87 replies to this topic

[Don Capps]

The question is simple really and the result of a Mike Lawrence rant in the latest Vintage Racecar Journal: do you "collect" books -- assumingly for investment purposes -- or do you have a "library" of books that you use for research purposes?

I tend to be a "library" person since I tend to "use" my books for research. I am more interested in the information and the knowledge that can be gained from a book, so whether it is a 1st edition or a Xerox copy doesn't concern me very much. I have gotten rid of books simply because it was of little use to me. I have no interest in the finanacial aspects of "collecting" and never cease to be amazed that some folks place such obscene prices on materials.

Sometimes I just get a book because it is interesting and provides a "window" into a world now long past. However, unless I find it of some merit, off it goes to the local library after awhile.

So, information socialism collides with capitalistic accumulation?

[Barry Boor]

I'm not sure that 'research' is the correct word in my case. I buy books because they interest me and I want to read them. And when I have read them they go onto my shelves and months or maybe occasionally years later, I read them again, then again and so on. I swear I have read Champion Year at least 10 times since I got it in about 1962 or so.

I have no idea if any of my books are worth money; (this fact can be confirmed by the fact that I probably lost about £2500 - £3000 when I sold my Autocourses!)

[Bigfoot]

The curious attitude of some people towards their books was brought into focus for me when a couple of years ago at the Goodwood Festival I was amused to see a rack of books, in less than pristine condition, on one of the dealers stands labelled "Reading Copies"!

[dretceterini]

I have over 1000 car books, and more than 20,000 magazines, but I don't consider myself as a collector, in spite of the fact that I'm always looking for stuff I don't have. To me, a xerox copy of a 1920s Targa Florio entry sheet, or an unpublished "etceterini" photos is just as important as Simon Moore's 8c2900 book (for example).

I am interested in the information, to the point I have become a "knowledge shark"; so feed me!

[Frank de Jong]

Ditto (not the numbers...); a library, that's what it is. One of the things in life where I'm proud of.

[ray b]

road&tracks back to 1950 thanks to my dad
hot rods most of 60's
some books
I buy anything at yardsales


NEVER SELL ANY !!!

[Rob Ryder]

I'm with Don on this one, definitely a 'library' person.

Even though I have what would be considered by some to be a good 'collection' few of my books could be considered in mint condition because they have been read and enjoyed so many times.

Books are to be read and enjoyed just as old racing cars are to be raced! IMHO neither would be treated as investments by a true enthusiast.

Rob

[Richard Jenkins]

I use just four very well worn, very useful (completely unsaleable now) reference books as I simply haven't the space for any more books for research only, although I occasionally skim them from time to time for a read.
Most of the other racing literature be it magazines or books is stuffed unceremoniously under my bed, i'm afraid, although I will admit my Paul Frere book does take pride of place in my main bookcase as an exception.

[ensign14]

A bit of both with me - although I would prefer a poor copy of a book rather than not having it, if there is a choice I would pay more for the original version, or a premium for a limited edition, on the basis that it would cost me more if I wanted to buy it later on. Books can of course be furniture as well and if a beautiful limited edition gives me more tactile and visual pleasure than the standard it is worth paying the right price. Sorry...

(But I do look up a lot in my books - especially my run of Sheldons - but am always careful when doing so to keep them as pristine as possible. Nothing hurts me more than a paperback with a creased spine.)

[dretceterini]

Even though I have a rather large library, I don't have a huge financial investment, as it has been accounulated over 30+ years. Important car books; even new ones, have gotten rather expensive, so I can not afford to buy anywhere as much as I did at one time..

I am FAR more interested in having the information than having another book on my shelf, so xerox copies are fine with me...

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by Don Capps
.....do you "collect" books -- assumingly for investment purposes -- or do you have a "library" of books that you use for research purposes?.....

Don- I agree wholeheartedly with your views.

Over the years I have built my own little reference library, focused towards my limited interests and the years 1895-1949. The reason for this is easy to understand when one lives as isolated as I do in the vastness and at the end of our world. I really have to clean out my three overflowing book cases to make room for additional magazine copies. Magazines mostly provide that needed information not to be found in book form. Unfortunately I discovered this fact rather late, otherwise I would now have more magazines than books.

