Friday, December 19, 2025

Books are Burning

Yes. But so is grammar. 

I'm a physical book guy. I tried e-reading like for three books and I just wasn't having it. The feel, the smell of a book. The turning of the page, the ability to see how far I have read or how much I have left to go is a big thing for me. 

And yes books ARE power.  

Except the ones written by Rush Limbaugh and his ilk. Then they're just doorstops. 

Yet this tote just annoyed me. I get what it is trying to say, but is it saying it correctly?  Je don't think so. 

I am thinking if we break down the phrase, or what I believe what should be the correct phrase, it sounds better. It sounds correct. 

Of course, I am open to discussion on this. I'm sure there is a different view point involving some weird(er) grammar rules of which I am unaware. It's not like we haven't made the English language complicated enough. 

But here is my take: 
  • Meaning: Books, as a collection or concept, provide knowledge, influence, and empowerment. 
  • Grammar: Plural subject ("Books") + plural verb ("are") + singular abstract noun ("power"). 
  • Example: "Books are power" is a common phrase used by literacy advocates.

So you could go with "A Book is Power" and that would be grammatically accurate. "Books" is plural and should be treated as such when it gets to the verb. "Is" is a singular verb, no? 

Listen, I'm happy anyone reads. And however they do it. We're already losing the Oxford comma, and now this sloppiness? 

Can't we just have nice things and not sound like Jethro Bodine? 



Song by: XTC

3 comments:

James Dwight Williamson said...

in his prime Jethro Bodine was hot, Many books charm is the dialect or the language they live in . Sterilize something too much and it’s not the same book . But I see your point. Vance gives a bad name to any quasi geographical tales

GregM said...

I'm with you as far as physical books. The only time I'll do an audio book is whenI have a long drive.

As far as this bag goes, is it trying to be funny by making a point that by reading, you'll know that this is incorrect? There's also something written under the "W" in "Power". Is Books a computer program? A surname of someone? Something else?

Travel said...

A Book is Power, would most likely fit on the bag.