Write a post about books and campers come from near and far to sit around your campfire. With the Woodstock of bookfests soon approaching, I thought I'd tell you about what one gentleman actually did to obtain books.
By the time Benny turns sixteen years old he reads like tomorrow will not arrive . One book in particular captures his attention, The Way to Health, Wealth and Happiness by Thomas Tryon. Tryon suggests a meatless diet to improve one's health. Benny likes the idea and is excited to try it out. The only problem is, Benny has no control over what is served at the dinner table.
Benny works as an apprentice at his brother's print shop. Benny, his brother and other apprentices rent rooms and get meals from another family. Benny's vegtable only diet quickly begins to cause emabarassment for his brother at the dinner table. Since his brother is paying the family for Benny's portion of the food, Benny convinces his brother to redirect the money to him. His brother agrees. Benny soon discovers that without buying meat, he has money left over. He takes this money to then feed another appetite - books.
Books seem to serve Benny well as he journies on in life. Among many other accomplishments, Ben Franklin finds our nation's first public library, first book club and the University of Pennslyvania.
I have been wanting to get Ben Franklin's Autobiography since reading Dale Carnegie's recommendation in his book, How to Win Friends & Influence People. Everytime that I came close to buying the book I thought about the old world english it was written in. I just didn't have the energy to plod through it. Last week Carla and I stopped by Circle Books at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota and were doing a little browsing when I came across, Ben Franklin Autobiography for Modern Times , adapted by Blaine McCormick. The look and feel of the book sold me before I even read the content. The book sort of has a Wizard of Ads feel to it.
The Bookstore Thing - Had I not actually picked up, felt and read the book, I probably wouldn't have ordered it from Amazon. Of course, I over paid for the experience. I suppose I could have gone home and ordered it, but I was overtaken by the impulse to buy. I wonder what Benny would have done?
If the bookstore made the sale, you gotta buy it from the bookstore. Otherwise, the bookstores won't be there for us. I'm sure Benjamin would understand.
Posted by: Marianne Powers | February 15, 2006 at 01:24 AM
I agree Marianne! There is something special to be said for browsing for books in a bookstore.
Posted by: Dave | February 15, 2006 at 07:25 PM