Time-machine powers
The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles, photo by Jaredd Craig on Unsplash
“Books have always been time machines, in a sense. Today, their time-machine powers are even more obvious – and even more inspiring. They can transport us to a pre-internet frame of mind.” – Michael Harris
It’s really a bit frightening how quickly the widespread use of the internet, for everything from business to education to socializing, has taken over almost everybody’s life. Even those who were reluctant to embrace it have been sucked into the vortex by more and more businesses and social contacts who expect everyone to be digitally available if we want to maintain any sort of professional or personal relationship.
I have a few friends who didn’t use the internet, or even texting, until recent months. I confess it was often difficult to stay in touch with them until they finally did cave, because it meant scheduling a phone time, or writing and mailing– imagine!– postal letters. I’m sure I must have communicated the same subtle pressure to them that I once sensed from others who wanted me to have an always-on cell phone back in the late 1990’s.
The funny thing is, I don’t feel any closer to those friends now that they finally are available digitally. It’s a bit less frustrating to reach them sometimes, but whatever time I might save in being able to reach them instantly via text or email is lost to other (usually digital) tasks. Immediacy, I’ve found, does not automatically make for a tighter bond. In fact, I would argue that in some cases it weakens it.
Here we all are, in this brave new world, and more than a few of us are starting to question how we got here and whether we took a wrong turn somewhere. Michael Harris, who is quoted above, refers in his work to our current state of “continuous partial attention,” and that phrase certainly describes the way many of my hours are spent.
But as Harris points out, books belong to an earlier era. It’s not easy to give a book only partial attention, unless it’s an audio book. Even then, unless I’m doing something truly mindless with my hands, I find myself replaying the last couple of minutes more often than I care to admit, having lost the thread amid distractions. Somewhere awhile back I started spending more time with print books, and I found it a curious combination of relaxing, absorbing, calming and stimulating all at the same time. Perhaps what I am experiencing is the (now) sadly rare occurrence of directing my full attention to one silent pursuit, not pulling myself in several directions.
Distractions have always been with us– just ask any school teacher, stay-at-home parent or busy executive. But then as now, the good old-fashioned book can whisk us away from everything, if only briefly, to another time and place– and a totally different state of mind.
Do you remember the pre-internet days? When, if you wanted to know something, you pulled out an encyclopedia or dictionary, or went to the library, or asked your father or mother? When, if you ran out of something after the stores were closed, and needed it soon, you borrowed it from a friend or neighbor instead of ordering it from Amazon? When you played board games, cards or croquet with friends, instead of online gaming with people you’ve never met face to face? When you gave to others through school, church and community groups instead of a Go Fund Me page? When your friends were people you hung around with on a regular basis in real life, and your conversations consisted of text-free spoken exchanges?
It’s a mistake, of course, to romanticize the past. The options described above were not without problems, and most of us appreciate the improved efficiency that we have learned to expect from computerized systems. Convenience and independence are valuable assets. But is it possible that we lost something valuable along the way?
The common denominator in most non-digital activity is real world contact with at least one other human. Robots, in the long run, leave much to be desired.
It’s interesting that reading, which we think of as a solitary pursuit, can re-set our brains to the not-so-long-ago world before there were microchips, when direct connection to others was woven into the fabric of daily activities. Next week’s post will be a follow up quote from Harris about that very paradox. This two-part post on the same topic, with consecutive quotes from the same author, is a first for this blog. After 1118 separate posts, I sometimes think there are very few “firsts” left here. But the two quotes from Harris seem designed to be considered together, so I decided to break my usual pattern.
Meanwhile, I invite you to join me in taking a break. Put aside the distractions and enter the time machine. Punch in any past, present or future dates you like — an author has been there before you, and will be your expert guide. If we end up in the same century, maybe I’ll see you there.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: attention, books, changes, computers, connection, digital age, distraction, escape, future, humanity, internet, past, present, progress (or not), reading, Solitude, time travel
Defeat Despair 
Julia, that’s very insightful about why reading actual books is still valuable — it really does require and enable us to slow down and focus our brains. Many of my friends use audio books but I know that personally I would listen in that “continuous partial attention” state and lose the narrative; I’m just too visually oriented. And I know using an electronic reading device would just cause me to skim and scroll, rather than fully focus. So while I LOVE the internet, I still try to spend some time each day reading actual books : ).
