Let's talk about astronauts, Portuguese art, and becoming well read without reading....

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[jadek]

Okay so let's talk about how this channel is the basic equivalent of finding a leprechaun perched upon a unicorn at the end of a double rainbow under which are seven pots of gold and Tinkerbell. Like in all honesty I have never run across a community like the one you're building on this platform. Almost everyone acts human. Knowledge is shared and conversations are had with literally all possible people. And it's civil (99%) which is bizarre and deeply beautiful and peaceful to find on any social media platform. I feel like I've already said this because each time I come here and talk to folks I'm amazed by it all over again. I know it can't last, but this feels like a refuge from the daily insanity. Thank you for starting this. I'm not sure if it was intended or accidental, but it's truly a pleasure.

[hmhamam_ham]

I am so glad you brought up Librivox. I listened to all of Plato's Republic while delivering pizzas. If a delivery guy can do it anyone can!

[ajwelsh]

My favorite story about an astronaut is the one about Ronald McNair. When he was a boy he walked into town to the library. He picked out the books he wanted and he went to check them out and the librarian asked what he thought he was doing, he was black and this was back in the day when you had colored only signs, he said I want to check out these books. She said no way am I going to let your black ass check them books out I’m calling the police and he said fine I’ll wait right here and he sat on the counter. So she called the police and his mother. The police came down and asked where’s the disturbance she points to Ronald and the lead police officer asks ma’me what’s the problem. He’s mother makes it there worried and asked what’s going on and the librarian explained that Ronald was not allowed to check out books from that library. Ronald’s mother looked at her and said I promise he’ll take care of the books and the cops said come on let the kid have the books. The librarian finally gave in and let Ronald take the books home. He died when the Challenger exploded and that library is named after him now.

[tiandao]

You make my little librarian's heart proud. Knowledge really is power.

[williamroop]

As a factory worker, I have 8 hours (or more) a day of free mental-time. I've been at THIS job 9 years, 13 years the one before and 10 the one before, so 32 years of (40 hrs a week x 50 weeks = 2000 hrs a year) free mental-time for a total of 64, 000 hrs.

On all jobs except this last, we were allowed to listing to radio. While music was the largest amount of listening, there were plenty of opportunities to listen to talk radio, news channels - including NPR, and I even had a time of audio Bible.

The job now had a policy of no radio or any form of "entertainment" - we were there to work, not play. About 3 years ago, they finally relented and we have that right. Before, morale was almost like being a prisoner in solitary confinement - no conversations, entertainment, or any way to break the monotony. Now, morale is MUCH better as we can use earbuds or headphones and (as long as it doesn't bother your co-workers) speakers.

I now listen to pod-casts, YouTube videos (without watching of course), Ted Talks, whatever I can find. The act of listening stimulates a person's mind, stretching and exercising it and opening it to contemplation, introspection, and eventually the desire to share thoughts in dialog. All while standing in front of a few machines, pushing parts into packaging and taking out the trash.

I grew up through the invention of the computer and development of the personal computer and studied them in college. I used the bulletin board system over dial-up connection (300 bps modem) and watched the internet begin and grow while on Fort Polk, LA. The beginning of the internet (text-only with static low-res pictures) through modern development, all for the sharing of information. But in all of that, you had to actively find and wait for your information.

The smartphone is the single biggest vehicle to the free sharing of information and discussion ever invented - instant access to the internet can be with you at all times. It led me to Beau's channel as well as other good resources. Unfortunately I have seen it lead people to lies.

In my 55 years of life, I can honestly say that THIS is the most interesting time I have lived through - a time where the TRUE sharing of free thought and discussion of ideas is available to EVERY level of society. Not every PERSON, but every LEVEL.

[kevinwilkes]

I’ve been a voracious reader since I was a child. Reading helped me escape from a very closed minded, fanatically religious(but well intentioned), and fearful upbringing. Knowledge is power!

[blanetalk]

I love Librivox! Great topic! But you forgot one thing. There's one more ingredient that makes Librivox special... the people who volunteer to read the books. The first book I consumed on Librivox was King Solomon's Mines. The gentleman who read the book had a gruff, seasoned voice that sounded like he could be the "great elephant hunter and safari leader" of myth and history. The character of his narration pulled me into the book experience in a very special way.

So, hats off to the volunteers of Librivox!

[chrisnash]

Librivox is the BEST. seriously the people that transcribe those books are the people's people without a doubt

[readwrecks]

Hell yeah! I tell all of my students about Librivox. Of course, being college students, many of them do have the time to read, so I also tell them about Gutenberg.

