Week #4 – Books & Magazines
Did you miss week #3 < — go here
In more Media Consolidations news… Design Software Giants ADOBE set to acquire FIGMA – Article via Forbes
**Here is the class zoom recording from 9/21 below –
Passcode: Mt7Wut!v
Its time to talk about our semester’s Final Term Paper, the process and time-line of submissions! Exciting times!
Here are the details via the Syllabus:
- Final Term Paper Details – Students are required to write one term paper on a topic related to media (6 pages – NOT including the bibliography). All essays must document their sources. I suggest following the APA style to document sources (Reference: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/). All essays (including the draft) must be submitted to me via e-mail – rseslow@york.cuny.edu – the essays will incorporate a “scaffolding” process to guide students toward longer written assignments. The scaffolded assignment structure pulls first from the courses reflective blog posts; you will select one of these topics to expand upon for your formal final term paper. Students will first submit a final paper topic proposal via e-mail. (Brief 1-2 paragraph description of the topic and how it will be researched and discussed) After your topic has been approved, you must submit a rough draft at specified due dates; at this time, the professor will propose revisions to the rough draft and a classroom writing workshop will allow students to engage with the material and learn from each other in improving elements of style, organization, content, and editing. Following this process ensures the professor and students remain engaged in an ongoing dialogue that continuously progresses and improves the final drafts which will be turned in at the midpoint and end of the semester.
Final Term Paper Time-line:
- Between 9/21 -10/7 students will work on and submit a final term paper topic proposal via e-mail. (1-2 paragraph description of the topic and how it will be researched and discussed)
2. During the week of 10/19 – Students will submit a final term paper Bibliography / sources page (yes you can more as you go)
3. During the week of 11/9 – Students will submit a final term paper draft
4. During the week of 12/7 – Students will submit their final term paper
Books & Magazines
Let’s watch this report from CNBC about book sales in the U.K. – (2019)
In comments section below, please answer the follow questions:
What is your overall reaction?
- When was the last time you purchased a book (paper or digital) that is not a textbook? What book was it?
- What is your preferred way of reading? Paper or digital? Explain why?
- Recommend a book to your fellow classmates. Explain why you think they should read it.
Please write a 150 – 300-word response and post it into the comments section below, preferably by our next class time. You will also need to comment on one of your classmates’ responses by the following week as well. Engage!
(***I strongly suggest that you generate your response(s) using a word processing application like ms word, pages or notes first, make the necessary spelling and grammatical corrections and then copy and paste your work into the comments section below***)
CHAPTER 3 -> Excerpts
BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
Excerpts from CHAPTER 3
**Although the textbook is not mandatory for our class, I will reference it and share excerpts and info from it – I do find that you may find it helpful as a companion, as well as a resource for your final term paper. (The book’s info is on the course syllabus page.)
EARLY PRINT MEDIA
Greek epics (Odyssey)
Japanese Tale of Genji (11th Century)
CHINA: INVENTION OF PAPER
105 CE (AD 105)
Tsai Lun – Also developed brushes and ink
Carved printing blocks in pieces of wood
By 1051, the Chinese put together a metal, clay and wooden press.
