Google books: have you come across in real finds?
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6rant6 (
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May 22nd, 2011
Google books allows you to read or download pdf versions of thousands of books. Most of them have expired copyrights. But some of them are modern books; I suppose the authors have relinquished rights to the work.
Has anyone found any gems among there free books?
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7 Answers
I found this which was invaluable in helping me write one of my final papers for school.
On occasion, I have found some great books, but just as you get to the interesting part, the pages are missing!
I went out and bought Robert Lindner’s Fifty Minute Hour after this happened one time, and I’ve pretty much stayed away from Google Books since then; what’s the use if you can’t finish reading right then and there?
Oh yes! One stands out in particular.
Wired Love: A Romance of Dots and Dashes by Ella Cheever Thayer (this one was a surprising little slapstick presager of the internet age. Love blossoms between 2 telegraph operators. Written in 1880 but it could have been written yesterday!)
Oh, wait. That’s in free e-books on Amazon, not google. Oh well. Still free!
I read A Short History of Christian Theophagy and The Roman Index of Forbidden Books earlier this year. The first was a really fascinating look at the history of communion, in and out of Christianity, and the second was a justification of religious censorship which gave my righteous indignation muscle a much needed workout.
I found each rewarding in it’s own way.
Oh! And I read the Code of Hammurabi the year before that. I found it worth reading, though I’m not sure how many would. You have to be pretty into history or law. Or historical law.
@Blueroses Ooh that looks interesting. I think I’ll read it!
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