The "Real Books, Made Of Paper" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Spent a few hours in front of my desktop iMac working on the Manheim Township Middle School 2019 yearbook.  After that long a time staring at the screen, even though it is rather large, and listening to all the annoying pings, I was so glad not to have to look at it anymore. For a long time!  For the majority of the population of the world, this is probably a daily routine for you.  How can you do it?  Hard on the eyes?  It just has to be and soon there will be a specific eye malady with a name something like "Ping In Screen Syndrome" (PISS).  I work on the yearbook for hours to make a salary that I will eventually use to head to a Caribbean Island where I will relax on a white sand beach with aqua water in front of me.  And, I will read a book to relax!  Maybe a couple books, depending on how long we stay in paradise and what might pass by me on the beach that deserves a look.  And...I know it makes no sense...the book I read will me on my Kindle.  I used to read real, honest to goodness paper books years ago, but as I aged I found it harder to see the type size that is used for paperback novels.  

What's your choice?  Real books or an e-reader?

So, I found that I can enlarge the type font and change the type style to suit my eyesight.  It makes reading so much more enjoyable when you can see the words on the page without squinting.  I've had a Kindle for at least a dozen years, buying my second one before a vacation in 2018.  At first it just didn't seem right, not having a paper book to be able to turn the pages.  I had a really neat book mark that was my constant friend from book to book.  All of a sudden it was put to rest.  At first, when I got my second Kindle, I had trouble finding where I had stopped reading the day before.  So, I made sure I always stopped at the end of a chapter.  When you read James Patterson quite a bit, you know that it only takes a minute or two to read a chapter.  I have read of a few avid readers who have given up their Kindle, since they long for paper pages after spending hours at a time viewing a computer screen where they work.  At times I feel guilty not switching back to paper books, since both my sons are pressmen who are responsible for the printed word.  They rely on people to read printed material to keep their jobs.  I do read the daily morning newspaper while at home, but when on vacation I rely on my laptop to get the daily local news. But, I like to save stories from time to time and find it easier to take a scissors and cut them out than have to cut and paste and then send the job to the printer.  In 2010 the founder of MIT Media Lab predicted that e-books would overtake the printed book in 5 years.  But, guess what.  In 2015, e-book sales dropped 11%.  My biggest concern about reading e-books is the fact that I have to order them online.  As soon as I do that, someone is tracking what I am reading, for a day or two later, I get a notice telling me I may like to read this author or that author.  And, I just may give one of them a try.  But, I hate that nothing is just for me anymore.  Everyone knows my every move.  If I could find some of my favorite authors in large print books, I may give it a try.  Only problem could be the size and weight of the book due to the larger sized type. So, until someone can come up with a way for me see the type easier without special glasses, I will order my books online and use my Kindle.  The biggest advantage is that I only need a small pocket in my suitcase to hold my Kindle.  My wife knows that and always has a half dozen paperbacks sitting next to my suitcase for me to pack, since her suitcase is already packed with a dozen other paperbacks.  At least she is keeping our sons employed.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Birth Of The Almanac" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Tuesday, March 6 and the day is slowing drawing to a close.  Big news of the day is the approaching storm that is expected to bring up to 10 inches of snow to the area.  Allegedly!  So, just where do they get their information from to determine how much snow we will get?  We in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania have had one of the lowest snow totals in recent history this winter that I can remember.  I haven't had a need to use my snowblower at all this winter and hope to put it to bed for the year without any use at all.  Will that happen?  By the time you read this you may know the answer.  For me, one of the tools that I use to determine my need for my snowblower is the Old Farmer's Almanac.  It is one of many almanacs that is printed every year, but the Farmer's Almanac is the grand-daddy of all almanacs, since it is the oldest continuously published periodical.  

Cover of Old Farmer's Almanac.

