Like many travelers I am happy that eBooks exist. Boxes of dead-tree books are heavy and space-consuming. And how many times per year can a traveler get to a decent bookstore?
Therefore I was in a good mood -- and a grateful mood -- when downloading an Amazon Kindle book today. But I noticed something new: in subtle, almost subliminal, markings, the eBook told you where other people had highlighted sentences in the book. For instance, it would say, "438 readers highlighted this."
Infuriating! Who the bleep cares what other people highlight? Am I not supposed to think for myself when reading a book? We don't need the equivalent of television's Nielsen ratings in a book!
To think that reading a book is degenerating to the watching of television, or looking at "thumbs-up Likes" on social media! This would be a new low for modern culture.
I was so angry that it took me a long time to figure out how to eliminate "popular highlights" in a Kindle eBook. At the top of the screen for Kindle-for-PC, click on:
But in Amazon's defense, they at least allow you the option to wipe out popular highlights. And that's no small miracle. This was a close call: how do I know if I would have had the spine to boycott Amazon if the option didn't exist?
Therefore I was in a good mood -- and a grateful mood -- when downloading an Amazon Kindle book today. But I noticed something new: in subtle, almost subliminal, markings, the eBook told you where other people had highlighted sentences in the book. For instance, it would say, "438 readers highlighted this."
Infuriating! Who the bleep cares what other people highlight? Am I not supposed to think for myself when reading a book? We don't need the equivalent of television's Nielsen ratings in a book!
To think that reading a book is degenerating to the watching of television, or looking at "thumbs-up Likes" on social media! This would be a new low for modern culture.
I was so angry that it took me a long time to figure out how to eliminate "popular highlights" in a Kindle eBook. At the top of the screen for Kindle-for-PC, click on:
- Tools.
- Options.
- Annotations.
- Then uncheck the box for "Popular Highlights."
But in Amazon's defense, they at least allow you the option to wipe out popular highlights. And that's no small miracle. This was a close call: how do I know if I would have had the spine to boycott Amazon if the option didn't exist?
Comments
I would say that a direct download would have the popular highlights.
This is what Amazon has to say:
View Popular Highlights & Public Notes
Amazon displays Popular Highlights and Public Notes by combining the highlights and notes of all Kindle customers and identifying the passages with the most highlights and notes.
To turn on Popular Highlights or Public Notes:
While reading, tap the top of the screen to show the reading toolbar.
Tap the Menu menu icon and then tap Settings.
Tap Reading Options and then tap Notes & About This Book.
Next to Popular Highlights or Public Notes, tap Off. The switch will move to the On position.
When you return to reading, highlights people have frequently selected will start appearing while you read.
Chris
I have just about changed my preference regarding eBooks and now would rather read on one of my Kindles. I do still read "dead-tree books" as I have too many; I am somewhat of a bibliophile.
In the dark ages, the religions controled the minds of those who lacked critical thinking skills.
If one develops critical thinking and follow through, then one can read the propaganda with the intent of understanding the predator of our day.
Critical thinking is easy, you ask questions
To gather the data and understand the grammar one would ask and then seek answers to
Who
What
Where
to discover the logic one would ask
When
How
To follow through with action, one would ask and then share
Why
It called the Trivium Method of Critical Thinking.