--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody recognizes that a bookstore or…" description: "\"Nobody recognizes that a bookstore or library can also be a drowning polar bear. And in this country [US], magazines, newspapers, and bookstores are dr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sherman-alexie-444_bears_nobody-recognizes-that-a-bookstore-or-li_2604376.png" --- # Nobody recognizes that a bookstore or library can also be… ![“Nobody recognizes that a bookstore or library can also be a drowning polar bear. And in this country [US], magazines, newspapers, and bookstores are drowning polar bears. And if people can't see that or don't want to talk about it, I don't understand them at all.” quote by Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sherman-alexie-444_bears_nobody-recognizes-that-a-bookstore-or-li_2604376.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sherman-alexie-444_bears_nobody-recognizes-that-a-bookstore-or-li_2604376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sherman-alexie-444_bears_nobody-recognizes-that-a-bookstore-or-li_2604376.png) > “Nobody recognizes that a bookstore or library can also be a drowning polar bear. And in this country \[US\], magazines, newspapers, and bookstores are drowning polar bears. And if people can't see that or don't want to talk about it, I don't understand them at all.” [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. The quote highlights how institutions meant to nurture knowledge are being overwhelmed by commercial pressures, likening them to drowning polar bears, a vivid metaphor for loss of cultural depth. **In simple terms:** Cultural institutions are threatened by commercialism. Key Takeaway Protect and prioritize genuine cultural spaces. Themes culture media commercialism preservation environment Mood concerned urgent Type critical reflective When to use this quote - library funding debates - publishing industry analysis - community activism - education policy - media literacy Key Concepts metaphor cultural erosion media saturation Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance commercial viability with cultural integrity? - What steps can individuals take to support endangered cultural institutions? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate, risking alienation of audiences unfamiliar with the imagery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Bookstores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstores/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Polar Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polar-bear/) [Polar bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polar-bears/) ## Related quotes > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) Amy Ridenour > [We need to save the Arctic not because of the polar bears, and not because it is the most beautiful place in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-need-to-save-the-arctic-not-because-of-the-polar-bears-and-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Polar bears can swim 100 miles without rest”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-anderson/polar-bears-can-swim-100-miles-without-rest/) [Adam Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-anderson/) > [There's a Polar Bear In our Frigidaire-- He likes it 'cause it's cold in there. With his seat in the meat And his face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/there-s-a-polar-bear-in-our-frigidaire-he-likes-it-cause-it-s-cold-in/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [We were working under very harsh conditions on 'Zero Kelvin.' We were up there in the Arctic, closer to the North Pole than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/we-were-working-under-very-harsh-conditions-on-zero-kelvin-we-were-up/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I think that I was slightly naive. I thought that if I showed people the beauty of the Arctic and the beauty of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-that-i-was-slightly-naive-i-thought-that-if-i-showed-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What do we talk about? Just ordinary things. What happened today, or books we've read, or tomorrow's weather, you know. Don't tell me you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/what-do-we-talk-about-just-ordinary-things-what-happened-today-or/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I've always thought of nuclear as something that's good for the environment. I worry about my polar bears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-dewan/i-ve-always-thought-of-nuclear-as-something-that-s-good-for-the/) [Leslie Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-dewan/) > [I don't think there's any way we can save the polar bears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-steger/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-way-we-can-save-the-polar-bears/) Will Steger > [“Go with polar bears, I say to myself. Polar bears at the North Pole. Baby polar bears scooting along after their mothers in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/go-with-polar-bears-i-say-to-myself-polar-bears-at-the-north-pole/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [The only place Al Gore conserves energy these days is on the treadmill. I don't want to suggest that Al's getting big, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-only-place-al-gore-conserves-energy-these-days-is-on-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [If some of our teenage thrill seekers really want to go out and get a thrill, let them go up into the Northwest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/if-some-of-our-teenage-thrill-seekers-really-want-to-go-out-and-get-a/) [Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/) > [There's another totally fraudulent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Al Gore hadn't done anything but make a movie that itself was filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-another-totally-fraudulent-recipient-of-the-nobel-peace-prize/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“You