More than 100 people from all over the country responded to a recent column about why we keep books, and I have to say that all of the replies were deeply affecting. None more, perhaps, than this one from Harold Lieberman of St. Cloud, Minnesota, who writes: "As I approach the age of 100 in March, I have finally accepted the fact that I have no time to re-read all the books" that he would like to.
Now he is giving books away in earnest, with the help of his children. "I will miss many of these books and the ability to pull them off the shelves at will," he says, "but it's time to bite the bullet and let others enjoy them."
I hate to think that there aren't enough years in a life to read everything we wish, and if that isn't a good reason to not fritter away time on our phones and Netflix, I don't know what is. (Yet, I fritter.)
