Devoted to technical writing and technical writers

For some people, including this writer, heaven on earth comes in the form of a day spent browsing through all sorts of bookstores:  from the more prominent ones like Borders, Crown, or Barnes & Noble (in the US), Page One and MPH (in Singapore), or the used book shops that litter every city worth its name.

Sure, browsing in first-rate bookstores provides a vicarious thrill, but the true joy of browsing comes when one is able to find a rare book amidst the clutter of second-hand bookstores. The pleasure is doubled when the treasured find turns out to be one already out of print, i.e., really hard to find.

Despite a healthy 20% discount given to me by a popular chain of bookstores in my native country, I have had to resort to looking for both bargains and rare finds in the second-hand bookstores. Lo and behold! Many times, I find myself shoulder to shoulder with book afficionados of all stripes and income clusters. Gone are the days when top executives would slink into these stores so as not to give their miserly ways away. Nothing to be ashamed of, indeed!

Besides, a good book available through the Net (probably through Amazon) will cost one a hefty price. So, unless you are one of those who just has to have the latest book, price no object, a visit to a second-hand bookstore often yields many surprises and hefty savings that allow one to build up a better collection in the long run.