have some lovely books," she said. "I like the one with the pictures of polar bears." "The books with words too tricky?" She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-elsborg/you-have-some-lovely-books-she-said-i-like-the-one-with-the-pictures/) [Barbara Elsborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-elsborg/) > [Its so cold outside polar bears wont drink coke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-so-cold-outside-polar-bears-wont-drink-coke/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Sherman Alexie > [“He says the earth is an oval marble that nobody can win. He says the sky is not blue and the grass is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/he-says-the-earth-is-an-oval-marble-that-nobody-can-win-he-says-the/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Now, in the old days, Indians used to be forgiving of any kind of eccentricity. In fact, weird people were often celebrated. Epileptics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/now-in-the-old-days-indians-used-to-be-forgiving-of-any-kind-of/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Since Jesus was human then he most assuredly farted and burped. And if God did create us in God's image then God must fart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/since-jesus-was-human-then-he-most-assuredly-farted-and-burped-and-if/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“A century ago she might have been beautiful, her face reflected in the river instead of a mirror. But all the years have changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/a-century-ago-she-might-have-been-beautiful-her-face-reflected-in-the/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“In all those stories, I could fly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/in-all-those-stories-i-could-fly/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I don't think there's a whole lot of class literature at all. I think most of that has become racially based, and people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-whole-lot-of-class-literature-at-all-i-think/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [She wanted to be buried in a coffin filled with used paperbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/she-wanted-to-be-buried-in-a-coffin-filled-with-used-paperbacks/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Is there really a difference between that killing and this killing? Does God approve of some killing and not other killing? If I kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/is-there-really-a-difference-between-that-killing-and-this-killing/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Son, things have never been like how you think they used to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/son-things-have-never-been-like-how-you-think-they-used-to-be/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [My parents banned nothing, though the Christian fundamentalists in my tribe held book-and-record burnings every now and again. So, yes, fundamentalist assholes can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/my-parents-banned-nothing-though-the-christian-fundamentalists-in-my/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Or maybe I could have anesthetized myself with homework and extra credit and binge-reading.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/or-maybe-i-could-have-anesthetized-myself-with-homework-and-extra/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Dear wife, I'm sorry that I am mysteriously incapable of folding clean laundry, but I iron, oh, I iron. Sweetheart, I'll make your white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/dear-wife-i-m-sorry-that-i-am-mysteriously-incapable-of-folding-clean/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Gordy,” I said. “I need to talk to you." "I don't have time," he said. "Mr. Orcutt and I have to debug some PCs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/gordy-i-said-i-need-to-talk-to-you-i-don-t-have-time-he-said-mr/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“The United States wants all of us to forget the crimes it committed against the indigenous. The United States wants us to forget. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/the-united-states-wants-all-of-us-to-forget-the-crimes-it-committed/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I think that white women are more apt to read laterally. So I think there's some strong identification for women, and their political and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-think-that-white-women-are-more-apt-to-read-laterally-so-i-think/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) [Explore all 546 Sherman Alexie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) ## More Bears quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Television series are like the stock market. There's room for bears and bulls but no room for pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/television-series-are-like-the-stock-market-there-s-room-for-bears/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The Germans are the most philosophic people in the world, and the greatest smokers: now I trace their philosophy to their smoking. Smoking has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-borrow/the-germans-are-the-most-philosophic-people-in-the-world-and-the/) [George Henry Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-borrow/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [You've had a whole lot of experience, but everything is also radically new at each moment, and you have to bring a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/you-ve-had-a-whole-lot-of-experience-but-everything-is-also-radically/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I want you to take a red-hot bath as hot as you can bear it, and just relax your nerves. You can read in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-take-a-red-hot-bath-as-hot-as-you-can-bear-it-and-just/) [F. 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