[David McKinney]

We all seem to be on a similar wavelength - which, when you think about it, is perhaps what should be expected from the sort of people with an expressed interest in nostalgia.
My budget means I don't buy nearly as many books as I'd like to. I still tell myself every few weeks that I can't possibly survive any longer without Simon Moore's Alfa 2.3 book, then think I could buy ten other books for the same money. Much as I love motor racing 'picture books', I buy very few. I'd rather spend the money on a book that will give me facts I don't know!
All of which is the complete opposite to a friend of mine, who is in the fortunate position of being able to buy just about every book that comes onto the market. I don't think he's read any of them

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by David McKinney
All of which is the complete opposite to a friend of mine, who is in the fortunate position of being able to buy just about every book that comes onto the market. I don't think he's read any of them

David, he is exactly the sort of person I am referring to when bringing this up. I know of someone who has an extensive library but actually uses the vast majority of it for his work. It is staggering in its size, but he knows where every item is and he has been a blessing at times when I have asked for a copy of something or a tidbit of info from his library. However, there are many who just collect those Gordo Gekko books which cost a fortune and make me really wonder as to whether it is just me or what?

I fully recognize that sometimes it is simply going to be "one of those things," an excellent example being Karl's wonderful Excellence Was Expected which was $65 when it first appeared in 1977 -- and for which you could buy 10 to 12 books from Motorbooks or whoever. It was a bit steep for a 2LT to pony up the bucks, but I did and never regretted it a moment over the years. I am at a point where I really can buy whatever I want without much thought to the price. However, I weigh that against the utility of that book and whether I really can use it. Sometimes I just like the pictures or whatever in a book and get it even though its "utility" is minimal. Last night I picked up "Racing Maseratis" and the Peter Vann Auto Union book simply because I liked many of the photos -- I have a weakness for both marques... On the other hand, the "Big Wacking Great Huge Encyclopedia of F1," that two volume thing at Border for $125 is very unlikely to make the trip to my bookshelf. The last thing I need is another run-of-the-mill F1 record book. I saw the F1 Magazine thing last night and since it was sealed up, have no idea what it is like. Probably another candidate for either a one-off buy or allowing someone else the opportunity to purchase it.

I tend to lean towards books that Doug produces since I can depend on using them and he can always use the money. Ditto for Karl. Lest it some that all I am interested in are the numbers, I thoroughly enjoy a good "read" perhaps even better than a book chock full of factual stuff -- the biography of Junior Johnson by Tom Higgins & Steve Waid was very good as is Robert Edwards' book "ARchie and the Listers," one of my favorites. And the Smokey Yunick "Trilogy" is a jewel!

I have also come to ralize that to an extent this forum and similar groups have come to fill the void left by the departure of such treasures as "Historic Race & Rally," "Historic Racing," and "Historic Motor Racing" and others.

Like Hans mentions, I have really come to a change of views on how I look at my magazines -- not so much for "information" but also for setting the scene and providing the context, the reason that old farts like many of us exist...

Information without context is just numbers.

[Barry Lake]

There have been numerous reasons for my buying motoring and motor racing books over the years.

For one, cars and motor racing have been my number one interest in life, from a very early age.

I absolutely HATE not having the answer to questions that arise on either subject (or any subject, come to that - so I have many non-motoring reference books also).

For most of my life I have had no access to the information I wanted, other than to own it myself. (now, with TNF to turn to, I could have bought fewer books...)

I never like to rely on one source for information, so buy various books on any given subject, for cross-reference.

Gravitating to writing about cars and motor sport for a living gave me a further excuse (and a tax break) for buying more books.

Although I have my books valued for insurance purposes, I don't see them as an asset in dollar terms, because I can't imagine ever selling them.

Over the years I have bought many books in which I did not have a specific interest at the time - on the basis that "I might need it some day". Surprising how many times I have, years later, been very pleased I had done so. My interests have broadened as time has passed and some books that I wondered at times why I bought them, later became treasures - or at least extremely useful.

