At Hidden Treasures Bookstore, we frequently have clients asking us, “Why is this book that is so small in size costing this much?” At other times, we have them wondering, “Why are two books that are similar in size priced very differently?”

In responding to these inquiries, I ask myself again and again, “What makes a book, a book?”

When one buys a book, what exactly is one paying for? Is it:

• The quantity and quality of the materials the book is made from, be it a book in print, an audio book or an e-book?

• The content of the book and the use to which the reader will put that content?

• The visibility of the author of the book which makes it easier for the would-be reader recognizes the stature of the author in the genre they have written in?

• The effort that the bookseller has put in to bringing the book to the knowledge of the would-be reader?

According to Kevin Kelly, a book is a self-contained story, argument, or body of knowledge that takes more than an hour to read. A book is complete in the sense that it contains its own beginning, middle, and end. In the past a book was defined as anything printed between two covers. A list of telephone numbers was called a book, even though it had no logical beginning, middle, or end. A pile of blank pages bound with a spine was called a sketchbook. It was unabashedly empty, but it did have two covers, and was thus called a book.

In essence a book is a container for an idea.

Seth Godin said “For 500 years, a book has been something that can be the work of a single individual, working hard, for perhaps a year. This is a huge element of what makes a book, a book.”

So while the quality and quantity of the material that contains the book is important, the book is essentially the idea contained in the book, the effort of the individual who authored the book. As the stature of the author increases in the eye of the pubic, so does the value of his contributions to society in the form a book.

And so dear reader, a book may be small in size and be pricey. Two books may be the same in size but priced differently. At the end of the day, the value of a book is the value you, the would-be buyer place on the content of the book. If the book contains information which you desperately want, it affects the price you’re willing to pay. If the author is one who is very well recognised and respected in his field, it affects the price at which the book is sold. If you reside in a place that is far from where the book you want is available, it affects the price at which you can access the book. If you want a book that you read today, and keep in your library for years to come, that determines the quality of material that is used for the book, and so affects the price at which the book is sold to you.

When you look at it this way, is any book really expensive? A would be-reader may not have enough money to by a book at the display price. That does not mean that the book is expensive. It only means that at the present time, the would-be reader cannot afford the book.

A book, is container for ideas, the efforts of individuals who have put in significant effort and time. That is what makes a book, a book.

Many marriages have crashed after successful weddings and many people have ended up in “a manage” as opposed to a happy marriage.

This is because the wedding is not the marriage. The best that anybody can do for you is to come to your wedding but it is your responsibility to deal with your marriage.

Fela Durotoye, in his latest offering, “Mr. Fantastic” recognizes that for a woman, there’s no WRONG man, but rather that the man you are with may not be the RIGHT ONE FOR YOU.

Ladies, evaluate the qualities your guy has and see if he’s the “Mr. Fantastic” you desire. And guys, (you thought I didn’t expect you to read it?) find out whether you are the “Mr. Fantastic” your lady is looking for. If you aren’t, learn how to become one.

Discover what every man should know before popping the question and what every lady should know before saying Yes.

Durotoye, whose marriage is over ten years opines, “You are better off not getting married than getting divorced… The purpose of this book (Mr. Fantastic) is to ensure that fewer marriages are dissolved because the link between strong marriages and strong nations is so critical. For me, this book is an important tool in ensuring that fewer marriages break up because the family unit is the smallest unit in a nation.”

It is the perfect love gift from the lady to the man after her heart and from the man to the lady he loves.

Then came secondary school and teenage years. I exchanged Enid Blyton books for Denise Robins romance novels. Though I had to buy these with my pocket money, I did not mind. Leventis Stores, Marina then was the place to go. I bought and read, and bought and read. Friendships were built and nurtured on sharing and exchanging books.

Along the way, my mum showed me other books, cookery books, books on sewing and the like. My dad joined a book club in the United Kingdom and every month, we received parcels of books on different topics and our family library of books grew. With this development, my love and appetite for books grew. I just enjoyed reading. At this time, my mum began to teach me that there were books written about everything under the sun. According to her, if you want to learn anything, the best way to do it is to have someone teach you. If you don’t have someone to teach you, the next best way is to read a book. If you want to know about a place you had never been before, the thing to do was to get a book about that place and, voila, you would know so much about that place.

