A Better Pencil

A Better Pencil by Dennis Baron, started off with Plato’s Phaedrus idea of writing, believing it would only do harm to people’s minds. Another opinion of writing, is about the story of Theuth, the Egyptian god that invented letters believed it, “will make the Egyptians wiser and improve their memories; for it is an elixir of memory and wisdom that I have discovered”(3). Baron demonstrates the history of documentation, from when things were written on tablets, to paper, to writings on a screen.

Baron shows how today texts are everywhere we look. To cereal boxes, coke cans, highway signs, pretty much everything we buy…from urging us to either buy more of the product, recommending other products, instructions, ingredients, health hazards, to everything else you can think of! Baron explains that without text on the many things we buy daily we may even doubt the material we’re buying. Thinking about it, I think that idea holds much truth. If all I saw was a plain cereal box surrounded by cereal boxes with words, and ingredients etc ,I would definitely buy the box with text as oppose to the one without. Not because the text looks more appealing but because it’s more trust worthy…and not so sketchy. As Baron writes, “putting things in writing” holds much value as oppose to someone who doesn’t. I have to confess with my family members I even tell them… “No I don’t believe you put it in writing!” It’s comforting to know we have documentation and not just word of mouth to depend on.

Another topic Baron brings to light in chapter two (I know I was only suppose to read One, Three and Five but I couldn’t help myself! It was a good book!) and three are the many people who despise computers/technology. He calls these people “computerphobes,”

Baron states, “These computerphobes are convinced that the machines will corrupt our writers, turn books into endangered species, and litter the landscape with self-publishing authors. In addition, computers will rot our brains, destroy family life, put an end to polite conversation wreak havoc with the English language, invade our privacy steal our identity and expose us to predators waiting to pervert us or to sell us things we don’t need”(19).

This statement by Baron reminded me of a modern day statement by Plato, urging and warning the people to not continue on with this new technology. In some ways I agree with what these computerphobes think…turning books into endangered species, how computers will destroy family life, and put an end to polite conversation. Now agreeing with this I don’t think makes me a complete computerphobe, but I notice in my own life putting technology ahead of family and sometimes ignoring people right in front of me with a text conversation I’m involved in, I have to stop myself sometimes. As for books, books are a technology in itself, and I think we’re in a major transition from books being in our hands to on a computer/phone screen. I know many people with the whole bible on their iphones…it’s a portable, easy way to carry so much knowledge in such a little gadget then holding such a heavy book. This way you just put in your pocket and your ready to go whenever you need it.

In chapter three Baron discusses the history of the pencil, and how it was used way back when. Baron explained how Thoreau never went anywhere without a notebook and pencil, in order to record his thoughts. We do the same thing with our portable cell phones. I actually just noticed myself using my memo application on my blackberry the other day while in a meeting with one of my teachers, I didn’t have pencil or paper, I excused myself explaining to him that I was not texting anyone, just that I was taking notes using my blackberry. I felt kind of silly doing this, but it worked out great. My blackberry like Thoreau’s pencil and paper was conveniently next to me whenever I have a thought to jot down quickly before I forget it.

Technology continues to develop daily, and I think that’s what Baron shows us in these first couple of chapters of A Better Pencil. He illustrates how writing has not just stopped in our books, but is branching out onto the web as well. But text is everywhere, and continues to develop in all forms…from the bible being a book to an application on the iphone. I think computerphobes feel the same way a lot of people felt when writing first came out as a new technology…it only makes me wonder what will be the next “big” thing in my lifetime? The possibilities continue to be endless…..

PS. This book was awesome! I really loved reading it! : )