Collector's editions, such as leather bound have never really attracted me. I do, however, like hard cover books in preference to soft cover.

I enjoy books as objects as well as for the information they hold. I look after them and do not crease or dirty the pages. I do, though, add corrections, when I find mistakes, attempting to do this as neatly as possible.

I like the look and feel of a well made book. But I also enjoy used books that are well-read, but not seriously mis-treated. I do not like smelly, vandalised, rodent or insect eaten books - although have some in these categories that are yet to be replaced by cleaner versions. The information is first and foremost.

During the time I have been accumulating my library, I have repaired and restored many books and dust jackets and get a real buzz out of transforming a rough copy into something far better.

Twice, I have taken book-binding courses at night school, and have hard-covered many of my soft cover books, as well as repaired many.

But I have never displayed my books to impress visitors. Most are stored at least on shelves with louvre doors to protect them from dust and sun (and from prying fingers of people who do not respect books).

My preference always is for well-researched "information" books, rather than "picture books" although I often find the latter will have photos not to be found elsewhere.

While I have read many of my books cover to cover (some of them two or three times) it would be impossible to have read them all. But a book never is put on the shelves until I have read all the chapter headings, all the captions, and have had a "speed read" of much of it. So I know what is in all of my books and know which ones to go to for certain types of information.

But I never have enough time to read as much (or as many) as I would like.

[FucF1]

A library, which *used* to be open for anyone to read or borrow from, but as it became increasingly difficult to convince people to return the books in the condition they borrowed them, or without having to chase them up to convince them to return them in the first place, and thats supposing they haven't somehow managed to lose them...

So its now a private library and the only person who reads from it is myself, mores the pity as I like to "share the knowledge"

People, I don't understand them....

[Chris Bloom]

I have one or two (motorsport related) books I have been very fortunate to pick up at second hand stores for very reasonable prices. I have, out of curiosity, tried to value them by hunting around the internet and I could probably sell them for well over ten times the price I paid. The simple fact is that I have got immense pleasure from these books and in future I will return to their pages and stories of bygone races which will undoubtably thrill me as much as they do now.

There is more to life than accumulating money, though alot of people don't seem to share this view:(

[Doug Nye]

Originally posted by Chris Bloom
There is more to life than accumulating money, though alot of people don't seem to share this view

I most decidedly do - and believe me, writing 'our' kind of books is a surefire way of avoiding any such 'accumulation'...

DCN

[Chris Bloom]

Originally posted by Doug Nye


I most decidedly do - and believe me, writing 'our' kind of books is a surefire way of avoiding any such 'accumulation'...

DCN

[2F-001]

In this context I would be a ''library'' person.
But with some qualification required...
I have never bought a book as ''an investment'' - but books can have value to me beyond the information they contain and the quality of the writing: that is as physical entities. As a designer (chiefly for print) by trade and a typographer (that's ''typographic designer'' to the Americans - what you call a typographer we in the UK used to call a typesetter) by speciality, I can cherish a book for the quality of the design, the typography, presswork or binding... although I very seldom by a book if I do not value the content in some way too. Very high standards in bookcrafts (aside from the writing) don't often seem to be lavished upon motorsports books and when they do - modern examples would be those from the Palawan Press - I can't afford to buy them!

As an aside, this may go some way to explaining why the term ''reading copy'' (an common bibliographic term) is not quite so ridiculous as it sounds. I agree it does seem to make the hackles rise with thoughts of people who buy books ''for purposes other than reading'' - but really it means that the volume is intact/complete enough to read, but is not a copy you would particularly want to own in order to appreciate the craftsmanship that created it physically. For those so motivated, this is of course significant to its current or future monetary value, but, for me, the worth of a book is not simply a choice between a good read or a good investment.

Sorry if that sounded like a rant! Just my two euro-cents' worth.

[Ray Bell]

In numbers, the majority of my books have come from Bookfests run by a charity organisation. I rush in there as the thing opens each time and grab what I can from the cheap tables. I've got a pile of stuff very cheaply this way.

