Thoughts on a Public Library
2nd September 2019
My local public library has, at any one time, over 300 books that occupy its list of New Adult Non-Fiction. Over 95% of them have a colon in the title. I find that mildly disturbing.
In general, books with titles of the form ‘What the Bible Really Teaches About …’ will tell you a lot about what the author wishes the Bible would teach but very little about what the Bible really teaches.
This is a good time for Japanese authors, from Zen monks wishing to share the secrets of life to knitters wishing to share patterns to Japanese housewives wanting to teach you how to be Japanese housewives.
Have you ever heard of Ludwig Bemelmans? Apparently his biography is of interest to suburban Republicans in north Texas.
Apparently the best way to get published is to write 400 pages explaining why you’re a victim and how it’s everybody’s fault but your own.
Apparently you can become a Hero merely by cooking and eating the correct ecologically-sound and nutritious food. Who knew?
Apparently, being rich (not becoming, but being) is something that can be taught. Color me surprised. I would have thought that a winning lottery ticket would somehow be involved but I guess not.
Evidently you can become a beekeeper with no actual effort on your part — which sort of makes sense, since really the bees are doing all of the work. Presumably there is some way to convince the honey to just walk itself into the jar.
It would seem that unlocking the minds of serial killers and predators is something that a lot of people are eager to do. I would not have guessed that.
The moon is very popular, both as an object and as a metaphor.
It would also appear that just being Black is sufficient to get a book published. Go for it.