• by James , October 7, 2010

I picked up a new book this morning.

Actually, I didn’t go to the bookstore like I did last week. I sat at my desk and downloaded it. Doesn’t that sound boring? “I downloaded a new book today.” And I don’t think the quantity has anything to do with it. “I downloaded 10 books today!” sounds just as boring. But really, it was. I sat at my desk, clicked a button, and stared at a blue progress bar for a few minutes (slow internet at home). Sure, I could just say to you that I bought the book, but then you wouldn’t know whether I went to the bookstore or if I went to the iBookstore. Does it matter? Only if you want to borrow the book when I finish reading it.

The book was free. When I pick up a free book at one of those “leave one/take one” bins, I always feel like I’m getting the wool pulled over my eyes; someone left it there because it wasn’t a book worth keeping. But a free download is somehow different—it feels new. No dog-eared pages. No stains on the cover from it having been used as a coaster on the side table.

And every time you open the downloaded book, it’s the same feeling—that rush. “This is all mine!” I think. All mine…

That idea is what the free book is all about: hoarding electronic information. The title is “Bit Literacy” and I think it’s my first self-help book ever. “Read this to get a grasp on your out-of-control digital life.” Okay, I thought, I don’t really feel like my life is spinning out of control, but I’ll try it out.

The first three chapters outline the book. Collectively, they define bit literacy and then convince you that you are, in fact, bit illiterate. Apparently storing emails in your inbox is bad?

According to the book, we should completely empty our inbox several times a day—it’s only a temporary storage space. We’re supposed to file things when we get them. I don’t. With over 1,300 messages chilling out in my inbox, I’m supposed to feel weighed down and overwhelmed; depressed and lonely, reaching out to someone for help.

(shrugs) I’m okay. Maybe it’s a generational thing?

The book does make a few good points, however—points that consumers like me often overlook in the race to get our hands on new gadgets and software. The first point that stands out to me is that no amount of software or new hardware will actually fix your problem. Companies offer software updates and hardware upgrades, but do these ever FIX the problem?

No. We pay a fee so these upgrades will make the problems less troublesome. Which leads me to the other big point…Companies are in business to make money. WHOAH! It’s a no-brainer, but if you’re like me (a blind follower, right?), you might believe companies are on our side.

Wrong. It’s a business first—a business of convincing people to buy a product and then maintaining a good rapport (customer service) so we keep buying the upgrades/updates. Why hasn’t this hit me before? Well…it’s not supposed to. That’s how it works, right?