Of course, you can't get everything this way. But I've had so little over the years that it's been a real treasure trove to me. And I don't care a great deal about the condition, as long as the book isn't falling apart. It's the content that I get them for.

[Joe Fan]

Originally posted by Doug Nye


I most decidedly do - and believe me, writing 'our' kind of books is a surefire way of avoiding any such 'accumulation'...

DCN

Doug's right, writing motorbooks will clean you out if you aren't careful. I see most motorbook writers writing purely for the challenge of it and writing about subjects they interested in or have a passion for.

As to the original topic, I buy books that interest me or ones I need for research purposes. I don't buy books for the collector aspect generally but I did recently purchase an autographed version of Robert Edwards book on Stirling Moss (autographed by Sir Stirling) which probably was somewhat for its collector value.

[Ray Bell]

I'm definitely with Barry on the aspect of buying even if you don't have a particular interest. I have books here that come in very handy at times, even if they aren't books I would have chosen for myself.

[Zawed]

Originally posted by ensign14

Nothing hurts me more than a paperback with a creased spine.)

I know the feeling, I'm the same!

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by Doug Nye


I most decidedly do - and believe me, writing 'our' kind of books is a surefire way of avoiding any such 'accumulation'...

DCN

Doug,

Amen! Indeed, the number of historians making a living solely from their writings is probably in the low single digits... .. based upon my experience in the profession. Thank goodness I have always had a day job....

[dretceterini]

Mr.Nye is correct. It took my friend Tony Adriaensens, who did a superb Alfa GTA book almost 10 years to get back his financial investment, much less, make a profit. The cost of doding a book properly, especially obtaining photos or the rights to use them, can be VERY expensive..

[redfiveoz]

Greetings,
Just to add my two bob's worth, I tend to lean towards "picture books", as my aim is to glean info about the cars, and drivers, relative to a given race. As a builder of 1/12 F1 models, getting hold of such pictures can be difficult : for example Keke Rosberg's Theodore Wolf. I have found that by researching these cars, I get a "feel" for what the constructors had in mind, especially cars that were noticeably modified from race to race, such as the Tyrrells (003 & P34) and Ferraris (312T's and 126C ), and attempt to recreate the car/driver combo for a specific race.

Redfiveoz

[Darren]

I take the point and shared meaning of the thread, but I wonder if there might be a little bit of collector in there as well. I'm sure you all have large libraries and active research interests which feed upon those libraries. But I'm equally sure that those large libraries: are valued for insurance purposes; include some first editions of rare works; include some books which have appreciated greatly in value; include some books which are rarely, if ever, referred to; include some magazines acquired simply because you had all the others in the series; include some coffee table works which pad out a marque or period specialisation.

In other words, most libraries are built on things in addition to strict utility or specialisation. Now, just to heat-shield myself from the fiery wrath of those feeling wrongly lumped in with the book investors, I think a bit anorak-clad collectorism is a good thing. Walter Benjamin in "Unpacking My Library" talks about the "mysterious relationship to ownership" that all book collectors have, the thrill of acquisition.

So perhaps another way to think about it is as non-financial investment collectors: readers building collections for reasons other than financial gain or social status.

[Barry Lake]

Darren

I don't disagree with anything you have said.

However, if the library is never sold, and is bequeathed to an institution upon death of the owner, does it have a monetary value - other than for insurance purposes?

I have to admit that I justify acquisitions by telling myself I could sell it/them if I was ever really desperate for money. But I can't see it ever happening.

When I was younger and even poorer, I used to despair as I saw the price of second hand books getting further and further from my reach. Now, I realise that a book's attaining monetary value increases its chances of survival.

But I still generate a headache (seriously) when spending large sums on books while going without some of what other people see as necessities in life (clothing always, haircuts often, food sometimes...)

Surely, though, it is a better addiction than alcohol, cigarettes and even harder drugs.

Or wild women (except for the type who buy you lunch, so you have even more money to spend on books).

[Darren Galpin]

The haircut went a long time ago in my case.........

[Barry Lake]

I've seen the photo - thanks to Fines.

[Darren Galpin]

I would ask where he got it from, having never met him in person, but I can make a guess or three.

