbacks on Amazon for next to nothing, and the Kindle books cost more (why?) and can't be resold, lent out, or donated to the library.

cost more: The answer is publishers. They keep the price up. Not Amazon’s fault.
can’t be loaned: my library lended out kindle books, but I got tired of waiting for a digital copy. I haven’t tried in ten years.

Yes. The libraries treat them as if they were just like one physical book. They buy one e-version, then they only loan out one copy of it.

Vinny

[vnatale]

Generally I like reading on devices that give me about the same number of words on it as a book.

You can change the font size to how ever many words you want on a page.

Yes. I do know that. However, I'm an extremely fast reader - 900 words per minute - that I want to have a lot words on screen to have a high ratio of [time spend reading / time spent turning the page]. I believe I have it on the tiniest font possible. It works out fairly well on the paperweight Kindle. Not as many words on the screen as I get on the iPad but good enough for portable use.

I'd buy a smart phone if it could give me the same reading experience that that Kindle does. From my limited search it does not seem like such a phone exists?

You really are frugal. I didn't know anyone under 70 had a phone that wasn't a smartphone.

I was not clear enough. Years ago I bought some used (of course) iPhones but only used them as portable internet devices. Not as phones.

Then in June 2018 I decided I should finally have a working cellphone. So, I signed up with Google Fi (mainly because you can make phone calls over WiFi (my house is spotty for many wireless carriers and I've seen many people in the building where by office is either go outside to make cell phone calls or be in the entrance vestibule.). But it was borne out that I really did not need a working cellphone as two weeks ago when our office phone system was down was the FIRST time I'd used my phone to make phone calls since I'd bought it 18 months prior (all the while paying $25 a month for the unlimited text and phone). I still have yet to make a text. Don't know what my phone number is and have yet to give my phone number to anyone.

Ever since I got involved with the internet I've avoid the phone unless it is absolutely the best form of communication. It just demands too much of your immediate attention. I prefer the asynchronous form of communication like this.

Finally, I'm a BIG information person, using two 23" monitors on this computer as I do in my office. Getting information from a tiny (relative to 23" monitors) is just way too inefficient. Sending a text or an email using a cellphone keyboard seems torturous given that I can type 50, 60 words a minute on a computer keyboard. About as far down as I'll go on typing on an electronic device is either an iPad or an iPad mini.

My cellphone is a nice one - it's the version of this one that was available in June 2018 (may actually be the same model) and cost the same now as it did then $199. https://fi.google.com/about/phones/#moto-g7 But I can go weeks without using it in any way.

My comment regarding what I'd buy is that (since I can easily afford it no matter what the costs) I'd buy yet another cellphone (adding to the four I already own) IF it offered me a book reading screen as large as what that Kindle paperweight does.

Vinny

[vnatale]

If this is your type of book then I recommend it:

Every Man a Hero: A Memoir of D-Day, the First Wave at Omaha Beach, and a World at War

https://smile.amazon.com/Every-Man-Hero ... l_huc_item

It's a fast read. Started it Friday night and finished it last night.

The author was 98 years old when he wrote it and he is one of the LAST surviving participants at D-Day. (And, I WILL be returning the book TODAY as I will be twice driving by TWO libraries on my way to and from our end of Fall season softball playoffs today.)

Vinny

[dualstow]

Off topic, but I just want to make sure you know, Vinny, that you can send texts from a desktop.
I’ve always been able to use iMessage on my Mac, and now I can also send android texts from a web browser. You just have to have your phone on, scan a QR code on the screen, and start typing. I haven’t had to re-scan in over a month.

Full keyboard, desktop-sized screen.

[bedraggled]

Pug,

I have a flip phone and I am under 70.

It is nice not being “connected” all the time.

BUT do you fine people think I will be compelled to give up my flip phone?

Thanks.

[Libertarian666]

Finally, I'm a BIG information person, using two 23" monitors on this computer as I do in my office. Getting information from a tiny (relative to 23" monitors) is just way too inefficient.

