Book Shopping
People who love reading are aware about the famous quote “Books are our best friends” but why are they? Since I was young, I used to think a lot about it and heard many reasons however they did not convince me, at least fully. When I grew up, I reached a personal conclusion that books are so because you feel their company same as you do with your close human friends!
Despite being in the 21st century and the availability of e-books that I keep an eye on, I still adore reading those lovely paper books because leafing is something special; at least for me. Hence, school, college, and public libraries were my favorite places to go when I am not with my friends.
Book Shopping
The Seven Tips of Book Shopping
Since my twentieths, I started a personal way of “book shopping” as a bookworm same as we do for other goodies, so this process that passes by the following seven steps:
- Writing down a check-list for bookstores to visit;
- Entering the selected bookstore according to the priority list;
- Staring at the titles of the books as usual;
- Avoiding to start with the best spellings;
- Checking the intros on the back cover whenever possible;
- Making the hard choice especially if money is not enough;
- Paying the bill at the desk and wonders about the money you spent.
Et voila, you have got new books to read. Consequently, I have never regretted any money I spent while doing book shopping even if it sometimes makes me wonder where the heck the money have gone as usual. On the other hand, I find it hard when people ask me to recommend books or novels for them to read; as everybody has his (and her) own taste and hence I do believe it is important that every person goes through the discovering process alone and make his (and her) own “book cocktail” for the themes he (and she) wants to read about while shopping for books. Hereby, I think this does not happen suddenly; rather it is an accommodation process that takes time so be patient till you realize what themes you want to follow up with, and here I am talking about reading outside the scope of your work or the job you do.
In a nutshell, Ladies and Gentlemen: this is an invitation to take your own journey to a bookstore in your city and start shopping; it is not about the price by the way because you can always find the cheap books. Nevertheless, I do not believe in the quantity of anything or being impressed by how many books I or someone bought as much as believing in the quality; hence here is one of many questions that we should ask ourselves: do you think about what you read in order to reach enlightenment?
Related Quotes and Sayings
Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth.— Holy Quran (96:1)
Related Media
I cannot end this blog entry without introducing this video about “The Fundamentals of Book Care in Five Easy Lessons” which I think it is both fun and educational indeed!
[if you cannot see this video, check it over YouTube Video Service.]
« photo credit »
Categories: Coexistence
Viewd:
3,025 views
(10 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
Published by Hicham Maged on August 25, 2009 - 1:20 PM
About Author: I am a Muslim-Arab-Egyptian person living on planet Earth; since I wonder and ponder therefore I am!
Enjoy this article?
You can subscribe to my RSS feed via reader, receive e-mail updates
and publicize the post over social networks that you like.
About
Dear visitor, thank you for surfing the blog that renders the perspective of a Muslim, Arab, and Egyptian person who inhabits planet Earth and believes that imagination is more important than knowledge. This means the possession of knowledge should not kill our human sense of wonder and ponder! Simply in a nutshell: inquisitive curiosity paves the path of knowledge.about blog ... »
Categories
Recent Comments
- Hicham Maged on Anti-Islamophobia Vaccine: You've raised many points in your nice c...
- Hicham Maged on Anti-Islamophobia Vaccine: As simple as that because they are human...
- Hicham Maged on Anti-Islamophobia Vaccine: Thanks for sharing these events with the...
- Hicham Maged on Anti-Islamophobia Vaccine: I usually read and hear comments like yo...
- Hicham Maged on Anti-Islamophobia Vaccine: I agree with your opinion with no doubt ...
Latest Posts
- Roundup for September 2010
- Anti-Islamophobia Vaccine
- Nine Years after 9/11 in America
- Reading Arabic: is it that Hard!
- 2010 Pakistan Floods Relief
BlogPolls
Loading ...Meta
Famous Quotes
Patience is the companion of wisdom.
—
August 25th, 2009 @ 17:24
The thing about book shops, they suck in whatever amount of money I have on me, no matter how much it was!
I have a ‘huge’ library here at home, more of a heritage actually, and that’s about the only thing that keeps me from buying more books, because I tell myself that I have to read what I have here first!
Funny thing I bought 4 new books just before Ramadan, and dad went like: “ok seriously, 4 books? when exactly are you reading this you smart ass?” .. lol. And he was right, I never opened any of them until now.
ibhog’s last blog ..Humility
August 26th, 2009 @ 05:04
I am smiling at the last sentence a lot because this is why I refered readers to my older post.
OK now you’ll read them or what?
August 26th, 2009 @ 12:59
oh I will .. as soon as I’m finished with the million things I’m doing
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:38
Incha’allah, bas 2ol ya rab, 3am 2ol ya rab
August 26th, 2009 @ 00:32
I love books. I make it a habit to read everyday, and every week a purchase a new book. I prefer to buy on a booksale store because there are really nice second hand books you can find there at a cheap price.
I can’t imagine my life having without books.
Walter’s last blog ..Elements of a Distinctive Blogger
August 26th, 2009 @ 05:05
Same here, Walter. It’s nice that you purchase a new book on a weekly bias.
