Books

 I am a nerd and I am proud of it.  One of my coworkers was recently making small talk and asked what books I had read recently.  As I enumerated my books about science his eyes widened with disbelief.  He was all, “To relax, you read books on the elements!?”  I explain that it is enjoyable to me, and if the material ever gets dry it just helps me to sleep!  Nerd books of late include the history of the periodic table, a seventeenth century cholera outbreak, and a neurologist’s antics studying baboons in the bush. 

Another coworker asked for recommendations on reading materials.  Here was someone I could relate to.  She also had a Bachelor of Science degree; she’ll appreciate my taste.  However, as I recited various titles and authors to her, she just stared.  I almost offered to write them down for her, then I realized, her mind and her eyes were screaming: Geek!

I enjoy the feel of a book, the feel and smell of paper in your hands.  I like unwrapping books on my birthday and Christmas.   I remember reading a bookstore advertisement explaining the wonder at receiving a book as a gift.  They explained that you know what it is going to be, but you tear at the wrappings anyway.  At this, one of my schoolmates exclaimed in wonder, "But HOW can you tell that it's a book?"  I remember staring at her in wonder.  Thoughts whizzed through my head.  Has she never received a book as a gift?  And Is she an absolute idiot?  Shortly thereafter I conferred with my mother, we were agreed her mind is a foreign land to us. I have also received journals as gifts.  Those are great for their own reasons, but I can't help but feel a small twinge of disappointment when those blank pages reveal themselves to me.  I also like shopping for books.  Whether it's a gift for a friend or a gift for myself I shop by picking them up, reading a few lines from a random selection, and most importantly judging their covers. 

They say you shouldn’t do that, but how can you not?  If people didn’t do that they would all have titles in black text on a white cover.  There wouldn’t be advertisers and graphic designers working for a living by producing book covers.  Authors probably wouldn’t take the time discovering the titles of their works.  Awards wouldn’t be listed on the front, medallions shining.  Reviews wouldn’t be printed on the front and no one would know which had been recently turned into a major motion picture.  But people do judge books by their covers.