The Cost of Keeping Minds Sharp

The housekeeper asked my wife an unusual question. Well, in the three years of working for us she had never before asked such a thing.

Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me explain. Unlike 80 percent of my neighbors, my wife and I do not have a full time maid. Janeth comes just twice a month. I pay her considerably above average which is something that infuriates those who wish to keep a specific social status in place in Colombia.

"May I borrow a book to read?" Janeth asked.

My wife and I have a small collection of books. Our library is about 50/50 between those written in English and Spanish. Each of us, in our past, had a large library. Divorces and moving decimated our collections. I brought with me to Colombia only my few signed first editions.

In the USA books (except for university books) are fairly inexpensive and are widely available. I have seen libraries dispose of old books by selling them for 25 cents each. One auction house in California contributed over 1,000 books to the trash when they could not even get a bid on box lots of 25 books. Most towns and schools have very descent libraries. And if all else fails, well, Amazon sells books at below stated retail price and often throws in free shipping.

Colombia and other countries are much different. The big cities have some very beautiful large libraries. But with, for instance, over eight million people in Bogota, the accessibility is not that easy compared to most first world countries. Also public school libraries in Colombia are much smaller than U.S. public school libraries.

The cost of books in Colombia is atrocious. A book I wanted cost under $25 on Amazon. The same book in Colombia is $75. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is under $10 on Amazon. The cost in a Colombian bookstore is $35. I purchase many of my books at a second hand bookstore. Even then I have to pay double what the cost is on the back of the paperback when it was new. I can order books from Amazon, but the shipment to Colombia is very expensive and the postal system is not the most reliable. A Kindle might work, but such is really not an option financially for the vast majority of Colombians, and I found many books I want that are not available for Kindle.

Now consider that for an American earning minimum wage that they can afford a book with just one to two hours of work. For over 50 percent of Colombians the cost of a single book is greater than a day's wages. In my opinion this lack of easy access to books contributes to holding many Colombians back in regards to knowledge and enjoyment.

In small towns libraries are pretty much non-existent. However I admire one man who is trying to change that. He runs the Biblioburro. I encourage everyone to watch the video and see what this man goes through to help young minds.

"What book would you like?" my wife asked Janeth.

"Any would be fine. I just want to start reading books again," the housekeeper answered.

My wife went to the shelf and decided upon a book from a Michigan author. She chose Martes Con Me Viejo Professor. In English it is Tuesday's with Morrie by Mitch Albom.

For my Fellow Fentonites, I hope you appreciate and use the gift you have of many inexpensive books available to you. And next time my wife and I come to Fenton we are going to be sure and hit and .

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
-- George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones