Few objects are as perfect as a paper book. There are elements of our lives that cannot be improved, such as scissors, a spoon, a paperclip, a hammer or a book. It will be said that the digital book can be purchased at any time, read on any screen and does not take up space at home. But, on the other hand, it speeds up reading, isolates us little and requires less memorization. The classic book is more demanding. However, it promises better long-term results. It is true that it takes up space, but it is not necessary to keep them all. A home's bookcase tells us almost everything about its owners. They are not only part of his life, but they build his biography.
It was a joy to see people carrying books throughout Catalonia yesterday. Many may only buy one on this date, although they will always be tempted to buy another if they have chosen well. Noah Gordon, best-selling author, came one day for Sant Jordi and wrote one of the best love letters to Barcelona, where, beyond the beauty of the city, he proclaimed that he had been impressed that the symbols of the day were the charm fragile and ephemeral of flowers and the enduring treasure of imagination and ideas.
On the eve of April 23, the French newspaper Le Figaro put its concern on the front page because young French people spend nearly six hours a day in front of screens chatting, surfing the networks or watching videos, while reading books. had become testimonial. The newspaper's warning cry was clear: reading is necessary for democracy. And they cited neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf, who warns that with deep reading we act with more responsibility, vote with more knowledge and behave with more empathy. Technology has profoundly changed our way of reading and thinking, but the book remains for us to take root in values that are the foundation of democracy. And as Simon Leys said, between two equally competent surgeons, try to have someone who has read Chekhov operate on you.
