Honey, we've been 'trying' it. For years.

You think we don't know how many times are most popular books are checked out?

Book publishing continue to get all defensive.

Publishers vs. Libraries: An E-Book Tug of War. (The New York Times, 12/24/2011)

Excerpt:  Robin Nesbitt, technical services director at the Columbus, Ohio, metropolitan library, says she does not object to HarperCollins’s limit. “At least HarperCollins allows me to have access to their titles,” she says. “I don’t mind buying a title and then might have to buy it again — I do that now with print.

“I know many libraries are mad because they think the 26 loans is too low — well, how do you know 26 is too low until you try it?”

Related posts:
Chris Bohjalian on our totemic connection to books.  (12/20/2011)
Hold that bricks-and-mortar bookstore obituary.  (12/13/2011)
Your local public library: The greenest option of all in the ebooks vs. print books debate.  (12/11/2011)
Go directly to Amazon, do not pass library.  (11/3/2011)
Ebooks in U.S. public libraries.  (10/22/2011)
How ebook buyers discover books.  (9/27/2011)
Cookbooks make the transition to digital publishing.  (9/27/2011)
Redefining what an ebook is and who gets to publish it. (9/19/2011)
The L.A.Times on ebooks: An Amazon tablet, push into interactivity. (9/16/2011)
The Economist:  "Great digital expectations".  (9/16/2011)
Lev Grossman presents a short history of the reading device..  (9/6/2011)
Speaking of gadgets, here's the latest iteration of ebooks.  (8/25/2011)
Sounds like another digital divide in the making.  (7/30/2011)
Libraries and ebooks:  Any book, not any time soon.  (6/1/2011)
On the distinction between the book reader and the book owner.  (5/10/2011)
Demand for ebooks grows exponentially in Wisconsin.  (5/2/2011)
Struggling to find an ebook common agenda between libraries and publishers.  (4/5/2011)
Ebooks and libraries:  "The challenges just keep piling up".  (3/28/2011)
Publishers Weekly tracks ebook sales.  (3/18/2011)
Word is getting out:  Ebooks @ your library.  (3/18/2011)
Ebooks continue to gain market share.  (3/17/2011)
Publishers look to bottom line in formulating ebook policies for libraries. (3/15/2011)
News stories on HarperCollins ebook decision go mainstream.  (3/5/2011)
9 years of book sales:  trade and ebook.  (2/17/2011)
Will ebook readers be wooed by Barbara Cartland?  (2/12/2011)
The impact of ebooks on libraries.  (2/11/2011)
OverDrive news release: Library eBook circs up 200% in '10. (1/10/2011)
Mashable: 5 ebook trends that will change the future of publishing. (12/29/2010)
Christmas 2010 the tipping point for ebooks?  (12/24/2010)
Ereader as brown paper bag.  (12/9/2010)
The ebook reader compatibility surprise.  (12/3/2010)
Ereader ownership:  Survey says....  (11/30/2010)
David Carnoy asks, "Does the Kindle pay for itself?" (11/29/2010)
Need to repair that ebook reader?  (11/19/2010)
Who uses an ereader:  Survey says....  (9/22/2010)
Book industry wrestles with print vs. pixels.  (9/2/2010)
Coming soon to a screen near you:  Ads in ebooks.  (8/20/2010)
Ebooks now comprise 8.5% of book sales. (8/12/2010)
Genre paperback publishers drops print.  (8/6/2010)
Ebooks and libraries.  (5/4/2010)
Ebooks eliminate a free form of adversiting:  the book jacket.  (3/31/2010)
Ebooks: another round of false promises?  (3/19/2010)
The skinny on ebooks.  (3/8/2010)
Hardcover vs. ebook:  Breaking down the costs.  (3/1/2010)

Chris Bohjalian on our Totemic Connection to Books

Author Chris Bohjalian (Midwives, Before You Know Kindness) writes occasional columns for the Burlington (Vermont) Free Press.

