"People have been painting apocalyptic scenarios for the last 10 years, but in the midst of a horrible environment, we sold more books than last year."--Barnes & Noble CEO Steve Riggio in a conference call with stock analysts yesterday, quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
Long term predictions of apocalyptic failure are often enough to impede the success of any industry or endeavor, but to make such predictions about books, something that has had a respected and sought after place in most societies since before the dawn of enlightened times, is obviously reaching a little too far.
This short post is an understated effort to applaud the place that books fill in the hearts, minds, and lives of all of us-whether we realize it or not.
I, for one, am more than relieved that books are apparently around to stay.
