The Library Book, by Susan Orlean

A book called The Library Book that I got from the library is a real Inception-level meta-narrative. I love the local library. The first thing I did when I moved was get a new library card even before I got curtains! 

“Libraries are more important than curtains.” – Dan Bergstein

The Library Book by Susan Orlean is a history of libraries and stories about libraries, with a focus on the Los Angeles Public Library and a fire that nearly wiped it out in 1986. Orlean’s style is free-flowing, meaning it’s not a typical non-fiction book but more a long, rambling essay about all things library. I liked it a lot! 

Reading it will make you want to read more books, and if you are someone who hates libraries, this might change your mind on what a library can do for the community. 

Right now, libraries are getting attacked for bizarre socio-political reasons. It’s nuts. Attacking libraries is like attacking fire hydrants. 

“Fire hydrants are taking up our parking spaces!”

“Fire hydrants make things wet!”

“Fire hydrants taste like dog pee!”

Calm down! Fire hydrants are not hurting anyone. In fact, they’re saving people in need. 

Anyway, this book is good, and so are libraries. 

You know what else is good? Improving America’s declining literacy rates by supporting my Reading is Fundamental campaign! Click here to donate! Thank you!!!