Idyll Banter: Perhaps pulp is not fiction just yet, by Chris Bohjalian. (Burlington Free Press, 12/13/2011)

You'll want to read the entire essay, of course, but I was particularly struck by these two thoughts.

And, finally, there is this: We still have a totemic connection to books. To pulp. To dust jackets. When we see a cover or hold in our hands a book we once cherished, we do not merely recall a detail of the plot or a snippet of dialogue: We remember where we were -- and, yes, who we were -- when we first savored that particular story. William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist" catapults me instantly back to the Hialeah-Miami Lakes Public Library and I am once again 14 years old. Annie Proulx's "The Shipping News" is a snowstorm in March 1993 and the wondrous news that my wife is going to have a baby.

In my own case....

...a period of my life when I prepared the boys, both still in preschool, this snack on a regular basis.

The truth is, I understand as well as anyone that the digital genie is out of the bottle. I respect digital reading devices, just as I respect my smart phone. I simply believe that paper books make wonderful gifts and am mighty glad there are still bookstores around. So, big props and happy holidays to those booksellers who are still fighting the good fight on behalf of pulp -- and can help me find the perfect gifts for family and friends.

As a gift, particularly 19 years after its initial publication, Gone South would be a decidedly curious selection, but I share it with you here because it holds the title of "Paul's favorite book".  It's a an off-the-beaten-path, surprisingly touching, and beautifully observed quest novel, one that deeply affected me in an unexpected way.   (Perhaps I should note here that the only time I experienced nightmares in my life was while reading McCammon's They Thirst.)

New Book by Timothy Ferriss Available for Pre-Order

Timothy Ferriss, author of the books The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich and The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman is coming out with a new book, that can be pre-ordered now through Amazon. The book is a follow-on to the 4-Hour series, and is called The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life.

Ferriss's books have been extremely popular and number one best sellers. Last year, I wrote a very extensive review of the 4-Hour Workweek book. It first came out in 2007, yet it is still in the top 500 of all books, and the number one best seller in the category of 'job hunting and careers - guides'. Over 85% of the reviewers gave the book four or five stars.

I really enjoyed both of his books and am looking forward to the The 4-Hour Chef

Stock Stocking Stuffers

Remember the Magic 8 Ball? Now there is one for investors.
Wall Street Guru Ball

Something to rest on top of your stock certificates:
Executive Gift Stock Market Wall Street Bull and Bear Silver Plated Sculpture Figurines Paperweights

Something to hang on your wall.
Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals - Stock Market Quotes

A great way of keeping track of your appointments. (This is one of my favorites.)
Stock Trader's Almanac 2012

Top Selling Real Estate Books

Investing in Real Estate

The Real Book of Real Estate: Real Experts. Real Stories. Real Life.

What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow... And 36 Other Key Financial Measures

Top Books in the Investment Category

The following are the top selling books in the Investing category at Amazon (AMZN).

EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches

The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)

Liar's Poker

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That The Poor And Middle Class Do Not!

Markets Never Forget (But People Do): How Your Memory Is Costing You Money-and Why This Time Isn't Different

Endgame: The End of the Debt Supercycle and How It Changes Everything

3 Great Gift Ideas for the Investor

The book Steve Jobs has been a best seller before it was even released. As a matter of fact, this book, written by Walter Isaacson,is the number one best seller at Amazon (AMZN) at the time this article is being written.

The Amazon review says it all: 'But the initial sadness in starting the book is soon replaced by something else, which is the intensity of the read--mirroring the intensity of Jobs’s focus and vision for his products. Few in history have transformed their time like Steve Jobs, and one could argue that he stands with the Fords, Edisons, and Gutenbergs of the world. This is a timely and complete portrait that pulls no punches and gives insight into a man whose contradictions were in many ways his greatest strength."

At 656 pages, Steve Jobs will keep you plenty occupied during the holidays.

* * *

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D. and William D. Danko Ph.D., is a fascinating look into the lives of millionaires, reviewing the traits and tips of the wealthy, how they deal with risk, and how they live their lives. There are seven rules to becoming a millionaire, all spelled out in an easy-to-read format. The book has a thousand customer reviews, with more than 70% giving it a 4 star or 5 star rating.

