What Others Read

[Sarah]

http://undergroundnewyorkpubliclibrar...

I love spying on nearby people to see their book covers, and apparently this blogger does too. This is one of the many things that bothers me about ereaders. Yes, I have one, but this project makes me glad I only use it selectively.

[~Geektastic~]

Thanks for sharing, Pi. I love this project. I was just talking with a coworker the other day about how I love my kindle except it makes conversation about what you're reading more difficult since you can't just see the title and leap in to talking about it. People don't like to ask what you're reading on an ereader, it's too much like leaning over and asking what someone is doing on their laptop.

[Sarah]

I think one of the commenters on the site said something about the connection you feel with a total stranger when you see that they are reading a book you love. Even if you ask somebody with an ereader what they are reading, you miss all of the cues and clues that a book provides: are they near the front or the back of the book. Do they crack the spine? Is it worn? Do they take notes? Does it look like they just bought it? I love books.

[janine]

I love spying on fellow readers.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

I've been keeping track of what people are reading for years. I actually have a shelf....

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

And there was an article in the Trib recently about this same thing:

On the 'L,' e-books change spy game
Mapping what a city reads through public transportation

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/20...

The graphic of what people are reading on the El, at what stop:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/site/ne...