Check this -> Video link
IMPORTANCE OF MONKS
Many devoted their lives to copying text and creating beautiful illustration
Book of Kells (800 CE)
Illustrated manuscript
Gospel book in Latin
Housed in Trinity College Dublin
Video Link
THE GUTENBERG REVOLUTION
Gutenberg Bible (1455)
Mass production of books, newsletters, handbills at low cost (one-fifth the cost of copying by hand)
Earliest publications: Bible, prayer books, hymnals
Beyond religious works: broadside ballads, chapbooks, entertainment Libraries
First lending library in 1602; England
Bookstalls – Located in railway stations
FIRST AMERICAN PRINT MEDIA
Bay Psalm Book (1640)
Harvard Press
Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732)
Benjamin Franklin
“moral advice”
Paine’s Common Sense
Sold 100,000 copies in 10 weeks
Subscription libraries
Again, B. Franklin
Magazines
Gentleman’s Magazine (1731)
“elegant and amusing writing”
Miscellanies
Small, far-flung, diverse audience
Copyright Act of 1790
Gave authors, publishers exclusive rights
Royalties paid to reproduce work
Magazines limited to better-educated, wealthy elite, and a small, growing middle-class
Publishers took up political causes: “Federalist Papers”
Port Folio – Federalist Party
First magazine with substantial national circulation
Literary miscellanies: Saturday Evening Post (early 1800s)
Introduced American writers
Illustrated weeklies: Harper’s Weekly introduced Civil War drawings
America reads
Improved conditions for books, magazines
Higher wages
Urban middle class
Economies of scale
Improved printing technology
Greater demand for print media
Last of the Mohicans (1826)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
Dime novels: Horatio Alger
The Postal Act of 1879
Reliance on advertising
New genres, “pulp” fiction (pushed social bounds)
MODERN MUCKRAKING
Investigative reporting
Reformers pushed for justice
Targets corruption, abuse of power
The Nation
Mother Jones
Web magazines
Blogs
MODERN MAGAZINES
After 1920s, magazines competed with radio and film
Some magazines tried mass appeal; others targeted narrow, loyal audiences
Advertising shifted to television, though many magazines thrived
After the Great Recession of 2007, magazines were considered “luxury” items
Fewer ad pages
Lower circulation
Began a rebound in 2012
Proliferation of specialized magazines
1950: 250 magazines
Today, there are more than 20,700 magazines
Desktop publishing & Web lowered barriers to entry
BOOK PUBLISHING GIANTS
As printing costs declined and more Americans could afford books, publishing grew
“Book” rate for mailing books
Book clubs popularized reading
WWII began paperback era
Image of book publisher is changing
Definition of “book” has changed
e-book
audiobook
number of books continues to rise
Publishing industry growing
Publishers selling directly to public
Bookstore chains publishing own books
On-demand public domain titles
Amazon Kindle Direct
Google Books
Publishing industry growing
Technology is helping conventional publishers
Social media, consumer databases
In China, mobile devices/Internet more popular than e-readers
Cell phone apps needed
FROM CHAPBOOK TO E-BOOK
After Gutenberg
Rotary press (1846)
Photoengraving (1861)
Offset printing (post-WWII)
Computer to plate (1970s)
Desktop publishing (1990s)
Bar-code/“QR” scanners (2000s)
PUBLISHING
Four evolutions
E-commerce (Amazon)
Kindle’s impact on e-books
On-demand and self-publishing of books
Google’s digitization of books
Readers mixed on e-books
Easier to read on e-readers than computer, tablet
Problems with e-books
Piracy, illegal swapping
Magazines moving online, adding video, audio, animation
INDUSTRY: GOING GLOBAL
Magazines target readers
Audience = circulation X readers per copy
Most revenue (60 percent) is from advertising
Other revenue:
Subscriptions (30 percent)
Single-copy sales (10 percent)
CIRCULATION AND ADVERTISING
Consumer magazines
Subscriptions = 90 percent of circulation
Single-copy sales = more revenue per copy
Trade magazines
Highly-targeted audience
Often subscription only
Some magazines struggling
Circulation has dropped
Free information online
2007 recession
So has advertising
Magazines, newspapers, TV, radio, online media
Influence of magazine wholesalers, distributors
Places magazine in store, in particular location on newsstand
Exception: Wal-Mart bypasses distributors
MAGAZINE INDUSTRY
New magazines must appeal to new market segment
Many new magazines acquired by conglomerates
Time Warner owns 19 magazines (13 percent of company revenue)
BOOK PUBLISHING ECONOMICS
Growing industry ($26 billion in 2017)
Thanks to movie business
Books to movies
Movies to books
Search for best sellers
Publishing houses
Bookstores
Physical
Online
Women buy more books than men (printed, e-book, audio)
MAGAZINE AND BOOK GENRES
Magazines for every taste
Even small-circulation magazines can be profitable
Major book categories
Trade, professional, textbooks, paperback, religious, book club, mail-order, subscription reference, multimedia, scholarly presses
Top book genre is fiction
MEDIA LITERACY
Books: ideas vs. commodities
Redefining role of magazines
Distribution issues
Intellectual property and copyright
Libraries, censorship, free speech, First Amendment
TOP-SELLING BOOKS
NY Times
Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
TOP-SELLING MAGAZINES
https://www.agilitypr.com/resources/top-media-outlets/top-10-american-magazines/
The last time I purchased a book was in 2019. The name of the book is “Girl in translation”. I think that I would have preferred both printed texts and digital texts but the printed texts would help me focus and understand nonfiction better when I read it in print. I would recommend the same book I read in 2019 “Girl in translation” because it’s about a girl and her mom emigrating from Hong Kong to America not speaking or understanding english. Where they would live in an apartment in Brooklyn. Where they would work in a sweatshop in chinatown. The little girl tried to teach herself how to translate in school which was difficult for her. Living in a terrible neighborhood was a struggle for both herself and her mom.
