Information overload? Too many books swamping the market thanks to new technology? That complaint’s been around for thousands of years.
Complaints about information overload, usually couched in terms of the overabundance of books, have a long history — reaching back to Ecclesiastes 12:12 (“of making books there is no end,” probably from the 4th or 3d century BC). The ancient moralist Seneca complained that “the abundance of books is distraction” in the 1st century AD, and there have been other info-booms from time to time — the building of the Library of Alexandria in the 3d century BC, or the development of newspapers starting in the 18th century.
“But around 1500, humanist scholars began to bemoan new problems: Printers in search of profit, they complained, rushed to print manuscripts without attention to the quality of the text, and the sheer mass of new books was distracting readers from the focus on the ancient authors most worthy of attention.”
(Via Boing Boing.)
Yep, the codex was just another skid down the slippery slope… .
However, I will never make such a complaint because there’s no such thing as too many books.
Simply too little time!
And too few bookcases.
“Too many books? Why no, me and my wife Barbara always buy and read MEG GARDINER. You can’t have too many MEG GARDINER books on your shelves.” Tilts masculine head and flashes pearly whites which twinkle for the camera. He is joined by curvacious home maker.
“Why Tom, don’t forget with the holidays fast approaching how we love to buy MEG GARDINER’S books for all out friends and family.”
“Oh yes of course, you can’t get a better stocking-filler that a MEG GARDINER book. Except for little Tommy Junior of course.”
“Well, yes, little Tommy Junior is a tad small for MEG GARDINER’S books. But the child psychologist says that the drawing of Evan pinned to his door that we all did together is a fine idea.”
“Yes, so we’d both like to thank MEG GARDINER for her creations and giving us the family bonding experience we so appreciate.”
Sincere nodding follows and hugging.
Fade to cover of latest novel…
PS the advertising money by the hollow tree stump will be fine. Oh what a give away. How do you backspace again?