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Travel book panic
As the weeks before a trip approach, I assemble piles of books on the dining room table. Each pile is constructed with care. There is a travel guide pile, a fiction pile, a "needed for work" pile, and a "maybe I won't take this one at all" pile. The most important is the "I'll probably read this one before the trip comes along" pile.
The books take on a life of their own. At times I lose track of the planned trip and I think of it as little more than a chance to read, free of the usual interruptions.
The excitement mounts. I frequently visit the piles and think about how it will be to experience those books.
But the day or two before the trip, panic sets in. The piles seem totally inadequate. Totally inadequate for my reading. Totally inadequate for my development as a human being. Most of all, totally inadequate for the trip.
I rush to Borders and buy a whole new set of books.
Hrak!
Posted by Tyler Cowen on May 6, 2007 at 07:38 AM in Books, Travels | Permalink
Comments
I Just finished these.
"The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War "
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Lincoln-Abraham-Agenda-Unnecessary/dp/0761526463/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5091701-2945623?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178390756&sr=1-1
"The Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich Are Rich, the Poor Are Poor--and Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car!"
http://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Economist-Exposing-Poor-Decent/dp/0195189779/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-5091701-2945623?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178390521&sr=8-1
Reading this now
"Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring"
http://www.amazon.com/Washingtons-Spies-Story-Americas-First/dp/0553383299/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5091701-2945623?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178390534&sr=8-1
This may be next.
"Sherman's March: The First Full-Length Narrative of General William T. Sherman's Devastating March through Georgia and the Carolinas"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0394757637/ref=wl_it_dp/002-5091701-2945623?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1PZBMKAYBF3UQ&colid=2B47YO7JX62IH
Posted by: Chris Meisenzahl at May 6, 2007 7:58:06 AM
Wow. That's worse than my routine; I may show this post to my wife just to prove that I'm not the most extreme travel-bibliophilic personality on the block.
Posted by: Jacob T. Levy at May 6, 2007 9:45:53 AM
Where ya headed if I may ask?
Posted by: Bruce Stram at May 6, 2007 10:03:48 AM
If I could recommend one:
"Children of Cain: Violence and the Violent in Latin America" by Tina Rosenberg
http://www.amazon.com/Children-Cain-Violence-Violent-America/dp/0140172548/ref=sr_1_1/104-3012934-6146345?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178469372&sr=8-1
Rossenberg looks a 7 different countries in 7 different chapters, so easy to skip around and choose on a vacation. Written slightly from the left, and parts of it can be depressing/graphic, but a great read for someone who wants to know more about Latin America's authoritarian-marxists-military tensions during the 70's and 80's. Written very well with lots or personal anecdotes. Lots or partying with kids of the rich and stuff...
Posted by: Pablo Halkyard at May 6, 2007 12:49:00 PM
HA HA HA HA I love you.
Posted by: Jacqueline at May 6, 2007 2:28:59 PM
Oh, and I always pack a lot of books on trips too, but then I end up just buying lots more wherever I go! One universal complaint all my lovers eventually share is having to help haul my books around airports. :) :) :)
Posted by: Jacqueline at May 6, 2007 2:30:47 PM
having to help haul my books around airports
Books are heavy! Individually they don't strain you at all, but pack a suitcase full of books and you need to be Ahnold to lift it.
TC, how many books do you read a year? For that matter, how many do you start and not finish, and of those, what percent per book do you read?
Posted by: happyjuggler0 at May 6, 2007 3:20:08 PM
You need an electronic book reader.
Posted by: Espen at May 6, 2007 3:58:18 PM
Happyjuggler:
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2006/12/how_to_read_fas.html
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/books/index.html
Posted by: Jacqueline at May 6, 2007 4:58:40 PM
This is one of my biggest travel struggles too. Whenever I travel, I like to fly carry-on only which limits my options for packing a lot of books. (I've made it to all 7 continents without checking a bag.) Somehow, though, there's always room for one more.
I'm hopeful for the day when eBook readers are good enough to substitute for some of my travel guides and give me the option to carry hundreds of books and articles with me and download more while on the go. I don't expect them to replace books alltogether, but rather to suplement them and enhance my reading options.