It has been a while since I purchased a book because I have two brothers, and they are mainly the ones doing the buying but anyways, about two years ago, I decided to read a book called The Stand by Stephen King. It’s a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy novel. I liked it, I managed to finish the text within a couple of months, and I would recommend it to my classmates 100%. It’s a good book for those who like post-apocalyptic and survival genres.
I much prefer reading it through the book itself and not digitally because I feel like books are meant to be read physically; otherwise, you won’t get a gasp of emotion it is trying to give you. Turning the pages one by one to see what’s next gives you an urge of curiosity. To further my reason why you should read the book is that Stephen King is an
author who likes to bring out people’s emotions, and The Stand itself manages to get a 4.4/5 when it comes to ratings. It gives intense moments, and I feel like its a worth reading. There are other famous books that Stephen King presented, one of which is the shining. The shining is a well-known horror book that got the movie that we all know and loves today. Nowadays, people like to use “Here’s Johnny” as a meme throughout the internet.
I purchased both an e-book and physical books less than a month ago. Did I read it yet? That’s a conversation for another day. But I do love to purchase a physical book out of having the physical interactions of a book and having them to show my preferred topics of interest as a collectable. If I am purchasing an “e-book” it would most definitely be an audio book. How do I differentiate between the purchases that I want as a physical vs audio? I think to myself which topics/information would I want to be able to quickly digest vs. what I believe I would want to spend more time with. For example, I have very few poetry books, but I would never purchase book of poems as an audio book because I feel that those are words that I am supposed to look at and take my time with.
But as mentioned earlier in my ‘week 2’ blog post, I would generally prefer audiobooks, because it allows me to consume that information while doing other activities like cleaning and so fourth.
If I was to recommend a book, It would be ‘the mountain is you’. I have been really big on self reflection on every level in diff spaces and scenarios. I like to ask myself why I think or behave a certain way, how is traumas sourced and reflected in my life as an adult, how the way I communicate to people can be rejected or received, and this list goes on. That leads me to my second recommendation, “What Happened To You” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry. The first recommendation is almost like a guided self reflection then the second one is more along the lines of examples and the scientific teachings and reasonings. I suggest reading them cover to cover, especially the second one, as you will also learn why Bruce Perry is even qualified to give the information that he’s providing.
The last time I purchased a book was in August 2021. The name of the book is the Miseducation of the Negro by C.G Woodson. The funny story is that even though I made the purchase, I probably read at least one or two pages and that was it. This is coming from someone who used to love reading I can remember as a child how my favorite pastime was going to the library. I would be checking out five novels at a time by the age of 9. My preferred way of reading nowadays would have to be digital just for the simple fact of convenience. Throughout the years, I have gotten more comfortable with my phone, and having access to a book, especially a digital one, makes it so much easier to read. If I should recommend any book, I would say A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel because I feel like we all need these positive inspirations in times like these. We have so much going on and I feel like there are a lot of people struggling especially with mental issues this book is a beacon in the dark, at least for me it is.
Thank you for the recommendation! Ahh, I so loved going to the public library as a kid and continue to do this! To this day I still take out a ton of books and sit for 2-3 hours going through them, haha, mostly art books or non-fiction but the ritual still makes me feel like a kid!
Definitely going to try to going to the library to check out some books more often. I would probably save a ton of money lol. And also most I just added ” A Year of Positive Thinking” to my list, as we prepare to go into the new year this is exactly what I need.
What is your overall reaction?
