Medical, social and economic impacts aside, Covid-19 has revealed some interesting aspects to life. One or two of them have the potential to be uncomfortable truths.
Thanks to forced homeworking and video conferencing I have had the pleasure of peeking inside more living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, studies and box rooms than I would have previously seen in my whole life. Politicians, celebrities, newsreaders, medics, experts, the general public and more, I’ve seen it all.
I’m fascinated by how untidy some rooms are. I want to know why anyone would choose ‘that’ colour for a wall. I’m eager to discover the backstory to the photo on the mantlepiece.
However, what really caught my eye was books, books and more books. More often than not, the wall behind the presenter would be a bookcase. Everyone seems to be buying books. Everyone seems to be keeping books. Everyone seems to want their Zoom background to be books.
This is all wrong. For 20-years the great and good have repeatedly advised me to escape the world of print publishing while I can, before digital becomes all consuming. Why the divide between what I’m being told versus what I’ve just witnessed. My guess is that until recently these ‘expert advisors’ didn’t have mass access to people’s living rooms.
So, until I can Zoom into any home, at any time, and not see a single book, let alone an overflowing bookshelf, then I hold my confidence in print.
Now, flick the page and enjoy your read.