Soon I went on to university, and though the pace of work was hectic, my love for books remained. As an adult, I read books to learn about marriage and how to be a wife. I married and read books about how to be a parent. I started work and read books how how to plan my career. When downsizing and rightsizing in the world of work started, I read books to understand what they were about and how to manage my career. I chose retire early amd read books about what to do and how to plan my life after retirement. I chose to start a business and read even more books about starting and running a business.

I have found that my mother was right. You are as good as the books you read. My faith has been built largely by the books I have read. My mind has been sharpened by rubbing minds with people from different parts of the world who I may never meet.My life has been enriched by skils I have learned from books.  For me, reading a book is having a conversation with someone, the author of the book in my hand.

What has your experience with books been?

Chinualumogu Achebe, novelist, poet, professor and critic is no longer with us, but his presence and infuence on the literarylandscape of Nigeria will continue to be felt by all. He was best know for his first novel and magnus opum, “Things fall Apart” (1958) which is the most widely read book in modern African literature. His books have provided for many, an insight into the culture and tradition of the Igbo people. He communicated clearly Igbo meanings and nuances in English language thus providing an entrance for the non-Igbo into the Igbo Community.

Chinua’s mother and sister Zinobia Uzoma told him many stories as a child, which he repeatedly requested. Reading about his early life, I was not surprised to learn that he was an avid reader. One of his teachers was said to have described him as the student with the best handwriting in the class, and the best reading skills.

We celebrate his excellent contributions to the literary world. We celebrate his contributions to putting Nigeria in the limelight. He appreciated all of these. I like to think that if he were still with us, he would want us to celebrate him in a different way –  tell stories to the children as his mother and sister did, teach them to read and enjoy reading as he was taught, teach them to express their thoughts and understanding of their community as he was  encouraged to do. He would want this so that, even though, he is no longer with us, many more Chinua Achebes would arise from Nigeria.

Monday, May 27, 2013 marks another Children’s Day in Nigeria. Take time on that day to tell stories to your children and other children around you. Encourage them to make up their own stories and tell them to you.Take them to the bookstores and buy books. Read to them and have them read to you.

Who knows the “Chinua Achebe” in the making amongst these children?

HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY!!!

On February 24, 2013 we at HIDDEN TREASURES Bookstore started our 15 Minutes A Day Reading Challenge on our facebook page 

Here are some stories those who have experienced the benefits of reading shared with us.

Samuel Ukpabi of Benin wrote, “No doubt, reading a book can actually change your world view. Yes, it happened to me. A woman in my community once said to me, boy, since you came back for this xmas holidays I’ve been watching you, you come to my bar seat with your folks to drink but whenever you see trouble coming you walk away. Is it that you are now too old to fight or what? I know you used to be at the center of almost every brawl in this community. Since you got admitted into the university you’ve changed completely. Before now when you come here to relax I even bribe anyone that may do anything to provoke you because I know how brutal you can be when provoked. I’m so happy for you. I only mumbled a few words in response–thank you ma. Now, according to the woman the university changed me. Yes it did to some extent but the major thing that opened my eyes was just books. Through books I understood the importance of ‘emotional intelligence’, that anger is a choice, that you can choose to be calm in whatever situation you find yourself. What the woman did not know was that I was still at the center of crisis in the community but this time it’s purely polemics. Let nobody deceive you, READING WORKS.”

Segun Alabi Pshegs had this to say:  If you love reading my post or my book or you have once sat under my preaching or speaking or life coaching engagement and you love the outstanding performance, my simple secret is in God Grace and the books that I read. Before now I spent most of my money on books. I deny myself of gratification. I hardly get myself good wears & shoes, some people even mess me up then as if that was the end. But today the books are now buying me good wears, taking me to places and people keep enjoying and paying for our value.MY MENTOR MENTORED ME WITH BOOKS & I THANK GOD FOR THIS.