– I was shocked to hear at the start of the video that 67 percent of people still prefer print books over eBook’s. I personally wouldn’t choose a Kindle eBook device over printed book when I can just download the PDF book form to my phone or laptop. In my opinion physical copy books are still popular maybe for the aesthetic it brings to a living space. Then the video conformed what I was thinking as it was stated sometimes people purchase physical copy of books for a decorating their homes. It was interesting to find out that 2.7B books in all formats in America were sold with a 26B net revenue for polishers. This video has got me thinking I should be a book writer this is a lucrative career. Now I see why my older brother was writing so many books on his laptop but unfortunately his computer was exposed to some water and he lost most of his books that was about to polish. If I were to write a book I would write a book about health related topics.
When was the last time you purchased a book (paper or digital) that is not a textbook? What book was it?
– The last time I have purchased a hard copy book that was not a textbook was in middle school so a very long time ago. The last time I purchased a digital book was over a year ago and that was e-textbook for school. The physical books I purchased in middle school was A Child Called It and another book but I can’t remember the book name. I remember the book was about divorce which really help me at the time because my parents were going through a divorce.
What is your preferred way of reading? Paper or digital? Explain why?
– I prefer both ways I prefer paper when it’s not a textbook but when it is a textbook then I prefer digital.
Recommend a book to your fellow classmates. Explain why you think they should read it.
– I wish I remembered the name of the book that was about divorce because I know it would be useful to anyone in the class who has come from a divorce home. The book was from a female teenager perspective and she explained her roller-coaster emotions she went through and how she coped. She would try to find the silver lining in the situation and she tried to find constructive ways to communicate with her parents. This book was really inspirational and really got me through a rough time in my life. I fell bad that I can’t remember the name or the author’s name to share this wonderful book with you all.
Thank you! Ok, if you recall the name please share, sometimes it pops back into our mind’s eye a few days later! 🙂
Week 4 books and magazines
Unfortunately, the last book I did purchase was called Becoming from Michelle Obama that sounds like it was about March of 2018 when it first came out I was excited to have this book because I was inspired by Michelle Obama and wanted to get to know what the first lady life was like growing up and becoming the leader that she is and meeting the 44th president of the united states Barack Obama so having this book was a must-have.
What I’ve learned later in life is time is important and unfortunately, I don’t have extra time to sit and relax and read books. Taking public transportation is no longer an option and I now drive to every destination, so the next best option for me was the great invention of audiobooks and the kindle apps. This has become a must in this digital era and is my preferred way of reading it gives me the freedom to do things that I need to do as I said I’m driving I can just turn on the audiobook and listen to the chapter or get into a paragraph or get into whatever the audiobooks give me that opportunity.
Audiobooks are a great way to continue “reading”! And they continue to grow in popularity!
Interestingly enough I recently purchased a paper book yesterday! The title of the book is “Serial Killers of the ’80s: Stories Behind a Decadent Decade of Death” by Jane Fritsch. I am a psychology major here at CUNY York, but I expand my study into fields not offered here, such as criminal psychology or criminology. The book I recently bought was to learn of older cases of serial killers to examine different fundamentals of a serial killer, such as motive, purpose, but ultimately to learn more on whether or not serial killers are born as serial killers or made into a serial killer. I prefer digital reading because I spend more hours on my computer, so I’m used to digitally reading which makes reading more easier and faster now via digital, but I still get paper copies of books or papers because I do find it easier and more comfortable in a way to highlight and help organize my thoughts via reading a physical paper reading. Some books I recommend people should read if into criminal psychology is “Read people like a book” by Patrick King, “Dangerous Personalities: An FBI Profiler Shows You How to Identify and Protect Yourself from Harmful People” by Joe Navarro and “Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit” by John E. Douglas which is also a Netflix show!
Thank you!
I think the video on “Why physical books still outsell e-books” was very interesting and informative. Physical books are definitely valuable to one’s eye. The last time I purchased a book that wasn’t a textbook was in 2020. The book is Harry Potter by J.K Rowling. It’s about the wizarding world. The Sorcerer’s Stone is my favorite. It is one of the most exciting and fascinating books I have ever read. And I learnt a lot from it as well. The book emphasizes the value of friendship. Throughout the novels, Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, and Ron Weasley, who were students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, stayed together and never gave up. This taught me the real meaning of friendship. I also came to realize that everyone has both good and evil within them. Even the most flawed characters, like Snape, portrayed goodness. And the nicest character, Dumbledore, had some negative traits. This book altered my perspective on people and taught me to be more considerate. It also taught me that there is always hope. My preferred way of reading would be paper reading and not digital reading. I say this because reading a physical copy of a book doesn’t really strain my eyes compared to digital reading. Additionally, having a physical book on hand allows me to concentrate more and remember more of what I have read. Digital reading, on the other hand, makes me lose focus because I easily get distracted by notifications on my phone. A book I would recommend to my fellow classmates is, “The Sun Is Also a Star” by American author Nicola Yoon. This is an excellent book to read, and it is amazing, due to the fact that it consists of diverse characters, and different points of view. The diversity of the characters is one of the reasons this book is enjoyable to read. Highly recommend it! The unique love story between Daniel Bae and Natasha Kingsley is amazing!
