Excerpts from: Saving the Self in the Age of the Selfie

This is a long article, worth the effort. Turn off notifications before reading... Maybe you'll leave them off afterwards.

Saving the Self in the Age of the Selfie
The American Scholar, Cover story, Spring 2016 James McWilliams, February 29, 2016

"Even as digital distraction promises to alleviate boredom, it removes from the existential equation the founding prerequisite for identity development—the individual, alone, facing nothing."

"When the smartphone transports our consciousness elsewhere, which it does every time we pick it up to avoid the stress of isolation, our most private choices suddenly hew not to the undiscovered ambitions of a curious mind, but to the commercial designs of a data-driven cloud."

"Saving the self in the age of the selfie may require nothing more or less complicated than recovering the lost art of serious reading."

Appalachian History: In a small community like this you helped other people

The following link (and the quotation after the link) is from a blog post associated with "The Appalachian History Podcast". It struck a chord. More from me after the clip...

Appalachian History: In a small community like this you helped other people:

". . . we worked around here and worked for other people and, you know, in a small community like this, you . . . you helped other people and they helped you. And there was no money exchanged. You was a helping somebody, and then when you got ready to house tobacco they would help you, and . . . and that's the way you worked it. It's not like it is now. You know, you got a transaction of money anytime that somebody helps you, where back then you didn't have."


The reminiscence you've just read is of the 1940's. Bonnett's Book Store opened in 1939 standing on a very similar foundation of community spirit*. Our history, strongly influenced by 'The Great Depression' and the idea of 'waste not, want not', was based on a philosophy of helping others and the concept of trading for goods and services during a time when everyone was short on cash, similar to what's described above.

We don't sell food, but the stuff found in books, fiction or non-, might be considered the dressing that adds a little something to the supper of life. Information and entertainment add some extra 'zip' to your day. If you've got some spare 'zip' in the spice rack that is your book shelf or nightstand, trade it in at Bonnett's Book Store. You'll save yourself some money and we'll keep the books safe until someone else needs to add something special to their plate.

Bonnett's Book Store - 70 years of making life more interesting.
Used books, comics, magazines, and DVDs for sale and trade.
Ask about a free mini-poster taken right here in 1941!


*We extend special thoughts and sincere thanks to our family and friends throughout the Dayton, Ohio area and in the historic Oregon District, aka, the Oregon Arts District, who have been supportive and helpful in recent weeks. It's good to be here and to have all of you around. This is one fine community and we wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Extra special thanks to The Trolley Stop, Feathers Vintage, and Gem City Records.