Ann Althouse takes The New Republic to task for an editorial that diminishes new technology for reading books. Printed books are treasures, but to love them should not diminish the opportunities offered by technology. My comment to Ann's blog:
Bleak House, and any Dickens, is best read... by having it read to you. Originally, by the fireside and candle, the only light available, as the evening's entertainment. And now, by audiobook, in the car on the way to work, in an airport. The words are delicious on the ears.
TNR has no clue, and doesn't know it needs one.
IF you want a new tech joy, buy the Audio CD of P.J. O'Rourke's, "On the Wealth of Nations," -- yes, a delightful, overdue tribute to Adam Smith. Load it into iTunes for your iPod. Listen to it once, because you must, even though you might drift.
Then -- and here's the joy -- listen to it a second time on Shuffle! Imagine! Because it was recorded in three minute segments, you get pithy, important Adam Smith, with your ears regularly cleansed by the rest of the music on your iPod!
