What book are you reading right now?

Chris got a Kindle a few months ago that I've been eying ever since. I think I'm going to stick with books for a while, only because I have such an abusive relationship with them (I chuck them in the bottom of my bags and knapsacks; I scribble in the margins; I take notes and underline and then, usually, pass them along to someone new), and because I spend all day screen-staring and sometimes my eyes need to look at what Is, but I'd be lying if I said there were days I weren't tempted by those little gadgets. Especially because I usually carry three or four books with me wherever I go, and to be able to condense them would be lovely. :)

Really? That I didn't know. Now I'm realllly tempted… Ai. Perhaps I'll go have a look at Chris' again.

But how would I be able to give my used copies away on our Team blog? I think I'll need to stick with the real thing. :)

Interesting … I've never heard of Kindle, I'm going to go check it out! 
I don't know why they wouldn't want us to share, if an original purchaser recommends it to a friend, they should be able to share it at a “used” book price … it would give them income through the word-of-mouth just like hard copy books … without the $ going to the re-seller, but directly back to the publisher/author.  hmmm … interesting to see how these new tech business models can be developed.

I heard some things on NPR about how kindle may not be the only or best technology out there - best to wait a bit.  I can see the point with travelling, after lugging a hradback to Tokyo and back on etime.  But I like to stack up my books and do my research.  I can also loan them (occasionally), and if it's a paperback, it's not a big investment.  I got one of those book imprints, like libraries use, and I mark all of mine that I'm not embarrassed about someone finding after the will is read!  It looks so much more official than a book plate.  It's also a lot of fun getting used books through Amazon, sometimes from libraries, because they are cheap.  The trees were cut down a long time ago, and then the book lives on.  Just gotta watch out for those authorities and barbarians!

From what I heard about Amazon's point of view, they won't be giving anything away, anytime soon.  They're a hugely overinvested, undercapitalized firm, but unlike YouTube, they will probably remain in business.  Eventually, the internet is going to become expensive, like phone calls - advertisers won't pay for amateur content - it's changing rapidly.  There's a lot of thought being given to intellectual property rights concerning print media, after seeing what happened in the music business after Napster.

One of the things I always chuckle a bit at is that, at one time, books themselves (especially those of the mass-produced, printing-press sort) were considered a new technology. I'm sure people came up with the same objections and concerns. Now they seem old-fashioned, nearly, compared to things like the Kindle and other e-readers. Things change; the processes and human reactions stay the same.

I love used books too. They have 'souls' to them, I feel; I love that they carry the energy and intentions of prior readers (either in the margins or in less visible ways). :)

I have heard about Kindle, but don't know anything about it.
I love books, Siona - I hear you about “souls” ~ I love books themselves and not just reading them.  I used to work at indie used book store and it was amazing all that came in, and all that was taken for granted, and all that wasn't.  The history of them, the smell of them.  Right now I am about to start the book “Still Alice” ~ anyone read it? It hits a bit close to home as I work a few days a week caring for an elderly gentleman with Alzheimer's.  The book sounds amazing though.

One of the great things about Kindle is that people with difficulty holding books can read more easily.  My mother at 81 with arthritis has difficulty holding books long enough to read as much as she wants.  I also work with a person who lost the use of his left arm do to stroke and the Kindle makes it possible for him to read on his own, holding it, turning pages etc.

I just finished The Divine Matrix by Gregg Braden and  have almost finished his next book, The Spontaneous Healing of Belief.  I recommend them both.