Instant Gratification
Aug. 23rd, 2012 09:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyspriteI have never thought of myself as having a problem with impulse control. I'm lucky like that - I can eat one cookie, then stop. If I tell myself I'm going to take a ten-minute break from work, or studying, I can take those ten minutes, and then get back to whatever chore I was working on. If I give myself a budget for shopping, I can stick to it easily, and if I tell myself to wait and buy something later, odds are I'll wait until it slips my mind, and no great tragedy or loss. I have willpower. I'm good at saying no.
Or so I thought. Until I met my nemesis - namely, the Boston Public Library's digital collection.
I've loved my Nook from the day I bought it, in spite of being highly skeptical about the concept. I love the convenience, and I love how personal it is - all *my* books, in one special little device, in my purse. And I love how easy it is to get new books, just by touching a button. But I also was at least able to remember that I had to pay for said books, which kept a bit of a cap on my habit.
And then I discovered the BPL's e-card - instant, and free for any resident of the state. And their extensive collection of e-books. That I can download instantly. For free.
This has turned me into the literary equivalent of one of those highly conditioned rats with a lever that they push for tasty snacks. Except instead of 'Push Button-->Get Food' it's 'Push Button-->Get Book.'
Instant books. Instant free books. ALL the instant free books. Right here, right now, in my hand.
Booksbooksbooks.
And I know I have other books that I've already bought. And I know I have other things I should be doing. And I know that there is a time and place for everything. But.... push button, get books.
I'm gonna go read now....
Or so I thought. Until I met my nemesis - namely, the Boston Public Library's digital collection.
I've loved my Nook from the day I bought it, in spite of being highly skeptical about the concept. I love the convenience, and I love how personal it is - all *my* books, in one special little device, in my purse. And I love how easy it is to get new books, just by touching a button. But I also was at least able to remember that I had to pay for said books, which kept a bit of a cap on my habit.
And then I discovered the BPL's e-card - instant, and free for any resident of the state. And their extensive collection of e-books. That I can download instantly. For free.
This has turned me into the literary equivalent of one of those highly conditioned rats with a lever that they push for tasty snacks. Except instead of 'Push Button-->Get Food' it's 'Push Button-->Get Book.'
Instant books. Instant free books. ALL the instant free books. Right here, right now, in my hand.
Booksbooksbooks.
And I know I have other books that I've already bought. And I know I have other things I should be doing. And I know that there is a time and place for everything. But.... push button, get books.
I'm gonna go read now....
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no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 03:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 04:01 pm (UTC)Thank you Becky, you just made my trip a bit happier!
no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 04:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-23 06:56 pm (UTC)It looks like this is the place to start. http://www.bpl.org/general/circulation/ecards.htm
Project Gutenberg
Date: 2012-08-26 12:50 pm (UTC)Free Nook books!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/free-nook-books?keyword=free+nook+books&store=ebook
Not helping, I know. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-08-31 06:38 pm (UTC)