Abiodun Mabadeje wrote, “I am a witness of what books can do in a person’s life… And as an author of at least 7 books and with testimonies from those who have read my books, I know that books can transform lives. See this text I got on the 16th of January 2013, “Sir, I’m Evangelist Emma Innocent from Lagos. I bought your book – ‘Make that Move’. After reading it, I was inspired and launched an idea buried in me for years. Now the idea is blessing the world. Thank you and God bless.”

Onyedika George Nnadozie wrote, “I read a lot, I write a lot and I know a lot! I developed a reading culture when I was in Primary 4. My eyes opened that I knew so many things my mates never knew. I started writing my own books too, I’ve written several books and had to distribute some books free of charge, the happiest thing that ever happens in my life is seeing people being transformed through my writtings and I have gotten emails requesting me to notify them once my new books is realised. Since I began reading, I became a genius and first among equals. It helped me in making good decisions… I advise everyone to develop a reading culture, that way readers alone can pioneer transformation.”

We are encouraged by these stories and are inviting you to join our 15 Minutes A Day Reading Challenge. How does it work?

1. Choose a book to start with and get the book;

2. Choose a specific time in the day when you’ll read the book EVERY day for 15 minutes, e.g. 6.00 – 6.15pm;

3. Start reading the book every day at the scheduled time;

4. When you finish reading the first book, take a second book and repeat the cycle;

5. Share with us your experiences with us on our facebook pageas you go on this journey;

6. Invite your friends to do the same

When I was a child, my mum taught me to love books. I was priviledged to have the mobile British Council Library come to my primary school weekly. I borrowed books and she ensured that I read them. She discussed the books with me. As I grew older, she encouraged me to read. She said, “The best way to learn something is to have someone teach you. The next best way is to read a book. Whatever you want to do, someone somewhere has written a book about it.” Taking her advice, I have read books about marriage, raising children, having friends, being a responsible member of the community I live in and managing my career. I have read fiction and non-fiction books. My life has been richer, my relationships better as a result of this practice. Indeed, I never go anywhere without a book in my bag so I can have something to read, if I have to wait somewhere.

What I haven’t known for a long time was how best to help other people read books. A recurrent reason given for not reading is “I don’t have time. My schedule is very tightly packed.” I don’t want to add more stress to anyone’s life. Yet I really desire that all who I know develop a habit of reading books.

Recently, I came across these statistics from a blog by one Ann Kroeker:

“If you read just one book per month for 12 straight months, you will be in the top 25 percentile of all intellectuals in the world!”

“If you read five books on one subject, you are one of the world’s foremost leading authorities on that subject!”

“If you read just 15 minutes a day — every day, for one year — you can complete 20 books!”

“If you read just 15 minutes a day, in one year you will have read over 1,000,000 words!’

I sought to know more and found the story of JIM SERGER who said, “If I told you that reading one book could change your life would you believe me? In 2010 I met a man who challenged me to read 15 minutes a day, I took him up on it and in 2010 I read 71 books then in 2011, I read 67 and listened to 34 audio books–then in fall of 2011 I wrote my first book Go The Distance—all because I picked up a book and read it, then another, then another, then another—-If I can do it anyone can do it—–Reading a book changed my life.”

Reading books has changed my life. It has changed JIM SERGER‘s life and that of many others. It can change yours too. Can you afford not to read books? I invite you to take HIDDEN TREASURES Bookstore’s 15 Minute A Day Reading Challenge.

To get started, choose the book that you want to read, choose the time of the day you will read, start reading 15 minutes every day at that time of the day. When you get to the end of that book, start with another.

Who knows what your story will be, one week, two weeks,…..one month, two months…..one year, two years…..from now?

These messages set me thinking and I asked myself, “When I also send such messages, what do I intend to achieve?” The more I thought about it, the more I realised that I really wanted to have a meaningful conversation with the recipients of my messages. I not only want to share my thoughts with others, I wanted them to pay attention to my messages and respond to them too. I wanted them to talk back to me in their messages.

Going forward, I shall give more thought to my posts to you my friends. I’d love to hear from you to. I love books, I operate a bookstore, I want to touch lives through books and other related resources. I’d like to share my thoughts with you about this. I’d love to have you share your thoughts with me too.

With that I wish you a successful July 2012.

How will young people read if they do not know about books?