[fines]

;)

[Darren]

Originally posted by Barry Lake
Darren

I don't disagree with anything you have said.

However, if the library is never sold, and is bequeathed to an institution upon death of the owner, does it have a monetary value - other than for insurance purposes?

I have to admit that I justify acquisitions by telling myself I could sell it/them if I was ever really desperate for money. But I can't see it ever happening.

When I was younger and even poorer, I used to despair as I saw the price of second hand books getting further and further from my reach. Now, I realise that a book's attaining monetary value increases its chances of survival.

Indeed. And I was thinking mostly of my father's collection (which by the way does include Simon Moore's 2.9 book, and it's great). It has a monetary value but it won't ever be sold. It's been put together over 40 years and I don't think a book has ever been sold out of it for a profit. But it's still a collection as much as a library. I think all I'm suggesting is that not all collections are for investments purposes, and not all libraries are strictly for research.

[Barry Lake]

Ah, the ultimate solution!

A father with an extensive motoring library!

A person could probably lead a relatively normal life with access to something like that.

[lynmeredith]

My ambition is to move in next door to Barry Lake. I could be a good friend; feed the cat when he goes away and mow the lawn etc. In return...

I don't need to own a library, just have access to it.

LDM

(Barry - please advise address and name of local real estate agent by PM)

[Ray Bell]

Aha! A smart thought...

Better wait till Barry gets enough bookshelves though, otherwise you'll never find what you're looking for... never.

Better go for the father.

[Dennis David]

I guess I'm a little bit of both since I don't have a library of stamps but in fact a collection. The fact that I have an empty spot in one of my albums will cause me to go in search of that missing item but since I limit myself to stamps under $100 most of my searching is only a few clicks away. Do I think of the resale value of my collection, I think not.

Now when it comes to books I must confess I am also a collector, a collector of information. My purchases run from motorsports through military and general history. I buy travel essays, biographies, atlases and encyclopedias. I buy more books than I could every read in a lifetime simply to have that bit of information at my fingertips when a question arises. I especially love books with well-developed bibliographies, as these become my maps to buried treasure.
The feel of a book, the smell of it appeals to me. Photocopies or reprints hit my dustbin the moment I am finished with them I’m afraid even magazine I find hard to hold on to unless they’re bound. In fact all my books not bound in leather are covered in Brodart.

Racing to buy bookshelves to hold my latest acquisition I can’t deny the very fact that I love being surrounded by books.

[Dennis David]

In August I'm taking a week off from work from my home in California to fly to London and Amsterdam in search of books and stamps. Oh what a glorious time I'll have.

[Darren]

Originally posted by Barry Lake
Ah, the ultimate solution!

A father with an extensive motoring library!

A person could probably lead a relatively normal life with access to something like that.

Works fine for me. How else do you end up reading Taruffi and Frere as basic instruction before you learn to drive? And I suspect you know of the pater familias concerned, actually. Well, he said to say hello to you anyway...

[Darren Galpin]

I also love having lots of books, but have (by TNF standards) quite a small collection of motorsport books. I kind of have a big mental block when I see the prices of many new books, let alone second hand ones, so they tend to be purchased slowly (Mr Holland's Grand Prix Club was a good source of modern books (I used to win his competitions frequently.....) until it closed down!). In addition, because I have a small house and a small bookcase, I have to keep many books in my loft with the magazines, and I really dislike that! But however many are stored away, they are certainly never sold, and wherever there is a shop with books, even charity shops (and car boot sales) and the like, I'll be there to have a look through to see what nuggets I can dig up. I might not find anything that often, but the odd gem makes it worthwhile! I think that this is also part of the reason behind my website - I want to make all of the information that I can get access to available to others who may not be able to get it. I'll stop now before I get accussed of talking total BS.

[karlcars]

I look forward to your trip in August, Dennis. We are now well outside London, in Suffolk, but if you're up our way you would be most welcome to visit our Library in its new home.

All our holdings were acquired and are used for research pure and simple. We try to acquire those books that have been freshly researched so they add something to our knowledge of cars, drivers, the industry and the history. This is pretty challenging when your interests cover all of automotive history plus certain aspects of aerospace as well! That applies even moreso to periodicals...

