New research project on e-books -- initial idea.

The Private Library is always an interesting read, but today's post on Possession sparked a few thoughts in my head. I may have to spend part of the Christmas break doing background innovation research on e-book purchasers and users from my lofty perch at the university. It seems as though, unlike nearly any other technology that I can recall off the top of my head, electronic readers such as the Kindle are offending many potential users from an emotional standpoint. Myself included, as I cannot imagine life without having a physical book in my hand. Maybe that is because I hate reading off electronic screens and I also hate not being able to flip back and forth through the book that I am reading (non-fiction, of course).

Many different angles on this one, and I expect it to be a very interesting piece of research. Stay tuned!

Disappointment in the Windy City

Not one darn trip to the bookstore! In Chicago! The short version is that we were never within 20 minutes of the store and everyone else's agenda took precedence, including trips to the Field Museum, Giordano's, Garrett's Popcorn, and Dave and Busters. Now, I'm so disappointed that I may have to pick up a few things off the want list via mail order just to console myself. So there...

More acquisitions

Man. Today, a bookstore trip netted 14 books. Good buys, but I didn't really need fourteen books. Not that I mind, though...

Acquisitions - 11/22/2009

Today on a used bookstore stop, I picked up two books: one for work (Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards), and one for 'fun' (Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything).

The former was written as an 'answer' to the call by previous writers (King, Keohane, and Verba) for a focus on quantitative methods. Brady and Collier call for an equal focus on qualitative methods, with which I wholeheartedly agree. In fact, I would not be surprised if something from this book found its way into one of the articles that I am currently trying to complete. Checking the used prices, I see that I would not have been able to pick this one up online for less than $5 above what I paid today (not counting shipping).

The latter book has no practical or research value for me, but it is interesting. As one who feels the difference in life at the increasing pace of 'internet time', not to mention a borderline Luddite in some areas, I can sympathize with the message in the book. Unfortunately, it may not be written so well (according to the reviews), but we'll see. Equally unfortunately, I could have picked up a copy of this book for $0.01, which is $4.97 more than I paid.

All in all I got the books for what I would have paid online, but that isn't such a good bargain. I guess it is fortunate that I'm not in this for the profit, because today would have been a loss.

Einstein, Part I

About a year ago, I read Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson and I was completely blown away. I knew a little bit about Einstein based on recollections from a term paper written in high school. However, I was amazed by how little I really knew about him. In the ensuing months, I have purchased another eight books on Einstein, with another 4-5 on the "purchase on sight" list.

What amazes me most is just what a 'real' person he was. I'm not necessarily condoning his actions, but he:
* had a child out of wedlock who 'disappeared' (i.e. was probably adopted or given away). The child wasn't even known to his many biographers until 1986 - 31 years after his death - and has not been 'found';
* was notorious for having several infidelities during his two marriages (the second one to a 2nd cousin). It has been suggested had "a small harem" at his summer home in Caputh (Ohanian 2008, pg. 289, referencing information in Folsing 1998);
* made several published mistakes in his research (but obviously got many, many more things correct);
* was offered the presidency of Israel (mostly a figurehead position);
* wrote President Roosevelt suggesting the formulation of a project to develop an atomic bomb, despite being an avowed pacifist (one of his greatest regrets, I'd imagine).

In short, a remarkable life as a physicist and statesman, but also a very human person with normal human issues and foibles. And yet, that is not what I am most impressed with. It has been suggested that there are perhaps three Einstein phases: opening (pre-1905 'annus mirabilis'), when he is desperately striving to make a mark on the world; middlegame (pre-quantum mechanics), as a very active, productive, revered physicist (through about age 50); and endgame, in which his best years as a physicist are clearly behind him (while he chases a unified field theory much as Don Quixote chases windmills), yet he continues to have a mark in other areas, including politics, religion, and philosophy.

As an academic professor, I am impressed with the transition from opening efforts to the middlegame in which how he was able to radically alter his field in a relatively short time, even with all of the distractions. Over subsequent posts, it is this theme which I intend to explore more deeply.

Upcoming Chicago Trip

Next week, I am heading with the family to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Yeah, I know it is a time for family and turkey and all that, but personally I'm hoping to accomplish 4 goals.

1. Visit the Field Museum with my young paleontologist. Should be a great experience (especially since we don't have to pay anything extra because of our local museum membership).

2. Rest up for the home stretch. Usually, we go to my inlaws in Mississippi and I get lots of peace and quiet and a couple of naps. I doubt that the nap thing will happen, but I hope to get rest. That means not taking my laptop, not checking email, and not planning to do too much writing or grading while I'm there. Of course, I will try to write something. In fact...

3. Practice my travel writing before heading off to Europe next summer. In fact, this is probably the only trip I will take before then.

And finally...
4. Visit at least 1 used bookstore while in Chicago. I have three candidates based on a scan of the internet. Powell's (been there and it was pretty cool, but a bit pricey), Myopic (sounds quirky, and I'm not sure it will have what I want), or Bookman's Corner (ditto). Of course, my wife will just shake her head and wonder if I'm sick or something (perhaps), but I just can't see making a trip anywhere here in the US and not checking out the local used bookstore market. Blasphemy...

I'll keep you posted.

Upcoming stuff

Consider this a placeholder to remind me of the things I will hopefully add to this blog later.

1. I will be traveling to Chicago, Nashville, Rome, Paris, and a few other places over the next few months. In nearly every stop, I will endeavor to visit at least one (usually used) bookstore and will report on my travels when possible.

2. I also will report on my upcoming library rebuild project. I expect to put in new flooring, shelves, writing surfaces, and other new infrastructure. Of course, pictures will be included.

3. From time to time (as in nearly every week), I visit the local used book stores in the area -- this usually means my local Half Price Books locations. Scores reported here (and added to my LibraryThing database), especially unusual ones.

4. I have a few open reading projects, including the current one on the life and history of Albert Einstein (but not so much the physics itself) and the ongoing look at creativity. As I finish books in these subjects, I will review them here.

5. I will also review some unthemed books, post want list items, and add links to relevant subjects as I encounter them.

In other words, stay tuned!

Sites on Books and Home Libraries

I will define a better purpose for this blog later. For now, here are some links on home libraries and book collecting.

• The Private Library: a blog on, well, private libraries


• My Library Collection on LibraryThing


• Kimbooktu: A blog for book collectors; She also runs Your Shelves,which has pictures of various home libraries.