‘Books’ Category

  1. Made some bad impulse purchases

    February 21, 2012 by admin

    I love buying stuff I know nothing about.

    Films.

    Books.

    Cds.

    Even food at times.

    I’ve discovered all sorts of great stuff that way.

    An example – James Frey’s A Thousand Tiny Pieces. I bought it because of the sparkly cover. And loved it so much I have since gone on to buy ten further copies for friends. And several people have read my copy.

    But over the last couple of weeks I’ve got it wrong several times.

    I bought (yet another) architecture book from Taschen. Can’t imagine opening it again.

    I bought an album in Fopp by the band Berlin thinking that a trusted friend had recommended it.

    On checking back – he had recommended Berlin the soundtrack by a band I already know. Bollocks.

    I’ve bought Philip Glass symphonies knowing that I love Philip Glass – but not the ones I’ve bought.

    I fear it’ll have clipped my wings for a while. Can’t keep getting it wrong and I’m definitely on a bad streak.

    Perhaps I’ll just go and see a random gig or two to get it out of my system. At least that way I’ll have no evidence of the mistake.

    What do you mean I could take things back? I never take things back. Never have. I know it’s stupid. Sorry.

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  2. Patagonia

    February 2, 2012 by admin

    Don’t get me wrong.

    I haven’t suddenly gone all strange and business like on you.

    However I have started reading what could, just about, be called a business book.

    Let My People Go Surfing, by Yvon Chouinard is the biography and philosophy of the guy who set up Patagonia the highly ethical clothing company, more or less by chance, and much more out of self interest than any desire to be a successful business man.

    It’s cool. Turns out he was a fiendish climber, and started off just making the poky bits of metal that they ram into the rock to take the weight. Then other folk wanted to buy them, and gradually he started employing his mates, then other people. That’s as far as I’ve got so far, but it’s well written and if it has a message I reckon it’ll be something I feel strongly about anyway, and that’s about authenticity.

    Mind, I’d be crap at running a business. I’m more interested in finishing weight at the end of the day and having a drink. Or ten.

    But if there was only something that I cared enough about it might just make the difference. Actually that’s the story of my life. Bit deep this, but I really just don’t give enough of a stuff about anything to bust a gut. Maybe admitting that is teh first stage to doing something about it?

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  3. Taschen

    January 23, 2012 by admin

    The Evans Shag Machine is not a man given to long bouts of arduous reading. The only time I’ve taken on the classics has been when there has been a sexy bird to be pursued who was a bit of a reader and needed to be impressed. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the stuff I read when I actually did so, just that I don’t know where people find the time.

    However i do love what folk seem to refer to as coffee table books.

    Odd that. What the fook is a coffee table anyway?

    That little dig aside. Yeah, you know? The big fellows with fab pictures and just enough words to let you know what’s going on. They might be about architecture, or fashion, or National Geographic or whatever.

    Anyway, yesterday I paid attention and realised that the ones I love seem to be published by Phaildon or Taschen. So last night I spent a bit of time browsing the Taschen site. And ordering all sorts!

    They are bloody expensive, even though I was in the slightly damaged section – I liked that, it felt a bit like me!

    So now I sit and await the ring of the heavily laden postman, bringing me books aplenty.

    Then I just need to get some people around to see what a clever boy the Evans aspires to be!

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