Rare Book Monthly

Articles - November - 2025 Issue

Are you reading the long form?

Are you reading the long form?

 

We are in the middle of an undeclared war.

 

We know that print was financially unhealthy. The Internet has been killing off newspapers. Books are resisting the onslaught. We grew up in a world that accepted reporters, writers and editors were choosing what we could see. If you wanted a broader perspective, you subscribed for a second newspaper or watched several television channels. The Internet has turned every person with a phone into a reporter, turning media into interpreters. Now the channels get their news from the Internet.

 

In place of trusted media and their experienced reporters, influencers attract immense audiences inevitably relying on intense emotion. Moderation loses you audience. Those who most effectively stoke emotion attract the largest audiences they can monetize. The line between responsible and effective becomes unclear. Negative emotions, resentments, prejudice win audiences. We all lose because of this.

 

The Internet has become our enemy. Please limit your access to it.

 

Reading has become a forgotten skill. Choose a few books from your shelves. When you read, preferably in the long form (books), the crap and nonsense lose its urgency.

 

The Internet is damaging us.  Read.


Posted On: 2025-11-01 02:55
User Name: colophon2

A recent discovery revealed that the internet and electronic devices require a different set of reading skills, and consequently, we may be loosing the ability to read the printed page. Those who read the written or printed page may notice a diminished speed, as well as, comprehension, ie. cognitive abilities. What we lose by each successive gain might, also, be an historical reflection of what is yet to come.


Posted On: 2025-11-01 16:49
User Name: kenm

I agree but can't help noticing some irony in the fact that I am reading it on the internet.


Posted On: 2025-11-01 17:09
User Name: kenm

While I agree, like most things it is complicated. I have an interest in wordless novels and have a non-profit bibliographic site devoted to them. It is non-profit in most part due to the reality very few people have any interest in the genre.
Over a decade ago a noted academic brought out a book on the same topic that was remaindered. The reality is that no printed book can be better than my website - I can instantly update it, modify it if in error, and add so many more images than a printed book could cost justify.
By providing the information for free I realize I am undermining the concept of writers being entitled to be reimbursed for their work - a concept I fully endorse. Life is complicated.


Rare Book Monthly

  • ALDE, Mar. 11: AUGUSTIN (Saint). De civitate Dei. Rome, Konrad Sweynheym et Arnold Pannartz, 1470. €20,000 - €30,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: [REGNART (LE LIVRE DE)]. [Le] Docteur en malice, maistre Regnard, demonstrant les ruzes et cautelles qu'il use envers les personnes… Rouen, 1550. €20,000 - €30,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: TRITHÈME (JEAN). Polygraphie et universelle escriture cabalistique. Paris, [Benoît Prévost pour] Jacques Kerver, 1561. €8,000 - €10,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: CAUS (SALOMON DE). La Perspective, avec la raison des ombres et des miroirs. Londres, John Norton, 1612.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: NICERON (JEAN-FRANÇOIS). La Perspective curieuse ou magie artificielle des effets merveilleux de l'optique. Paris, Pierre Billaine, 1638. €6,000 - €8,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: VONTET (JACQUES). L’Art de trancher la viande et toute sorte de fruits… S.l.n.d. [probablement Lyon, vers 1647]. €20,000 - €30,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: HUGO (VICTOR). [Paysage spectral avec une église], [vers 1837]. €20,000 - €30,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: [HERVEY DE SAINT-DENYS (LÉON D')]. Les Rêves et les Moyens de les diriger. Observations pratiques. Paris, Amyot, 1867. €3,000 - €4,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: GACHET (PAUL-FERDINAND). Les Chats de Gachet (Manuscrit). S.d. [avant mai 1873]. €6,000 - €8,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: [REDON (ODILON)]. PICARD (EDMOND). Le Juré. Monodrame en cinq actes… Bruxelles, Mme veuve Monnom, 1887. €7,000 - €9,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: [TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (HENRI DE) ET HENRI-GABRIEL IBELS]. MONTORGUEIL (GEORGES). Le Café-concert. Paris, [1893]. €4,000 - €5,000.
    ALDE, Mar. 11: [TERRY (EMILIO)]. Projet de fontaine. Dessin original au stylo et à l'encre noire. 1938. €2,000 - €3,000.
  • Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000
    Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: IL MANOSCRITTO RITROVATO DI IPPOLITA MARIA SFORZA. TITO LIVIO - Ab Urbe Condita. Prima Decade. Manoscritto miniato su pergamena, metà XV secolo. € 280.000 - 350.000

Article Search

Archived Articles