Susan, I think there are many among us who feel the same way about traditional books. Despite what the negative prognosticators say about books disappearing, I don’t think they will ever go away completely. For that I’m thankful!
Good Sunday morning, my dear friend. Somehow when we were remodeling 428 several years ago our books (most of them anyway) were boxed and stored at our warehouse. Upon entering on Friday I spied them! Bill prefers that I don’t go to the warehouse often for fear I’ll get lost on “memory lane”! Needless to say that I didn’t open the boxes but I will soon. I love to have a “good read” going in the form of a hardcover book. Another favorite is Defeat Despair and I have read all 1118, some more than once. Thank you for all the posts, what you’ve given me in time and words, and your friendship. Hi to Matt! 🧡🍁
Sheila, your comments are encouraging as always and I so appreciate it! Yes, I can imagine that a warehouse would be sort of like our old attic (in childhood) was to me…a temptation to get lost for hours, poring over the mysteries of the past, both remembered and imagined. If books had been stored there it would have been even harder to come back downstairs to real life! I am so grateful that you found me here in cyberspace and have blessed me with your steadfast presence, comments and friendship. It’s a bit rainy today but on our Verandah the weather is, as always, cozy and bright! Your choice of flavors for tea — the kettle is always on. ❤ ❤ ❤
I am reading Grisham’s “The Reckoning.” Takes place in the south about WW2, and the Bataan Death march, race relations, farming-Cotton and is in part considered in the Southern Gothic camp.And is supposedly based on a true story from the thirties about a war hero who came home to his small town and shot the lhe local preacher dead. The war hero goes to his early grave not telling his motiviation, hence this story.
That sounds like an interesting book. I don’t read much of Grisham but I did like The Painted House and I did enjoy one of his mysteries– I can’t remember now which one it was. I think he has class in terms of how he answers people’s questions about his life and his writing.
Yesterday I got some little yellow Violas to replace the Vincas. But I noticed that most people in our neighborhood have taken down all their hanging containers. Next visit to Atlanta you will have to check out the Alpine bakery with us. Only a block from our place off Sixes road exit from 575. Hope you had a good visit to Alabama,
Alpine bakery is an appealing name; it conjures up images of delicious pastries! I noticed the other day that the pansies planted in the median near my home are still blooming beautifully. Maybe I should have planted some of those. All my container plants have been inside for several weeks now. I hope they will survive the winter indoors.
I think I killed the little rosemary. The yellow pansies are still out there, but they are shivering this AM. The lawn panisies–in the ground- seem to be doing OK.
Have you seen the new, rendition of “Little Women.”
Yes, I saw the new version of Little Women and I was quite impressed with it. Definitely one of the best movies I’ve seen in years. It sticks closely to the spirit of the original, if not to the letter in every detail. Quite a powerful film I think. I would recommend it to anyone.
The little yellow Violas are hanging in there. I think we are the only ones on our block with a container still out. I thought that one day had wiped out the Rosemary, but i noticed a couple of purple blossoms on the ends so i put it back outside.
The cold and rain here with a little fog makes us homesick for the Seattle maritime climate.
I must have overwatered the Xmas Cactus as it it has dropped most of its little buds. The outdoor pansies in the ground seems to be doing fine.
I’m quite happy to learn that the violas are braving the winter. Today was strange — 70 degrees and felt like springtime in January. The plants will be confused, I’m sure. Re: the Rosemary — I learned never to give up too early on a plant that appeared to be dead or dying. They often rally when conditions are right. I have pulled plants out by the root intending to throw them away, only to find weeks or even months later that there is new growth on them despite not being properly planted, just lying in a plastic bag bound for the trash but not yet there. I’m not sure whether Christmas cactus are meant to live on past the season. There must be a reason why I only ever see them at Christmas. Still, I have been able to keep Poinsettias alive for several years, though not with the fantastic colors they started with.