Much of it mirrors my own experience, the discovery of used bookstores, the addictive desire to own too much, his poverty in favour of his books.I read, made futile notes toward ambitious writing projects, waited for the spark that would carry me from planning into actual production…I woke up one day and found that my way of living had become intolerable…. I have been wanting to make a study of the literary essay for a while–I seem to remember a time of reading Seneca, Montaigne and Borges with relish.Back to the book, the conclusion struck me.I saw what it could be like, our toil and misery replaced by a vivid, pleasant dream…. What interests me is this dissemination, the movement and effects of books, not simply their existence.Books will always exist, just like movies have not killed theater, and people still go to concerts, and they still debate in person.