[Gil Bouffard]

I really enjoyed Mike Lawrence's tirade. I have seen people who collect things so that they can say. "I have the very first doo-floppy made by whomever."

I have two libraries of note. One deals with my profession and the other deals with my obsession. Or, is it the other way around? My motor racing library ranges from Carriciola's, "A Racing Driver's Life." through Tim Considine's. "American Grand Prix Racing."

The other library covers Radar Countermeasures, Intelligence and Cryptology and ranges from Dr, Fred Terman's papers and the biography of Dr. Herny O Tizard to "Blind Man's Bluff."

They all have been read and get re-read often..

There is an old book store in Los Altos, CA., that Dennis David is also aware of that I attack with some regularity. Out here in Central Valley California, There is a nice store in Modesto that I trip through also.

I only buy new books when they will add to my knowledge base..

The Gilworminator

[Gil Bouffard]

I just washed my hands and catn dew a ting wid em....

The name was HENRY O. Tizard.

Da liGratin

[fines]

All my books are well-used - and look like that. I know Barry Lake would get a heartache seeing the state some of my books are in, but it's just that way. I never judge books by its covers, the same way I treat persons...

[Barry Lake]

So, Michael (Fines) if my jacket was hanging half off me, you wouldn't re-fit it for me so it wouldn't become damaged?

You'd just let it be torn from my back?

To those who don't know, I met up with Michael at Villa Trips last year. I was disturbed that so many book jackets in the library were left maladjusted and in danger of being ripped; Michael thought it humourous that I was fixing them.

I wonder who's looking after them while I'm not around?

Still, I find it odd that someone (Fines) who is so careful about facts and information, is so careless with the books from which he gathers the material. Perhaps his is a virtual world.

But that doesn't explain to me how he seems to treat his lungs, as well as books, as disposable items. I fret about that... hope he lasts long enough to complete all his excellent projects.

[Don Capps]

Although most of my "serials" are still not available, I have the pleasure now of looking about and seeing most of my motor sports library up and running for the first time in one place in years.

I am, alas, much like Barry. I can read a paperback and one could scarcely tell it had been read. Part of this is that for so much of my life, I was not allowed to accumulate much because of our nomadic life of constant moves from place to place. Books were my most precious possessions. I still have a paperback book I won in a reading contest from the sixth grade! I even had a few magazines from the 1950's that I have lugged all over the world -- several times!!! It has been a cruel fate to suffer that so many of my books and magazines have been lost or destroyed over the years.

While books are really only important to me for what they contain, books are still "sacred" to me. I have haunted libraries and bookstores all my life. My sole interest in material possesions are my books. However, I am always willing (often to my loss) to share them whenever possible.

Whenever I realize that I have a duplicate or the need for a book is no longer apparent, I donate them to libraries or give them to those who might find them of interest.

No surprise that one of my favorite books is Fahrenheit 451 ....

[dretceterini]

A friend of mine, Herb Browar, who was a TV producer year ago, had a collection hand made models and car books worth at LEAST $500,000! Herb had a bunch of stuff from 30 years ago that is now almost impossible to find. His book collection and magazine collection totaled about 3000 items, and he had at least 1000 hand made models in 1/43, some one offs!!

He willed it to the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles. It, and a number of other donated collection are sitting in a LARGE room for at least 6-7 years, doing nothing but gathering dust...

I have offered to act as currator of the collection and librariana couple of days a week, FOR FREE! if they will buy the shelving, chairs, etc, and set up the room. This has been going on for AT LEAST 3 years.

There are at least 2 copies in the room of Simon Moore's 8c2900 book, for example. They could have an auction of all the duplicates and rraise a LOT of $$s...but NO...it was part of the Los Angeles County Museum system, and politic of government were more important...

Peterson donated millions to the museum recently, and esentially bought it back about 2 years ago...STILL...nothing has beeen done!! Dick Messer is back as curator and is a friend for the last 6 months or so, and STILL, nothing is done...(Ken Gross, the previous curator and basically a hot-rod guy left)

This is FRUSTRATING AS HELL....as there is a lot of stuff people would like to have access to...