Excellent! thank you so much! So many great recommendations!
The last time I purchased a physical copy of a book was a few months ago. I was in Bj’s and found the book on a rack and it peaked my interest when I saw it. The book was about movie and tv facts. I bought it because it looked interesting to read. I spent around $14 dollars plus tax. I have it on a table in my room and I haven’t read it. If I am being honest it’s because I have not had any real time to read. I am either at school or at work no in between. Even if I do have a break I am on my MacBook because it’s easier to watch tv shows than to read about it. Do I regret buying it no because I bought it for a reason and even if it will take months I will read it.
I prefer to read books digitally on my phone because it is convenient. My phone is small and can hold hundreds of books on it with no real weight impacting me. The only reason I would have a physical copy of a book is if the book is a great read at least for me. The only copy of books I have are mostly old school books I am keeping for now until I do some cleaning. If I were to say I have at least four books in physical form in my room that I actually like.
If I were to recommend a book it would be in the genre of fantasy or science fiction because they are interesting genres for me. A book I read that I really liked has been Scythe it is the first book in the Arc of a Scythe series. Scythe is a book by Neal Shusterman published in 2016. It involves a world where kids are chosen to be scythes and when they are finished training they are given the task of gleaning people. In this world people live a long life and when the government decided time is up a scythe shows up to end you. The main characters introduce us this world and how it caused the two main characters to end up on different sides of the war surrounding the end of the Scythes. It has great themes about war, division and understanding it is great to see how different the world became.
Well said, great examples!I love sci-fi too – thank you for the recommendation!
I wasn’t really surprised with the outcome that the video showed. Although digital ways keep progressing over time, things such as books would never lose its physical value. Last time I purchased a book was about a year ago at Barnes and nobles. The book is called The Brightway by Diana Rowan. My preferred way of reading would definitely be paper. I say that because I feel like I just concentrate more on it and there’s more of a connection with it. Perhaps this is maybe a generational thing? Growing up, digital items were not really used (for education wise). All I remember was the leap pad and we didn’t even use those often. So I feel like because of that, I’m more used/comfortable to having the physical book rather than the digital option. Maybe the kids growing up post covid would say the opposite. I recommend reading the book I mentioned above . I initially picked this book because it was my first time back into reading and I wanted something different and where I could learn something from. It dives deep into finding your creative side even in moments where anxiety may be present. This book was targeted just for me because I at times let my anxiety get in the way of doing things I love.
Wonderful suggestion! Thank you, haha, I agree, generations play a role, Im so used physical books, even though I work on computers 95% of the time, I stall want to read books by holding them 🙂 – perhaps this is also “nostalgia” based and reflective to childhood 🙂
Hi Deborah, I agree when you stated in your response that “things such as books would never lose its physical value.” This is so true. My preferred way of reading is also paper reading. Compared to digital reading, I like to have a physical copy of a book instead; because I am able to focus more when reading. I love what you said about the book you recommended, “The Brightway by Diana Rowan.” Thanks, I would love to read it.
I believe the last time I read a physical book was “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah. One of my favorite TV show hosts documented his experience during apartheid in South Africa. He informed the readers about the strict policies that did not allow interracial coupling/marriages. However, he is a person with a white father and a black mother. He was born in South Africa under apartheid and had to face the risk of being executed for his parent’s crime of birthing a mixed baby boy. How would they categorize him? My preferred way of reading is in the hands of a physical book because when it comes to reading recreational books that are not textbooks, I feel more engaged in the reading, and I also feel like I have the real book. It feels antique in a way, but it’s also very relaxing and it is a great way to relieve stress from the media, or your phone from time to time. This book is not. only teaches you a history lesson based on the laws of apartheid, but also shows the struggles of a strong-willed mother protecting her son from danger. Trevor Noah is also a comedian and I am certain you guys would enjoy the book.
