books

My father-in-law and I often spoke wistfully about fine used bookstores that we have visited. He told one story, however, that has all the others soundly beaten.

He was in a sophisticated bookstore in Toronto that caters to the academic community, a bookstore rich in classical tradition. Suddenly, in came a roughshod man in greasy overalls, who bellowed to the owner, "How much does it cost to buy 128 feet of books?"

Obviously bewildered by this request, for never before had he sold scholarly works by the foot, the owner replied, "Uh… what exactly did you have in mind?" Meanwhile every customer within earshot had paused from reading, ears pinned for some new enlightenment.

It turns out the buyer had been sent by a group of trade union leaders who were hosting their educated counterparts in management in an effort to break a deadlock in some highly volatile negotiations. So, the union leaders decided to decorate their offices with the length of books. Why? To convey the intimidating air of being ideological heavyweights, and to terrify the opposition!

Funny I think. Don't you?

- Ravi Zacharias