The One Way Library

A few weeks ago, a bunch of friends and collaborators were in town from the Think Tank that has yet to be named presenting at a conference and working on a project. It was lovely and wonderful, but to my mind, better than the conference was the hang out/theory talk/stirring up time. Hanging out around a table is wonderful, and I am hopeful that many new or revved up explorations will come out of it.

One example of this came out of talking with the Action Mill folks. They are all around great, thoughtful, and generous, as their One Way Library project demonstrates. Nick and Jethro handed Heath and I copies of The Long Haul by Myles Horton, which I have just devoured and would recommend you pick up. On the inside front cover is a sticker that states the "conditions for accepting this book:"



1) Don't let it sit on your shelf--read it now.
2) Take everything you read with a grain of salt.
3) Pass it on to someone who will find it useful.

How great. I read and read and read, and I give away books just about as fast as I read them. I love doing that (especially with as frequently as I move--more on that soon), but I hate the idea that I give someone a book I love, and they either a) never read it, or b) read it and then let it sit on their shelf to never be read again. The informal compact the Action Mill has created with the One Way Library ideally breaks those frustrating trends.

I always joke that my bookshelf is a good indication of books I feel lukewarm about. Everything good has been given away, like, for instance, Don DeLillo's White Noise, which I have bought and given away THREE TIMES. Another great idea from the Action Mill!