E-books and audiobooks (wk 9, ex 22)

I visited Project Gutenberg, which puts books no longer subject to copyright online. The books are in many cases available as html files, text files, and audio versions. While they tend to be older books, this is a great way to read or cite from a classic, without having to go to the library and get a physical copy. Items such as CIA World Factbooks and some presidential speeches are also available. Some of the interesting books I found:

• Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Baum)
• Metamorphosis (Kafka)
• Iraq Study Group Report
• Devil's Dictionary (Bierce)
• The Natural History of Chocolate: Being a Distinct and Particular Account of the Cocoa-Tree, its Growth and Culture, and the Preparation, Excellent Properties, and Medicinal Vertues of its Fruit (Quelus) (mid-18th century)

I also visited audible.com. This is a commercial site providing audiobooks, through a subscription plan which claims to reduce the prices compared to outright purchase. I was impressed with their selection, which goes far beyond best-sellers. I found a few books I've been planning to read which are available as audiobooks:

• Brother I'm Dying (Danticat)
• Political Brain (Westen)
• Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World (Hiaasen)

Both of these sites struck me as useful largely because they allow users to get an entire book anytime they want one, as long as they have an internet connection.