This morning I smoked a Lampert 1675 Edicion Rojo. This Connecticut wrapped Nicaraguan cigar is always satisfying. It’s an example of a “not your grandfather’s” Connecticut that would resonate with your grandfather.
I don’t have a whole lot on my mind this morning, so I am going to ramble a bit about books.
Historically I have been a new books kinda guy. Not new as in newly released, but new as in never before owned. Much of this came from two positions. One, I like the feel of a new book. The cleanliness, crispness, and just the idea of it being mine. Two, a lot of what I read is nonfiction and I didn’t like the idea of potentially having notes or highlighting in a book I am reading, as what I find important or worth marking may not match the previous reader.
A third, or “honorable mention”, point is that, in my mind, the purchase of a new book would show support for the author. Though I know book sales really aren’t where the people I follow make their coin.
I recently finished up River of Doubt from Candice Millard. Some weeks prior to that I finished up Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Both of these titles I had purchased used. Something about the aged appearance, the flexibility of the worn pages, and the mystique of wondering what the previous reader had thought about these works resonated with me in a way they hadn’t before. There was also something rewarding knowing that the previous owner could have just as easily tossed these in the trash or campfire, but chose to put them back in circulation.
I felt like ordering some books today and found “good” used copies of Mastery by Robert Greene, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard, and The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown on World of Books (wob.com). This is my first time ordering from them and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will not be my last. They had every title I looked up at a great price for a used copy, and they ship free on orders over $10.
Maybe I’ll report back on those when I start reading them.
Take care,
-Trevor