Excellent! Trevor Noah is so great, for so many reason, Im a fan too and will absolutely get this book! He is a bringer of awareness, so crucial and important – thank you!
I have to agree with you while I prefer reading on my phone holding a book and feeling the pages feels great. Something about knowing you will always have it with you is great. You can share the book and add it to your collection of books. I also like reading books about history especially because history has such important lessons to teach each and everyone one of us.
The last time I purchased a book was actually gifted but I’ll count it as I’m not a big reader. It was given to me this January from my cousin. It’s based on a true story about the author of her life growing up in occupied Palestine. It was actually given to me because it took place in the city that my parents named me after. I prefer reading paper books as digital copies will lead me to using outside apps and forgetting the book. I easily get distracted and I don’t have a big hobby of reading so it’ll be easy for my mind to go elsewhere. I’d actually like to recommend this book because it truly gives a detailed experience of the Palestinian perspective in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. News channels and overall America’s view on the conflict is so one sided and people don’t really understand the situation as whole. I may be biased because I grew up in the culture that supports the Palestinian side but it does honestly show an accurate representation of how the situation truly is and gives both perspectives. The name of the book is called Mornings in Jenin. I gave myself the goal to finish it by the end of last semester but with finals and exams I got distracted and haven’t given myself the time to pick it back up. It was one of the first books in a long time that gave me excitement to read something.
Excellent, thank you so much, such a great and diverse body of book recommendations flowing here! So much to learn.
I try to avoid heavy topics in the news because like you wrote it can be one sided and nobody but the people involved has the real truth. I agree with not being able to finish a book fast enough with work and college it becomes to much stress to focus on reading atleast for me.
I’m also not a big reader as I once was. I’m more so then ever consumed with short clips and shorter writings. I was never really into technology and I didn’t have a phone for long or a laptop until I graduated High School. Now that I’m constantly on my phone/laptop and I’m more active on social media I feel my attention span has declined quiet a bite. However, I want to change that because I believe reading lengthier books broadens my vocabulary and builds my imagination.
The last time I purchased a book that wasn’t required for class was just recently. I started to read the digital version of Jrr Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring. I watched the original trilogy of movies when I was a kid but never truly understood the themes of sacrifice and trauma & overall plot of the story as much as when I started to read it. I don’t know if it’s maturity or just connecting with the source material on a deeper level through reading it the way the author intended but the story seems so much better to me besides seeing all that action and mysticism on screen.
I would say that I prefer digital books because of the convenience of having an entire collection on your device, similar to a library of music on your phone. I understand the love for physical copies. Nothing could beat that for a collector, but for me I like to keep it simple. If anyone wants to, I’d highly recommend the LOTR books. The world building and themes are actually great and the story is ancient but doesn’t even feel like it while reading.
Great! LOTR forever! Love it!
I definitely agree with you that digital books are easier to access. i feel like if i were able to concentrate more on digital books i would’ve loved it because its just so convenient.
it is awesome you’re reading tolkiens fellowship of the ring. I myself could never do it because it is to much of an incredble story to read. However, I have seen the movies which are amazing atleast for me. i do wish I had the attention span to read that book and its predecessors but that is so many pages. I would need to have major concentratiuon but many one day I might have it. Since I hear the books are more incredible and full of such rich and thrilling mythos of middle earth.
The last time I purchased a book in 2020 before the pandemic was “The Hate You Give” by Angie Thomas. This book was about teen girl Starr Carter that moved between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. His death is a national headline. Some call him a thug, a drug dealer, and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night. And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. I prefer to read paper because I get distracted easily by notifications and calls when I read digitally. When my head is in a book I can easily block off things around me. I recommend reading the same book I spoke about, some of you may have watched the movie but for those who have not. It’s about the justice inequalities in America which have contributed to movements like Black Lives Matter and others.
Good work, and thank you for the recommendation! This assignment is sharing really great recommendations! I too get too distracted on my device for reading, even with notifications turned off, I still check!
