To the Editor:
Re “Before You Toss That Book …,” by Roger Rosenblatt (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, Dec. 28):
Like Mr. Rosenblatt, I savor the books on my bookshelves, but a year ago, as I was preparing for a major move, I curated my keepers and found great joy in giving away hundreds of others. Each week I’d distribute a crateful to various Little Free Libraries across Salt Lake City.
My favorite was the one at the Inn Between, a hospice for the homeless. Our son’s childhood adventure books were happily received by the library at the state penitentiary. He agreed that the character-building messages could benefit many incarcerated men. I gave gardening books and cookbooks to community gardens, and more.
Now, instead of savoring them on the shelves, I savor the idea of them being enjoyed by others.
Kathie Supiano Fort Worth
To the Editor:
Add to Roger Rosenblatt’s wise advice to always keep your books the equally valuable habit of always keeping correspondence.
The Renaissance practice known as the Republic of Letters was a major source of breakthroughs in scientific understanding, medicine and even politics.
Many great books are collections of letters that reveal authors’ philosophies or concerns that their books do not. In many cases, important letters have been lost. Some of Freud’s letters were discovered stuffed in his desk in London, and fortunately saved.
In literature, great letter collections by Saul Bellow and Wallace Stevens show the development of their thought in ways their novels or poems do not. In psychology, those between Freud and Jung are another example. In science, the famous Leibniz-Clarke correspondence provides a record of the philosophy of physics.
Even our personal letters leave a trail of how we lived our lives and can provide clues to important insights.
Matt Andersson Oak Brook, Ill.
To the Editor:
I appreciate Roger Rosenblatt’s sentimentality about books, but if you don’t pass on your books to someone who cares, there’s a good chance they’ll end up recycled or in a dumpster. Even thrift stores dump their excess books, and they reach excess fast.
Here in Palmer, Alaska, we have an alternative: the Bright Lights Book Project. Volunteers salvage, sort, clean, categorize and distribute books locally and statewide. Books come from private donations, school districts and other sources.
We currently stock over 35 bookcases in area businesses, government buildings, and Palmer and Wasilla schools. In 2024 we distributed more than 70,000 books. We also ship books to Alaska villages off the road system. The books are free and need not be returned. Recipients include those of all ages, genders and reading levels, with a focus on children and young adults.
Pete Praetorius Palmer, Alaska The writer is a professor of communication at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
A.I. and Human Identity
To the Editor:
Re “Which Party Will Speak for Voters Who Abhor A.I.?,” by Michelle Goldberg (column, Jan. 4):
Beyond the hazards of A.I. that Ms. Goldberg has aptly enumerated is the larger question of whether (or when) A.I. will begin to confuse or obscure the meaning of human identity.
Let’s keep in mind the profound impact that social media has already had on society, then imagine the long-term effects of a technology a thousand times more powerful and compelling.
It already provides empathy and creativity of a sort, and what some users construe as original thought. It’s not only replacing people in a growing array of jobs, but is also becoming a convincing confidant to some, and even an emotional partner.
We should be asking ourselves: In 30 or 50 years, will people have the same understanding of what it is to be a human being?
Peter Muller Wilmington, Del.
New Heights for Colbert
To the Editor:
Re “Colbert Is Hitting a High Note,” by Lisa Schwarzbaum (Opinion guest essay, Jan. 1):
As a devoted fan of Stephen Colbert, I agree with everything that Ms. Schwarzbaum has to say about the new heights being hit by “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” since CBS decided to boot the show off the network this coming May — except for her conclusion.
Once Mr. Colbert is free of CBS, it will not be a time to mourn, but to celebrate, since I expect he’ll relaunch his show on a new platform and soar to even greater heights. The only mourner at that point will be CBS.
Bill Adler New York
The post The Stories That Old Books Tell appeared first on New York Times.
