What I'm reading

"Where'd you find that book?"

Its true. I confess. I read books, and not for pictures. As my cousin so often points out "there is nothing but words in there, you know?"

Media Unlimited - I found this book skulking amazon.com. One of the more addictive features is the "users also bought". There is a one inch space on the website that displays more books, or more CDs that other hapless victims also bought. If all people follow the same buying habits, why not make it a terminal mass and buy the same similar products. Anyways, this little nugget of words popped up as a suggestion off one of my more maniacle choices: Dumbing us Down, and the Disappearance of Childhood. Both good books to spook any adult into a healthy fear of television, marketing, and advertising at large.

CandyFreak - this book has a more interesting story. Staving off summer boredom, I visited a friend in SF. Instead of wandering ikea or walmart, i opted to check out some used bookstores that litter the main streets of SF. I happened on a surprising "new" looking book called "Not that you Asked" by Steve Almond. I read my $2 gamble in a day, and loved style, and then bought his other book, Candy freak.

I often attract questions like "why are you reading that?" The question hopes to uncover some sort of purposed grand design for my mental muscles. 'Perhaps this "candyfreak" book will help him understand the psychotic and mal-logiced?' Sadly that is not the answer. No, reading is the same as any B-rated movie; you read it for the cheap thrills. Ironically, with movies, one would think with so many people working on the movie, that it would be obvious what will win you grammys, and what will chew up your career and leave you on late night cable. In comparison I would expect books to be full of grammatical trash, stylistic nonsense, and enough narcissim to surpass MTV. But from my experience, even the worst of books can beat out Terminator 5,6,7, infinity etc.

But how do you communicate the joy of reading to another? It would be like asking 'how i can get you to worship 'heroes' Tv series, or how do i get you addicted to 'arrested development'? You don't. You find the mind-numbing gravity of these dumb shows, and then slowly let them suck the life out of your companions. Its viral marketing, buddy sharing, or whatever you want to call it, but the same is with books. The only thing that is missing?

Patience.

Summary: Get some books. Get some patience.