Do you think we’ve lost our ability to think? I think we don’t give ourselves enough credit in some cases….and in other we give ourselves too much credit.
Over the last 8 years, since I became a parent, the amount of parenting titles available on our bookshop shelves has just exploded. Is there really a market for this many books? Is there any end in sight? There is of course the baby section, the toddler section, the preschooler, starting school, heading into the tween faze, teenage years….I’m assuming we stop once our children become adults. There are books concentrating on boys, and there are books concentrating on girls. Those with learning difficulties and disabilities.
It would seem the old adage of ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ should change to ‘it takes a library to raise a child’.
And that’s really the key. The origin of information has change from the community to the library. If it’s not published it’s not credible?
Not that I’m against having books to help. That would make me a hypocrite, but the ‘choice’ has become so extensive how does a first time parent wade through all the titles and pick the one that’s right for them?
Sure, one book doesn’t fit everyone so choice is needed but is there such a thing as too much choice?
But raising children isn’t the only topic that has been hit by the barrage of books.
Cleaning. Yes, cleaning. How to keep a clean house now apparently needs a published how to guide to make sure we do it properly. Have we lost our capacity to think, organize and do for ourselves? Has our instinct completely abandoned us?
Sure there are cook books out and I myself own a few because recipes are almost endless but dusting? Do we really need an instructional manual for that? It’s not the sort of information that needs updating. If I want streak free windows I’m sure a quick question to surrounding friends will more than supply me with the necessary tools.
I’d love to know who the authors are. How are they more qualified than me?
I have also noticed that having a vege patch in the garden has become fashionable, even somewhat of a necessity. It makes sense. It really does.
Being a child of migrant Greek parents we had a vege patch. A big one. My father’s tomatoes were the talk of the town. And my embarrassment swelled immensely. It was so peasant-like to have a vege patch. Couldn’t we just buy tomatoes like normal people? I’m not saying that is was a fair assessment. But that’s how I felt. So I paid no attention. And now that my kids want a vege patch I either have to swallow my pride and ask my dad for help….or buy a book.
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