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How many books do you have here?” Corliss asked. “Two…

“How many books do you have here?” Corliss asked. “Two million, one hundred thousand, and eleven,” the librarian said proudly, but Corliss was frightened. What happens to the world when that many books go unread? And what happens to the unread authors of those unread books?” quote by Sherman Alexie
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““How many books do you have here?” Corliss asked. “Two million, one hundred thousand, and eleven,” the librarian said proudly, but Corliss was frightened. What happens to the world when that many books go unread? And what happens to the unread authors of those unread books?””

Sherman Alexie

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An overwhelming abundance of unread books reflects wasted knowledge and unheard voices.

In simple terms: Many books unread, many voices unheard.

Key Takeaway

Seek out and share hidden literature.

Themes

knowledge silence literature

Mood

thoughtful concerned

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • libraries
  • personal reading habits
  • education curricula

Key Concepts

censorship cultural loss

Questions to Reflect On

  • What barriers keep people from reading?
  • How can we preserve forgotten authors?
A Different Perspective

Not all unread works can be rescued; resources are limited.

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