Stu

[Don Capps]

Stu,

Welcome to reality. Quite often the good intentions of some are hampered by forces that are beyond our mere powers as mortals to comprehend. I know of some in the research work who are adamant that their collections will only go to either an individual or get auctioned off by the survivors.

Paid plug -- In the US, perhaps the best place I have come across that sees the world through the sames lenses that most of is the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen. They try very hard and have assembled a great deal of information -- which is there and available. The staff is superb and very helpful. There are few other place close as well, but I have to put my in the Watkins Glen column.

Karl's library is a ditto -- -- in Europe. Indeed, one of the places I plan to visit the next time I cross the atlantic is Karl's Place....


BTW -- I am always willing to try to put my $$$ towards a good cause and buy a book to keep The Cause going. I support Gordon White, Doug, Karl, and a few others here like David. I personally don't mind plunking out the $$$ whenever possible since it encourages them to stick to it....

[fines]

Originally posted by Barry Lake
So, Michael (Fines) if my jacket was hanging half off me, you wouldn't re-fit it for me so it wouldn't become damaged?

You'd just let it be torn from my back?

To those who don't know, I met up with Michael at Villa Trips last year. I was disturbed that so many book jackets in the library were left maladjusted and in danger of being ripped; Michael thought it humourous that I was fixing them.

I wonder who's looking after them while I'm not around?

Still, I find it odd that someone (Fines) who is so careful about facts and information, is so careless with the books from which he gathers the material. Perhaps his is a virtual world.

But that doesn't explain to me how he seems to treat his lungs, as well as books, as disposable items. I fret about that... hope he lasts long enough to complete all his excellent projects.

Barry, you're embarrassing me with your care for me! But that just goes to show what a great man you are

And on top of it, you're quite right with your assessments. Yes, in a way my world is "virtual", in that I don't care that much for the material of which the books are made of. It's the contents that fascinate me, and the paper and dust jackets are just means of transportation of the content. It's still there, even if the book is falling apart. Of course, it's much easier to access the information if the book's not in a state of collapse, but there you go... I have several books I use that often, they're virtually just a pile of loose paper sheets I can live with that...;)

And yes, for a long time I treated my body the same. I had an extremely wild and excessive youth - they say a cat has nine lifes, I figure I outlived quite a few kittens along my way - to me mind experiences far outweighed any disadvantages my body was suffering. I always maintained I would live a hundred years - well, at least my mind wanted to! Around the time I turned thirty, I realised I needed my body to achieve that. Since then, I started to take care of my body: less smokes and alcohol, less women , better nutrition - yes, I even started working out. There's no doubt I'm now physically in the best shape for the last twenty years. But there's still room for improvement, it's a gradual process...

The same applies for book care: I realise these books I have could have a value to someone else when I'm gone (i.e. some time around 2070... ), so I try to be more sympathetic to the material. Well, at least it's a start

As for the books in the Trips library, I would say I treat them as if they were my own... if that would mean anything Honestly, since they're not mine, I treat them with extra care, of course! Actually, I even try to organise them a bit, 'cause there's hardly any order recognisable.

Which reminds me again that I didn't respond to the letters you sent me three or four weeks ago, Barry! S O O O R R R E E E E E E E E!!!! The problem is, like you I'd need to dig deep to find reliable sources, and apart from not really having the time to do so, I have to admit that I don't care that much for the details here. My story was, at the time, compiled from the info I received directly from the Trips foundation, so for me that was enough to satisfy my curiosity. I have no reason to doubt the info, although at the same time I can't really vouch for it either! So sorry, but "World Authority" on the subject? Naah, not really...

Wonderful news your story is going to be published!! I was always wondering when this would finally happen Maybe you can scan the article and post it here for those not able to buy the magazine? Then again, that's probably not a good idea for a magazine on sale to have the most interesting article freely accessible on the internet...

[Big Jim]

Some books I bought to read and to learn. Some I have for references to build models. Some are good, some bad. As for monetary value, I don't worry about that part as i'll never sell any of them!