street vendor

Yes, you're seeing this right.

an italian leather book cover (with lion emblem)

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, with inscription to "Larry" in '48

Theories for Everything: an illustrated history of science from the invention of numbers to string theory

all for under $5 at a roadside stand.  

fare thee well, britannica

According to one journalist, this means Wikipedia wins.

Technology wins.

Traditional research loses.

How do we as readers feel about this?

I, for one, mourn the loss of a literary tradition.

And, frankly, I fear for the future of our collection of knowledge.

Call me a Romantic, but Wikipedia is just not going to cut it.

Goodbye books, hello Internet.  Welcome, e-reader generation!

Fare thee well, Britannica.