Something else I do when I travel is download audiobooks onto my iPod. They also sell guided audio tours, travel books, and maps you can download. Here are more tips for how to use your iPod when you travel.
I can't count the number of times I've made last-minute dashes to Borders at 10:30 the night before I travel overseas. (Often with an early morning flight the next day.) There's always one more book that I just have to bring...
Posted by: Brian Hollar at May 6, 2007 5:01:19 PM
They say half the population never reads another book after high school. Apparently, TC is trying to bring up the national average single-handedly. Well, he and my wife.
I almost always finish books on a theory that mixes the aphorisms about blind pigs and broken clocks.
Also, I carry only one difficult book to read (so I am sure I won't finish prematurely) and travel guides when traveling; there is always the possibility of picking up more enroute.
We (readers) shall all take very good stories to our graves. Not stories of our own lives, but of others'. We travelers will take a few of our own, too. Traveling writers leave a few.
Posted by: Eric H at May 6, 2007 5:58:22 PM
I was going to try to reign in my spending habits at Borders this year, and I thought I was doing okay.
Then the lady at the register informs me that I can redeem my holiday points at any time of the year, and that I had X amount available already this year.
I did the math, and I'm on track to spend twice as much as last year. But hey, they're books, it's okay.
Posted by: Ray G at May 6, 2007 6:01:02 PM
Thanks Jacqueline. I miss a lot of his book posts in my blog travels with some days having a lot less time to go through everything than other days, and therefore I get more selective about what I read.
Posted by: happyjuggler0 at May 6, 2007 7:58:54 PM
I like to get to know foreign countries by trying to send myself boxes of books via their postal systems. It's not always cheap, but it's fun, and easier on the back than carrying home loads of books. Although I usually by enough to replace those I've sent in the luggage.
Posted by: Tyrone Slothrop at May 6, 2007 9:19:36 PM
One thing I've been doing recently is buying a book at my travel destination to read on the way back. This isn't always optimal (and is particularly dependent on where you are going), but it is a lot of fun. Fortunately, my next trip is to England. I plan on buying the new McEwan novel, which doesn't come out stateside until June.
(By the way, if anyone can explain the bizarre delay for the US release date, I'd appreciate it.)
Posted by: Trieu Truong at May 6, 2007 10:53:59 PM
I often experience a similar panic with food ordering. After spending hours, on and off, thinking about where I am going, and then what I am going to order, I often end up letting a waiter decide for me. Frankly, I don’t mind it— fantasizing about a menu sometimes is more fun than eating it.
Posted by: Yan Li at May 6, 2007 11:42:19 PM
Are you panicking because you sense that there is less margin for error when selecting a book for travel? Your ability to select a good book is more critical now. You can't just abandon a book and pick a new one from your library while on an airplane. If this is the case, shouldn't you bring books that you've already started reading? Or even books that you've already read? That way, you have some assurance that you'll like the book. Or would this ruin the magic?
Posted by: Trieu Truong at May 7, 2007 12:30:43 AM
anyway, why not to read these books if somebody had been there before and is nice enought to share his feelings about these certen places?? but, again, try to stay critical and alerted!
its not neceserilly that everething what is inside this book is true.
i, by myself, have few experiences when what i read and got didnt respond to my expectations.
so, be aware!: people are different and what do they write- it is THEIR expectation and vision.
and you may have to have absolutely different!!!
but, why not to share with your-my-smb opinions???
in some way it might be helpful to somebody..
Posted by: Marianna at May 9, 2007 10:37:11 AM
i do carry a lot of books with me while traveling.
Posted by: Offshore Software Product Testing at May 30, 2007 8:05:25 AM
When i plan a trip i prefer buying books on the way only.So i feel like finishing up one and then take another till i reach my destination.And this way I get more selective about what I read.
Posted by: Offshore Outsourced Product Development Center at May 30, 2007 8:16:33 AM
Books are the best things you have with you while traveling.You can have your own space and time with your books having nobody else arround to disturb you.
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