I recently spent some time with the Amazon Kindle side-by-side with the Sony Reader. Having never used any type of virtual book device before, it took me a bit to adjust to both (both have slightly awkward hardware characteristics), but once I settled in, some big things became apparent. Kindle is very connected to a large world beyond the text you’re reading on the screen. With services like Wikipedia and Dictionary connection, and their experimental “NowNow” service – where you type in a question about ANYTHING, and a rep from Amazon will upload 3 related links to your Kindle in response – a reader has a pretty robust reference library at their fingertips. But that’s not all. Because it’s connected to Amazon, all their features also apply – book recommendations, preferences, etc., making it really easy to buy new eBook titles.
Sony’s Reader is a fine reading device. The text on the screen is just as legible. But it’s all the things that Kindle is connected to outside itself that makes it more compelling. I actually pictured myself using one beyond this test – something I never imagined considering. All in all though, I’m mostly interested to see where this goes. I don’t think it’ll die like some think, but it certainly isn’t the answer for everyone. Future devices will find ways to improve this connectivity to a larger world, and will give it broader appeal. In the meantime, I’m cherishing my signed, leather-bound Thomas Ligotti books with crimson type and black page edges.

If you are looking for a last minute gift idea and you think a book might work, I have two ideas for you.

The first is This I Believe. Released last August, the book is a compilation of the NPR project by the same name. Edward R. Murrow in the 1950′s went out and asked people, famous and everyday, to write a short essay about their core values. The series was revived in the last few years using the same process. I read the book cover to cover over the holidays last year. I found the writing powerful and moving. I highly recommend it. A paperback version is available now for $14.

The second is a parallel and equally interesting book called Listening Is an Act of Love. This is the bound version of selected works accumulated by Story Corps, a non-profit initiative to capture oral history in America. A person brings a partner to one of Story Corps’ stations and records a 40 minute interview. The partners are given a copy of the interview and a second copy is sent to and stored at the Library of Congress. Taking spoken word and presenting it in a written form is challenging, but I like the stories and sentiments shared. You might buy the audiobook in this case to hear the stories from the original people.

If you need them for next week, I would recommend a visit your local bookshop.

P.S. For all the locals, there is a Story Corps outpost in Milwaukee.

As of today, we’ve got 10 seats remaining for the January 16 Forces for Good event with Leslie Crutchfield. Anyone involved in nonprofit work or simply interested in how to make a better impact in the world needs to attend. Everyone from Barack Obama to Jim Collins is talking about this book, and this event is sure to cause a positive stir in Milwaukee. For more info and to register for the event: click here.