Welcome to my blog and thanks for stopping by here for the 1st time
August 26th, 2009 @ 07:54
I love reading and every night I have my head stuck in a book, I just hope that the way technology is going that the book doesn’t vanish for those electronic books…
Karen @ Blazing Minds’s last blog ..Tips for Bloggers and Commentators
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:35
Same here, Karen. I am with technological development but for books, leafing is something still have it’s own pleasure. I wonder if they will be history with our children? As for the electronic readers like ‘Kindle’ I am wondering about wether there will be any kind of control on the books you read via them according to the current system.
August 26th, 2009 @ 08:35
Books really are your best friend for several reasons.
1. Books don’t talk back.
2. Books don’t drink your beer or eat your food.
3. Books are always there ready to entertain.
4. Books can be read more than once
5. Books can back up your argument.
There are many others, but I think that will do for now
Sire’s last blog ..WassupBlogâ’s Ultimate Blogging Contest
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:36
Nice list, Sire
August 26th, 2009 @ 12:03
Books are my only best friend
My own library at home has 3000+ books, half of which i have bought and read myself. I have a habit or reading at least 1 book per week other than academic books. I cant imagine my life without reading.
Reading -after god and my mother- is the most important asset in my success, and it is my bread and butter as most of my income is coming from developing this readings into useful info for my students in AUC, or clients, or trainees.
The only problem I have now is that speed reading has made me used to read 3 times faster than usual and I can’t go back to normal and enjoy “antakha” reading. Ah another problem is that I have no more space for books, and my car is now holding part of the library!
Mohaly’s last blog ..595) Fawazeer Ramadan ::: "Om" El Donya !
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:51
Me too Mohaly, books are my only best friends.
To be honest with you, I am not convinced with ‘speed reading’ techniques because what is the point of reading too many books without understanding? I go for what you expressed it in the egyptian expression “antakha” which is more effective for me!
August 26th, 2009 @ 17:02
Hello Hicham,
It is so nice to be back.
I am the same as you, a book lover and have always found books as my companions.
I also tend to buy books at various places, disregarding the price for it, as I feel that the real value is in the connection I have with the book.
I have noticed that books tend to reflect experiences and shifts in my life, and that if I tend to pick up a book, it is because I am elevated towards it’s message.
I feel exactly the same way as you, in regards to going with the flow of your own experience when picking up a book, as it is your journey afterall.
I too, have a large quantity of books in my own mini library room. At the moment, I am trying to sell or give them away as I know I won’t read them again. I tend not to get too close with books, even though I still have them in my ownership. I have been thinking of displaying some kind of library or shopping basket on my blog, where I can sell these books, but have not found any such plugin as of yet.
Do you happen whereas such a plugin exists with WordPress?
P.S-I like your ‘u comment, I follow’ sign when leaving a reply. I may be tempted to add this widget/plugin on my blog.
Thank you
Ana’s last blog ..Spirit of Womankind
August 27th, 2009 @ 10:33
I too love the leafy experience. It just not the same reading an e-book.
Ana’s last blog ..Spirit of Womankind
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:49
Leafy expirence is great except when someone gives you a ‘dusty book’ which make it bad one!
August 27th, 2009 @ 16:12
I love ‘dusty’ books, the vintage is worth it’s read.
Or not, if it isn’t that old. I like a variety! 
Ana’s last blog ..An old sketch taps into delight
August 27th, 2009 @ 21:27
I love the ‘vintage’ too, Ana however I meant those books have layer of dusts because people don’t care about them
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:48
Ana, glad that I saw your comments! You expressed the post in your way which is great indeed.
As for the plugin, I don’t know?! What about searching over “WordPress Plugins” > http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/
August 26th, 2009 @ 18:09
You know I really like book shopping , but I allways end up with mre books than I can read,i even a void walking on the sidewalks in some areas in my city at time so I don’t enter one of the book stores and start my uncontrolled shop spree.
Sam sall’s last blog ..So she gave birth to the Miracle child
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:43
I know the feeling, Sam but I myself tyring to control this by what I mentioned in the linked post; it’s important to think about what I read!
August 30th, 2009 @ 06:00
I generally read anything and everything that I can get my hands on… this habit over the years, i have noticed, has lead to a broadening of my perspective, better understanding of other people regardless of caste, creed, religion or skin colour…
Ajay K Yadavalli’s last blog ..As my daughter sleeps…
August 30th, 2009 @ 07:15
That’s the whole point, Ajay! Thanks for your 1st visit to my blog!
September 4th, 2009 @ 05:06
Nice dude I really appreciate your post….
September 9th, 2009 @ 16:45
It’s bothersome to me as well when people ask for a book that I recommend. I have a very odd taste in books, and can’t imagine one person that would read the types I do.. I think we all relate differently to books because of our experiences, so one person will not take in a book the same way you did…
Golf’s last blog ..Adams Speedline 9032LS Driver by thomashawk
September 11th, 2009 @ 01:30
Yes exactly. Every body has his/her own taste, so it’s good to know what we love to follow up with.
September 17th, 2009 @ 12:36
Here, of course, I am talking about reading outside the scope of your work or the job you do.
September 23rd, 2009 @ 10:52
I see eye to eye with you! I also adore reading but I think you can advise other readers what they could pay their attention to something worth reading. You probably could consider it as a kind of job and get money for it. I mean recommending books.