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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Books Unnecessary Reference Books 3: The Nation Guide to the Nation

Posted by Paul Constant on Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 3:06 PM

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What's the book?

The Nation Guide to the Nation by Richard Lingeman and the editors of The Nation. Here's what the back says. "The essential lifestyle guide for the millions of progressives from coast to coast, The Nation Guide to the Nation will help left-of-center types find left-leaning shops, cultural institutions, and gathering places in their own hometowns and on the road."

Why is it unnecessary?

Look, I love The Nation; I'm a subscriber. But I just turned to the bookstore portion of the guide, and the only bookstore they have listed for the entire state of Washington is Left Bank Books. I love Left Bank Books—I haven't covered Left Bank Books at all in my section, it suddenly occurs to me, and that's something I need to rectify immediately—but if it was the only bookstore in the entire state of Washington, I'd lose my fucking shit. Where's Bailey/Coy, or Elliott Bay Book Company? Are they too right-wing for The Nation? This is a horribly incomplete guidebook that doesn't function as a travel book or as a reference book. Going onto the internet and bouncing around Google would probably get you better, and much more complete, results.

Would anyone find this book useful?

It would probably be great for the socks and sandals set, the sorts of older hippies who believe the bumper stickers on their Mercedes are changing the world by enlightening people around them. But it's pretty useless as a reference books for anyone else.

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The older socks and sandals set are also less likely to be using the Internet as a source for such information and more likely to depend on books edited by their favorite magazine editors for lifestyle tips. I like Left Bank Books as well but would also lose my mind if they were the only bookstore in the state. What about Magnus Books or Henderson Books in Bellingham? Left Bank Books enjoys an amazing location and is far more likely to be noticed during a two day trip in Seattle. Is it possible that this book was designed for liberal people traveling the US and looking to cocoon themselves wherever they go?

Posted by Aaron Pickus on February 15, 2009 at 3:32 PM

...and by Magnus Books I obviously mean Magus Books.

Posted by Aaron Pickus on February 15, 2009 at 3:33 PM

I just can't get past the title. It drives me bonkers.

And I second Aaron here. My in-laws are trying to sell their house, and they just don't get the power of the internet. The difference between their generation and mine re: the web is astounding.

Posted by Balt-O-Matt on February 15, 2009 at 3:50 PM

It does seem a bit short-sighted to also think that only large cities have good independent book shops with potentially left-leaning opinions. There are a number of smaller towns in Washington State that have terrific book shops. But then it also seems a little small-minded to limit one's travel to places that might have voted in one particular fashion in the last election.

Posted by gfrancie on February 15, 2009 at 3:51 PM

Not having the space to cover everything, maybe they focused instead on things you wouldn't find in most other guides, or even your average internet search. In the example you site, they listed a great bookstore that even the alt weekly stranger ignores/ takes for granted. So if that one bit of knowledge is "probably useless" because of what it leaves out, what standard should we judge your slog post by?

Posted by Trevor on February 15, 2009 at 4:13 PM

I've only glanced through the book, but it seems to focus on businesses, sites, and organizations that were specifically created to enact or promote social or political change. Great as Elliott Bay or Bailey/Coy are, political change is not their primary mission. Seattle, despite its reputation as a liberal bastion, doesn't have a whole lot to recommend in a guide like that. It takes more than an Obama sticker/sign on the window. Though I would happily patronize cafe/bookstore/dry cleaner based on posting one in their window.

Posted by Nation Reader on February 15, 2009 at 4:42 PM

seems small minded to judge all US oldsters, and assume they are not reading slog

Posted by acuteally on February 15, 2009 at 6:08 PM

another useless assface rant from paul constant... blah blah fucking blah...

Posted by somebody can this guy please on February 15, 2009 at 7:24 PM

9 Comment Pulled

Oh, yeah, I always forget about Left Bank.

Posted by violet_dagrinder on February 16, 2009 at 12:00 PM

@6 nailed it. Paul is missing the whole point of this book: focusing on business with social change as their reason for being. And it's not trying to be comprehensive, which is OK, too. I can get lists of great bookstores both on the web and in other guidebooks.

But then again, Paul pretty much always misses the point. Yet he keeps on posting this crap. (Oops, am I being a d***?)

Posted by rjh on February 16, 2009 at 2:02 PM

I don't get this. Are you interviewing yourself? Is that, like, insane?

Posted by tmp on February 17, 2009 at 5:22 PM