[bigdickpornsuperstar]

Kindle on my smartphone... if I'm in line for more than a minute or two, or the Dr's waiting room, or taking a dump.... I have a book to read, even if it is just a page or a paragraph at a time, I am always reading.
I LOVE READING and have since the age of 5.... thank you Dr Seuss.


It is almost impossible to learn without reading.

[funeralgiggles]

Thank you Beau. You Beau..tiful man!!! I truly appreciate your humble and thoughtful videos. As an unemployed transgender housewife, I see myself as truly fortunate in part for this very reason. I have time to read an learn all the things I want. Understanding that not everyone gets this great luxury. A luxury that has completely changed my life.
And allowed me to connect with my fellow humans in a way I would never have dreamed of. Thank you so much for being one of them.

[katiedotson]

Thanks for turning me on to Librivox. For those that prefer printed material, Project Gutenberg has thousands of free downloads as well.

[S-R-H]

I use the evil Audible but it's the only way I have time to get through a book. I listen while I'm doing my chores, driving to work or when I'm doing busy work at my job. I always hated actually reading but I love learning. I am actually in the process of applying to law school right now. I took the LSAT and have my letters of recommendations and now I'm trying to finish my personal essay. My daughter graduates high school in May and she's is the youngest of three. I received my Bachelor of Nursing when she was 8. Her dad kept taking me back to court and I couldn't stand not understanding how the whole thing worked. Leaving my kids' futures in the hands of an attorney, even though he was a friend, drove me nuts. So, I took a few classes for paralegal studies to better understand the law and have been working in a law firm for the last 4 years. I honestly never thought I would go back to college but with everything that has happened with the world, I guess I felt I had more to do. So I'm just your average 44-year-old law school hopeful:) I never feel better about myself than when I'm learning.

[jadamirada]

Every single time I watch one of your videos (and I try to never miss one) I keep wishing I could "love" it instead of just liking it. I've been saying for years that the most radical thing we can do these days is teach people to read. The US has the lowest literacy rate of any developed country. I highly suspect this is by design, and believe the very last thing our so-called 'government' wants is a well-read populace.

I collect antique school readers, and the difference in, say, a reader from the 1920s and those in use today is staggering. I have a 3rd-grade reader from that era that contains an excerpt from Les Miserables. My mother read it to me when I was five years old, while I was having breakfast. I put my head down on the table and cried. I have no idea if she was purposely instilling compassion for the poor, but that was definitely the effect. All those school readers, from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, contain stories and poems that are sympathetic to the poor and working class. Now, I don't know what they're teaching in schools these days, but I strongly suspect such sentiments are no longer included in elementary school readers.

I grew up a constant reader, but I know I'm not reading as many books these days, as I am always reading articles online, but I will definitely check out Librivox. Thanks for this! And thank you for ALL you do!

[NWPaul]

Thanks for the tip, Beau. If you're ever looking for great stories, funny characters and restoration of your faith in humanity, I can't recommend Sir Terry Pratchett enough, especially the Sam Vimes books. They made me laugh and understand things and gave me my moral compass, excellent for children over 12.

[hvyfknmtl]

Audio books changed the way I spend my down time. Back when I started listening to them, they were just a break from music on long drives. Even music you love becomes background noise after a few hours on the road. Now I've planned road trips around the duration of a book I want to listen to. Or if I'm near a destination and still have a couple hours left, I pick a direction and see where it takes me. Also a good way to find and see shit you didn't know about.

[poorplayer]

Thanks for bringing up Librivox, Beau, I'd never heard of it before. And thanks to auntieiqwerty in the comments below for mentioning that they're on YouTube. Just subbed them. My phone isn't smart enough to let me listen to audiobooks, so this is gold!

[CaptainBuggyTheClown]

Hi Beau, it's the Internet again. Today we're going to talk about how I or anyone else watching the video hasn't watched the whole thing yet, and yet we come down here to comment and like.

[tureadumonceau]

I have been a voracious reader all my life, and an avid fan of media of all kinds, so sometimes I find it hard to relate to non readers. Could be another reason I like your talks, so intelligent and I learn something new every time! Thnx. 😊

[LearningFast]

I would argue that it doesn’t need to be a book in the traditional sense. I learn more from YouTube and reading comments than anywhere else. Now this also means that I have to wade through more disinformation as well. However, recognizing what is false and what is true on your own is a skill everyone should try to master.