* * *

The classic investing book, The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham, has been updated to today's stock market situation by Jason Zweig, with Warren Buffett as Collaborator. Check out these reviews:

~ “By far the best book on investing ever written.” (Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway)

~ “If you read just one book on investing during your lifetime, make it this one” (Fortune)

~ “The wider Mr. Graham’s gospel spreads, the more fairly the market will deal with its public.” (Barron's)

If you don't own a copy of The Intelligent Investor, then you should. It is ranked number seven out of all investing books.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Investors

Books

Top selling books in the category of Investing at Amazon:

Liar's Poker

EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches

How To Win Friends and Influence People

Endgame: The End of the Debt Supercycle and How It Changes Everything

Markets Never Forget (But People Do): How Your Memory Is Costing You Money-and Why This Time Isn't Different

The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)

Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School

The Great Crash Ahead: Strategies for a World Turned Upside Down

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That The Poor And Middle Class Do Not!

The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy


DVDs


Wall Street Collector's Two-Pack (Wall Street / Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps)

Boiler Room

Inside Job

Biography - J. Pierpont Morgan: Emperor of Wall Street

Barbarians at the Gate


Other

Bling Jewelry Sterling Silver Wall Street Bull and Bear Cufflinks

Vintage Wall Street Cufflinks - Famous Signs Themed Formal Wear - Cufflinks

Desk Top Bull and Bear Paperweight - Wall Street - Genuine Marble and Brass- Magnificent !!

Executive Gift Stock Market Wall Street Bull and Bear Silver Plated Sculpture Figurines Paperweights

Wall Street Bull and Bear Duel Statue

Children and the Physical Book: "It's the wonderment of her reaching for a page with me"

And I plan to read this way to my grandchildren.

To Serve The Young, E-Book Fans Prefer Print.  (The New York Times, 11/21/2011)

Excerpt: Print books may be under siege from the rise of e-books, but they have a tenacious hold on a particular group: children and toddlers. Their parents are insisting this next generation of readers spend their early years with old-fashioned books.

This is the case even with parents who themselves are die-hard downloaders of books onto Kindles, iPads, laptops and phones. They freely acknowledge their digital double standard, saying they want their children to be surrounded by print books, to experience turning physical pages as they learn about shapes, colors and animals.

Center for Teaching Through Children's Books.

Big Bad Wolf Aftermath Sale - Nov 24-28 2011

If you had enjoyed the Big Bad Wolf Book Fair the last time and didn't get enough of it, here is your chance for another go at it.

The Big Bad Wolf Aftermath Sale it is called, will have all books going for RM5 and below! Yep, you read it right.

If you don't mind the scratches and the damaged bits, the leftover books from the last book sale are all here for the picking. The Big Bad Wolf says this is your last chance at their hoard for you will never see them again at these prices.

Details of The Big Bad Wolf Aftermath Sale are as follows:

When:
24 - 28 November, 2011

Time:
10am - 9pm

Where:
Ground Floor, South City Plaza,
Persiaran Serdang Perdana,
Seksyen 1, 43300 Seri Kembangan,
Selangor

Same deal on discount: OCBC credit cardholders will get to enjoy a 5% discount during the BBW Aftermath Sale.

And now for the map to the venue, South City Plaza, Seri Kembangan. Click on map to enlarge it.

Quick, mark it down somewhere, or bookmark this page for later.

Books About Warren Buffett and Stock Trading

There are many books written about Warren Buffett, including general biographies, essay books, and books with just pictures of Warren Buffett. However, if you are looking for books on Buffett's investing and trading techniques, here are some of the top sellers:

Trade Like Warren Buffett

How to Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett: Profiting from the Bargain Hunting Strategies of the World's Greatest Value Investor

The Buffettology Workbook: Value Investing The Warren Buffett Way

J. K. Lasser's Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett Portfolio: Mastering the Power of the Focus Investment Strategy