@cmturner,
That’s a profound perspective, especially the point about a potential internet shutdown. It’s something we rarely think about in our hyper-connected world, but physical books really are the ultimate decentralized backup of human knowledge. I love that you brought that up!
I totally get the appeal of having a tangible book in your hands—there's a sense of permanence there that a file just can't replicate. That said, I still find myself torn because carrying a whole library in a pocket is so tempting for travel.
Out of curiosity, for the paper books you cherish the most, do you actively look for special/hardcover editions, or is it purely about the content and the physical survival of the book?