It's first editor was Robert B. Thomas who printed his first edition of the Farmer's Almanac in 1792 during George Washington's 1st term as president.  His almanac became an instant success, since his predictions were actually very accurate.  His first year of publication he sold approximately 3,000 copies while the second year his production was tripled.  Cost for the almanac was six pence ($.09).  Almanacs that were printed both then and now supposedly records and predicts astronomical events, tides, weather and other phenomena with respect to time.  Seems Mr Thomas used a complex series of natural cycles to devise his own secret weather forecasting formula.  His results were amazing accurate.  80% accurate to be exact.  How many weathermen can make that claim today?  Seems not only was his weather forecasting more accurate, but his advice and feature stories more entertaining.  Mr. Thomas produced his last edition of the Farmer's Almanac in 1846 and his predictions were much the same as they were 50 years before.  During those years he established his publication as one of America's leading periodicals.  It outsold and outlasted most other periodicals during his reign as top dog in predicting.  His publication was terminated due to his death in 1846 as he was proofreading his 1947 edition of The Farmer's Almanac.  Actually, Robert B. Thomas' almanac wasn't the first in North America, that record going to William Pierce who published his almanac in 1639 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  There have been almanacs published since that time with most of them including the word "Farmer's" in the title.  One early almanac that didn't stick to that format was Poor Robin's Almanack which was published by Poor Richard, Knight of the Burnt Island.  It was declared a comic almanac.  In 1664 a note in his almanac said: This month we may expect to hear of the Death of some Man, Woman, or Child either in Kent or Christendom.  Wow, I could predict that well.  In 1728 a fellow by the name of James Franklin began to publish the Rhode-Island Almanack.  

1942 photo of FBI agents capturing the German spy.

Five years later his brother began to publish Poor Richard's Almanack.  Have you guessed by now that James' brother was Benjamin Franklin.  Mr. Thomas' Farmer's Almanac changed names in 1836 and is now known as The Old Farmer's Almanac.  This years' edition of the Old Farmer's Almanac features astronomical events; trends, gardening, anniversaries, recipes, home remedies, pets husbandry, folklore, amusement, contests, fishing and more.  And, as you might have guessed, you can go online and get access to their online weather.  One final note to my story today is: In 1942, a German spy was apprehended by the FBI after landing on Long Island by U-boat.  In his coat pocket was a copy of The Old Farmer's Almanac.  The U.S. Government speculated that the Germans were using the Almanac for weather forecasts, which meant that the book was indirectly supplying information to the enemy.  Compare that to today's news stories!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Books Lost...Books Found" Story

My old book press from my teaching years.

It was an ordinary day.  Helping my wife with the house cleaning.  Ran the vacuum on the first floor and grabbed a cloth to do some dusting.  For years I have been dusting the antique book press which sits next to an old desk we found at an antique dealer many years ago.  The book press was used for years in my classroom when we made hand-bound books, but when I retired and the new teacher didn't want it, the principal told me to take it with me.  I claimed the press plus the old floor model guillotine paper-cutter, wooden teacher's desk, a few dozen wooden California job cases and drawer after drawer of old wooden and metal type pieces plus metal engravings that were of no use to anyone.  As I dusted the book press I checked out the three books that have been a part of our home since we moved into our Beach House over 20 years ago.  As I looked at the small bound books I was stumped as to how we acquired them.  Carol and I found that one book came from the Martic Elementary School where she went to school as a child while the other two came from the Pequea Township School District.  All three have the little "Date Due" flyer in the back of them showing how many times the book had been read and in one case, what year it was placed in circulation in the library.  Somehow over the years we acquired the three children's books and placed them in our book press when we moved to our current location.  And, today for the first time in my life I opened them and examined them. The following information describes the really neat children's books what I re-discovered: 

• Far from Marlborough Street by Elizabeth Philbrook.  

