GREENWOOD, IN—Sitting in a quiet downtown diner, local hospital administrator Philip Meyer looks as normal and well-adjusted as can be. Yet, there’s more to this 27-year-old than first meets the eye: Meyer has recently finished reading a book.
Yes, the whole thing.
“It was great,” said the peculiar Indiana native, who, despite owning a television set and having an active social life, read every single page of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
It’s from The Onion, naturally, but sounds as if it was written by Steve “People don’t read anymore” Jobs. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
As bizarre as it may seem, Meyer isn’t alone. Once a month, he and several other Greenwood residents reportedly gather at night not only to read books all the way through, but also to discuss them at length.
“I don’t know, it’s like this weird ‘book club’ they’re all a part of,” said Brian Cummings, a longtime coworker and friend of Meyer’s. “Seriously, what a bunch of freaks.”
I’ve got my freak on. How about you?
IN THE COMMENTS: Antony B points out, “So Steve Jobs reckons that there’s no point creating an e-reader because 40% of Americans don’t read more than one book a year? Pffft. I’ve heard the statistic that 40% of Americans don’t drink, yet I don’t see anyone suggesting Jack Daniel was wasting his time.”
7 responses so far ↓
Snart // January 23, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Not only do my friends and I have our freak on, but we freak out with old writers, ones who thus far have never made it on to Oprah’s list. Discussed Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park last night, and, yes, I admit it, we ENJOYED it! Even inhaled several times! If society can’t handle this, then screw them! We’re middle-aged and they can just chew our book jackets!
Ken // January 24, 2008 at 9:59 am
I’m stunned that Philip Meyer was prepared to read in public, did he not consider what traumatic effect this would have on the other diners? Some may even have, heaven forbid, lost their appetite.
Antony B // January 24, 2008 at 2:18 pm
So Steve Jobs reckons that there’s no point creating an e-reader because 40% of Americans don’t read more than one book a year? Pffft. I’ve heard the statistic that 40% of Americans don’t drink, yet I don’t see anyone suggesting Jack Daniel was wasting his time.
prospectus // January 24, 2008 at 5:46 pm
It’s not just the social stigma, though. I have the habit bad. When it really takes over it has been known to keep me up at night to see what the next part of the trip will be like. In the morning there have sometimes been symptoms similar to sleep deprivation, negatively impacting my work life.
Like Snark, when I start to jones I have even been known to consume the product even when it’s well over 150 years old. God only knows what that’s doing to my health.
prospectus // January 24, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Ah, that’s *Snart*. Many apologies.
Snart // January 25, 2008 at 1:25 am
No worries, Prospectus. There is so much snark on this blog that it’s understandable you got confused. I am Snart. Meg is Snarky. Just remember, a Y has long legs, like Meg.
Don // January 26, 2008 at 6:17 pm
So which is worse, reading a book or reading about someone else reading a book?
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