23"? I haven't used a monitor that small for years. I'm currently using a 4K 55" monitor.
Here's what I would probably buy today, for under $400:
https://www.costco.com/samsung-55%22-cl ... 55707.html

Sending a text or an email using a cellphone keyboard seems torturous given that I can type 50, 60 words a minute on a computer keyboard.

If you switch to Dvorak you could probably go a lot faster. I've hit 100 wpm in the past, although I don't know if I could do that now, what with my arthritis.

[dualstow]

I’m jealous of fast readers. There was a Hungarian physicist — I think he worked on the Manhattan project — who said he doesn’t exactly read. “I look at the page and see what is there.” Wish I could do that.

[vnatale]

Off topic, but I just want to make sure you know, Vinny, that you can send texts from a desktop.
I’ve always been able to use iMessage on my Mac, and now I can also send android texts from a web browser. You just have to have your phone on, scan a QR code on the screen, and start typing. I haven’t had to re-scan in over a month.

Full keyboard, desktop-sized screen.

Did not know that. But for me "texts" in my world are both the emails I send and Facebook (private) messages I send via this computer (and, any others that I use).

Vinny

[vnatale]

Finally, I'm a BIG information person, using two 23" monitors on this computer as I do in my office. Getting information from a tiny (relative to 23" monitors) is just way too inefficient.

23"? I haven't used a monitor that small for years. I'm currently using a 4K 55" monitor.
Here's what I would probably buy today, for under $400:
https://www.costco.com/samsung-55%22-cl ... 55707.html

Sending a text or an email using a cellphone keyboard seems torturous given that I can type 50, 60 words a minute on a computer keyboard.

If you switch to Dvorak you could probably go a lot faster. I've hit 100 wpm in the past, although I don't know if I could do that now, what with my arthritis.

How does a monitor that size work ergonomically? The ideal is to be looking straight ahead with your head level. It seems like with a monitor that size I might have to tilt my head up a fair amount of time? The next step up for my office monitors would be 29" or so. There I stand all the time while doing my work.

And, Dvorak. I believe I read about that in the book that demonstrated how you could learn various things in 20 hours. Maybe, some day!

Vinny

[vnatale]

Finally, I'm a BIG information person, using two 23" monitors on this computer as I do in my office. Getting information from a tiny (relative to 23" monitors) is just way too inefficient.

23"? I haven't used a monitor that small for years. I'm currently using a 4K 55" monitor.
Here's what I would probably buy today, for under $400:
https://www.costco.com/samsung-55%22-cl ... 55707.html

Sending a text or an email using a cellphone keyboard seems torturous given that I can type 50, 60 words a minute on a computer keyboard.

If you switch to Dvorak you could probably go a lot faster. I've hit 100 wpm in the past, although I don't know if I could do that now, what with my arthritis.

And, going back to that URL that you sent me on the monitor. I'd strongly consider buying it as a TV. When I see something has 1,059 reviews with a 4.5 star rating out of 5 stars that definitely gets my attention. If it was not that good in the first place it would never get that many reviews. And, 4.5 out of 5 is quite high.

Vinny

[vnatale]

I’m jealous of fast readers. There was a Hungarian physicist — I think he worked on the Manhattan project — who said he doesn’t exactly read. “I look at the page and see what is there.” Wish I could do that.

Over a two year period in high school, I taught myself how to increase my speed from 300 to 900 words per minute. I bought two books on how to read faster and did EVERYTHING they said to do. I was extremely motivated, dedicated, and disciplined with it.

Just one anecdote regarding its benefit.

A friend of mine took the GMAT (exams for acceptance to graduate business schools). I asked him how many times he'd been able to get through each section before they said to close the booklets. He said, "How many times??!! I could not even get through them once!" I'd been able to fully read them two times and was on my third time around when they said to close the booklets. Being able to read the information that fast was a tremendous advantage in then answering the questions based upon what we read.

I could give you some tips on how to read faster. Some would take an investment of time (that would later pay off) while others would take no investment of time but would give an immediate payoff.


Vinny

[dualstow]

Please do. Can’t hurt to try.