  

  
  

  This book was published in 1944 and is listed as a book for juvenile audiences.  The book tells the story of Nancy Wadsworth who could hardly believe her ears when her grandfather suggested she, ten year old girl that she was, go along on a stagecoach journey from Boston to Springfield.  It was in the year of 1793 and the roads were rutty.  But, who else could go?  Someone had to take the mysteriously valuable box to Uncle Jonathan to get him out of trouble.  The adventures she goes through from catching a horse thief to buying a moose are all explored in this book.  This book was actually one in Oprah's Bookclub.
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  
  
  This is book 1 on the Chronicles of Narnia and tells how Aslan, the noble lion, freed Narnia from the spell of the White Witch.  The novel is set in Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures that one White Witch has ruled for 100 years of deep winter.  Four English children are relocated to a large country house following a wartime evacuation.  They are sent to the countryside to live with professor Digory Kirke.  The youngest visits Narnia three times via the magic of a wardrobe found in a spare room.  All four children are together on her third visit, which proves that the youngest was telling the truth.  You must read the book to find what happens to the children.  The book all began with a picture in the author's mind of a faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood, but it wasn't until he was about 40 that he made a story about it.  After reading some online notes about the book, I fell compelled to read it myself, being a child at times in my mind.
• A Horse Named Summer by Karen Bendick.  
  
  The book is based on a diary kept by the author when she was 14, therefore the style of the book is very simple.  The sentences are short and declarative and the illustrations, also by the author, are clear and unadorned line drawings.  The devotion the author had for her horse, which her family had rented for her over the summer, is quite evident.  Miss Bendick called her horse Sil Summer Salt and tells details about his care and comfort as well as the pleasure she took in riding him.  As the entries in the diary near the end of the summer, they indicate her transition to a more mature view of her relationship to the animal, which she began to liken to that of a parent and child.  Young girls will love the book it is said.  As I leafed through the book, reading passages, it reminded me of my wife as a young girl who too had a horse that she cared for during her high school years.  

All three books are now back in the book press, but can be removed if anyone would like to read them.  Just type me a comment and we may be able to arrange for you to borrow the books.  All three books have probably entertained quite a few children in the past half-century.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

A popular book titled "A Horse Named Summer" which was borrowed close to 60 times.  On the back of it, but not pictured, was printed in all capital letters: I LOVE JOHN. 

Inside the book, "Far from Marlborough Street", can be seen dates as early as 1963.

The "The Hardcopy Book Vs. The EBook" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Carol is telling me about the book she is reading which I bought her for Christmas.  Book by Jodi Picoult which is one of the best books she has ever read.  And ... the book is a real honest to goodness book.  One that came off a printing press.  Since both our sons work in the printing trade, we both appreciate the fact that she enjoys paper books.  But, I must admit, I'm not a help in that category, since I have a Kindle and love it.  I can go on vacation and have a dozen or so books loaded on my Kindle which weighs about a pound while Carol might have eighteen paperback books that take up more space in our luggage than our beach noodles do.  So why do I prefer the Kindle over a hand-held paperback or why does Carol enjoy the feel of a real book instead of an electronic instrument in her hand.  A few years ago when the eReaders were introduced I thought that might be the end of the printed book, but the more I read, the more I find that the hand-held book is making a comeback and is preferred by more readers than the eBook.  My reasons for loving my Kindle are: Simple to buy a book; I can change the size of the type if I care; I can put it in a plastic baggie and don't have to worry about getting it wet; and the books cost less to buy.  Carol tells me that her reasons for having a real book are: She can hold the book and turn the pages; she can put an actual bookmark in the book when done reading; You can share them with others for no charge; and you look neater reading a real book.  So far we are even-steven!  Then I began looking online to find out what are the other reasons for one or the other.  Seems that the print books might edge the eReaders in reasons to buy one over the other.  Some reasons one way or the other are: Print books are great to share, as Carol said; eBooks take up less space. Print books are for life; You can read an eBook in the dark if you happen to have that feature on your reader. You can write in the margins of a print book or underline a sentence; Wait a minute - I can underline on my Kindle. Print books have jackets so you can see what others are reading; eBooks open up to where you finished reading and you don't have to worry about losing your bookmark. Reading a real book makes the story seem more real; Using an eBook eliminates having to cut down trees to make paper. Yes, but using the earth metals to make eBooks can be more harmful due to toxic metals and the energy needed to make the eBooks; Etc., Etc., Etc.  I guess you get the idea by now that we all have our reasons why we like one over the other.  Will we ever really agree with each other.  Nah!  But, that's OK. At least if the hard copy book returns to prominence in the future, my sons will benefit!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.