This is the question that has engaged our minds at HIDDEN TREASURES Bookstore. And so we sent letters to some secondary schools in Enugu City, inviting them to bring their students on excursion to the bookstore. After some follow up with the schools, the Principal of Lady Ibiam Girls Secondary School indicated their acceptance of our invitation. She told us that 120 students will come on excursion.

Although, this was a higher number than we had envisaged, the HIDDEN TREASURES Bookstore Team was excited at the opportunity to introduce these young girls to the fascinating world of books. And so we started to plan how to carry it all off effectively.

Come June 14, 2012, the appointed day, HIDDEN TREASURES Bookstore played host to 200 not 120 eager young girls. They came in groups of about 40. Their enthusiasm was infectious. We talked about bookstores, books, authors, genres of books and the role books play in personal development. The girls learnt that even outside of school, there were books about practically every aspect of life: work, play, hobbies, relationships. They learnt there were books for the old and the young, books for men and women, books for anyone and for everyone.

Some bookstore customers who came in to make some purchases entered the spirit of the excitement in the bookstore. They stayed back in the bookstore after completing their transactions to participate in the discussion with the excursion groups.

It was a long, but fulfilling day for the HIDDEN TREASURES Bookstore Team. We have sown some seed in the hearts of the young girls. The bookstore will DEFINITELY be around to see them become people who not only read, but love books.

The idea of a special day to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced from the United States. There, a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the American Mother’s Day celebrations to plan a day to honor fathers. In the USA, Father’s Day has been celebrated in June since 1910. The celebrations in the United Kingdom and other countries are thought to have been inspired by the American custom of Father’s Day. This is in contrast to Mother’s Day, which has a very different history in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Father’s day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide. It is celebrated in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States on the third Sunday of June. It is also observed in countries such as Argentina, Canada, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, and Venezuela.  In Australia and New Zealand Father’s Day is on the first Sunday in September. In Thailand it is celebrated on December 5, which is the birthday of the country’s king. Brazilian dads are honored on the second Sunday of August.

Here in Nigeria, the celebration of Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June, started with some church denominations holding special church services in which fathers are celebrated. Gradually, the awareness of Father’s Day is growing with the promotion of celebration of the day, by trade groups in the men’s gift-oriented industries.

On Father’s Day many people make a special effort for their fathers or father figures. Some people visit their fathers, while others give cards, flowers, books or other gifts, such as clothing or sporting equipment, or luxury food items. Father’s Day is a relatively modern holiday, so different families have different traditions. These can range from a simple phone call or greetings card to large parties honoring all father figures in an extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and even other male relatives. What are some of the Father’s Day traditions that you know of?

As 2012 Father’s Day approaches, give thought to your father and other father figures in your life and take time to celebrate them.

The primary duty of teaching this life-long skill to a child is that of the parent. It is a blessing to be able to make that kind of difference in child’s life. School teachers contribute to this duty, but the parent holds the key to success

How then, can you encourage your child, whether a beginning reader or a reluctant reader, to read children’s books on a regular basis? Here are some ideas that may help:

1. Make a habit of reading to your child every day, whether she is a one-year-old or a 10-year-old.
2. When your child is able to, have her read to you. You can take turns reading chapters in a simple chapter book, for example.
3. Be aware of your child’s interests and direct your child to related books.
4. Try to find a series that she really likes and will want to continue reading.
5. Provide a comfortable reading area, with good lighting, in your home.
6. Discuss books with your child.
7. Visit bookstores and libraries with your child and let her spend some time looking at books and asking questions.
8. Buy books for your child that are related to her special interests.
9. If your child is a reluctant reader and not reading on grade level, buy her hi/lo books (books with a high interest level, low vocabulary).
10. Talk to your child’s teacher and ask for suggestions.
11. If your child really enjoys a particular author, look for related books by the same or other authors or books she might enjoy.
12. Children also often enjoy the opportunity to read children’s magazines.

Tips:

1. Stay on the side of encouraging rather than nagging if you want your child to read. Nothing puts a child off faster than feeling forced to do something, so be careful.
2. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reading to your child daily. Make it a priority.
3. Be consistent with reading aloud, providing interesting, age-relevant books.