Hey Faith,
I have the same issue with digital copies of books. It’s so hard to keep your focus on the book and read it with an empty mind. Also that’s a really interesting recommendation and it honestly reading that at the right time with the Black Lives Matter movement that rose again in 2020. Thank you for sharing.
Hello, I think that it would be hard for me to focus on digital than paper. On digital, I would have ended up scrolling on Twitter or Instagram
The last book that I can recall that I’ve bought was Fahrenheit 451. I enjoyed in perusing the book and it alludes to a dystopian society. Guy Montag is a fire fighter who consumes books in a modern American city. In Montag’s world, fire fighters light fires as opposed to putting them out. Individuals in this general public don’t understand books, appreciate nature, invest energy without anyone else, think autonomously, or have significant discussions. All things considered, they drive extremely quick, watch inordinate measures of TV on wall-size sets, and pay attention to the radio on “Seashell Radio” sets appended to their ears.
Wow, seems intense!! Did you enjoy the book? Do you also recommend it?
Hey Umar,
This book has been recommended to me so many times and I think you sharing about it has given me the final push to read it. I actually really enjoy books about a dystopian societies as it leaves the mind to imagination. Last dystopian book I think I read was 1984 by George Orwell, and although I didn’t understand it right away it was nice to read about a society so different from ours. Thank you for sharing
hey great book recommendation,
i hear that is a great book for many to read one of my teachers also recommended it to me.
as a reader my favorite genre is fantasy, sci fi, and dystopian societies. They just show us how amazing a world can be if the technology in these fictional worlds existed.
The video had some interesting points that correlate with me. Before speaking on that though, I didn’t realize that technologies for E-readers started in the 70s. I can’t say I am surprised about physical book outselling purchases online. I like having the physical book over purchasing online. I can’t explain why but I just do. The problem with me though is I tend to fall asleep a lot quicker when I am reading a book. When I’m reading off of a device such as a kindle I read a lot faster and I rarely fall asleep. Sometimes, I take pictures of the pages so that I can read them at work during downtime. In the past few years, I haven’t read much of any books in a while but if there’s a book I would recommend it would be 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. Although I’m not the biggest self-help fan it was popular a few years ago and I decided to give it a try. It was a great read in my opinion, although some laws are pretty extreme the one that spoke to me the most was to “enter action with boldness”. He states being bold will gain you respect and admiration. The opposite of that would be being timid which can affect your reputation among other things. The book gave me an arsenal that I decided to apply to my everyday life. I don’t think this is the holy grail of books but there are things in there that I found helpful.
I agree, I didn’t know that e-readers were being developed so long ago! Funny, when I read on my phone or ipad past 8pm I fall asleep! haha, but when its a physical book I dont.. Thank you for the recommendation, Im going to check it out!
hey good insight on digital devices,
i agree that reading a physical book can become a little boring because you need to have great interest and concentration to be able to read continuously for a long period. On a phone it feels better because you only need one hand and dont have the hassle of flipping pages and you can adjust brightness which makes it easier to read. Ill take that book recommendation a try not a fan of self help but never hurts to try something new.
The last time I bought a book was just last week and the book was called “The Alchemist” by Paolo coelho. The book is a story about a boy who is on a journey. The book is about dreams and goals and how much it takes to accomplish your goal. I loved the book and I thought the book was amazing to read and analyze as it inspires people to keep on pushing and inspiring them to fight for their dreams. My preferred way of reading a book has to be getting a physical copy of the book rather than a digital copy. I prefer this way because I like to have the physical copy on hand and take notes on the book that I am reading. I like to take notes and point out certain things that I like about the book and make my own notes so that I can remember what I like about the book. I also like the fact that how it feels when I hold the book as I’m reading what is on the pages. The book that I recommend is a book called “Die with zero” by Bill Perkins and the book is about how to live your life getting the most out of it and to die with getting the most experiences you can out of life. That is the book I would recommend.
Excellent!
Ohhh I loved “The Alchemist” by Paolo Coelho and have read it about a dozen times over the years! Thank you for the recommendation as well, Good stuff! I too love holding the book in my hand!
Hi Ray, I totally agree that having a physical book to read is the way to go. In the first place, they are eye-friendly. In addition, they provide a more satisfying reading experience that connects the reader with the book. Lastly, it doesn’t need to be powered, so you can use it anywhere and at any time. In contrast, e-books, on the other hand, are the opposite of these reasons that made it difficult for them to read and also caused their eyes to strain as they were to read them!
