The things I love…
I read a post today about a jacket company that advertised not buying jackets to save the environment–in their catalogue that SOLD jackets and other outdoor equipment. The writer’s point being that sometimes in doing the very thing we love, appreciating the outdoors and the beauty of nature–we actually contribute to hurting nature. He posted a great quote:
“Yet each man kills the thing he loves,
By each let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!”
- Oscar Wilde, the Ballad of Reading Gaol
It really got me thinking about two things I love, books and trees–and how odd it was, in a way, that the one thing I love actually is responsible for killing off another thing I love. I did a cursory search about large book companies that are using recycled paper, but I only found an article that in 2006 Random House pledged to move towards using a certain percentage of recycled paper.
I know there are people who think that in the not so distant future we’ll be reading books on reusable sources–like handheld electronic book readers, iPods, computers. While I can, on one hand, see how that might be environmentally sound in saving trees, I have to admit that I can’t imagine that ever really being the same. There is something, for me, in holding a book in my hand–the feel of it, the weight of it, the smell of the paper and ink. I like to bend my page corners, and I like to write in my book. I know that it is selfish in some ways–but I like books for more than just the words embedded on the pages.
I guess for now, I’ll hold out hope that bigger book companies will start to use recycled paper, because I think the world will be a little less rich when written works are no longer imprinted on paper pages.
That does give one pause. I feel the same about books, however. I can’t imagine reading a book off my iPod or computer screne. The experience just wouln’t be the same.
i hear what you’re saying! though i’m with you it wouldn’t be the same with out the feel of the book.
Tanks for the link, Kelly!
Also, your application of Wilde’s maxim to the concept of books is all to familiar to me.
Like you, dawnsrays and allena, I really cannot imagine substituting my laptop computer or cell phone for real paper books. First of all, as of now, there is no device that is both as portable and as comfortable to read as a real book. Second, I am the kind of person who still takes photographs on real film…
Luckily, buying books is not the only real option, at least not if you live in a sizable town. I learned to love libraries at the age of eight, and still drop by one almost every week.
I had not thought about this before. I also love books and trees and am a bit remiss now to think that I’m hurting one love with the other. I do hope that more companies will turn to using recycled paper. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.