Hi Ray,
Many people over the years have recommended that book. I told myself to read the book before I graduate but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. This book is on my list of books to read. I also like having the physical book rather than ordering it online. There is something about having the physical book that I can’t explain, but I feel like going through the book after reading it is easier or just more fulfilling.
Awesome read Ray! “The Alchemist” by Paolo Coelho, a truly great book, and I am happy to hear that inspires you to keep pushing on and inspiring others to push and fight for their dreams! I believe Paolo said it best, “when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too’. I also appreciate the book recommendation of “Die with zero” by Bill Perkins, it somewhat reminds me of the quote everyone knows, “die with zero regrets”, which from what you said on the description I feel it might touch under that a bit. Thank you for your response!
“The Alchemist” is so good! Better each time I re-read it too!
My senior year of high school was probably the last time I purchase a book that wasn’t a textbook. There was an assignment given that involved choosing a book and writing a four-page allegory essay based on the reading. The book was “The Great Gatsby” by Novel American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. The story follows Jay Gatsby, a man who orders his life around one desire to reunite with Daisy Buchanan, the love that he lost five years before, the woman he loved so dearly. There is no doubt that Gatsby’s quest leads him from poverty to wealth, into the arms of his beloved, and ultimately to his demise. This was a great book, since this story’s setting was right here in NYC, which made the story that much more enjoyable and interesting to read. My preferred way of reading is paper because to me it feels more genuine and authentic. Two, it also reduces screen time, staying away from any devices while reading and you are able to absorb the reading rather than being distracted by your phone, tablet, etc. A book I would recommend to a classmate is, “The mountain is you” by Brianna Wiest. This book provides an understanding of what causes self-sabotaging so that solutions can be found. You can strategically take charge of your happiness if you understand how the mind and body react to change. I read this book last summer, it was great!
Excellent!
I loved the Great Gatsby! I too had to read it in high school as a part of our reading curriculum.
Thank you for the recommendation too, I’ll check it out, I love spiritual growth and personal development books! SO much to learn about ourselves!
yes! those books give you lots of information and insight on how to improve your life, ways of thinking, and how to just be a better person for yourself.
Excellent!
SARAH
I HAVE PURCHASE MANY BOOKS IN THE PAST AND IM LIKE YOU I CANT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I PURCHASE A BOOK OTHER THEN A TEXT BOOK, SAD BUT TRUE, I DO AND HAVE RELIED ON AUDIO BOOKS, WHEN SOME NEW OR SPICY COMES OUT.
I like to hear audio books sometimes. It can be a refesher to hear the book told to you.
I agree I love the great gatsby and his story is about the rags to riches and Gatsby doing everything in his power to be with the one that he loves. Gatsby is my favorite character in the book because He works hard and smart to get to where he’s at and theres nobody holding him back.
Hi Sarah,
I also read The Great Gatsby in high school and if I remember correctly my teacher at the time spent a long time reviewing the book and we also watched the movie once we were done reading. I also prefer reading from a book on a digital device. “The mountain is you” sounds interesting and I will consider that.
Wow, thanks I will defiantly be looking into reading that book in my free time.
great post sarah,
I have to say the great gatsby is a great book to read. with many lessons to be learned from each character. i liked in the book how we witnessed how even though gatsby was rich he never got what he wanted in the end. with all his fortune his love stayed unrequited and in the end he payed for it. I also have to reduce my screentime but for now atleast using my macbook all the time is still my favorite thing to do.
Hi Sarah, I love “The Great Gatsby.” I watched the movie, and it was amazing! I learnt so much, and the fact that money doesn’t buy happiness. Gatsby for instance, had a lot of money but what made him truly happy was Daisy Buchanan’s love. This makes one realize that as an individual, you shouldn’t focus on money or materialistic things for happiness, because in the end, what truly matters is the people we love and care for. There is happiness in that. Great recommendation, I will read it!
I remember during my English class back in my sophomore year at high school, The teacher presented us with a book and the movie. I wasn’t excited until we started to get more into it, and I quickly changed my mind because it has a beautiful story and an impactful ending. It gives a full-felt meaning to everyone who watched the movie, which is why we can easily remember it today.