Two interactions with little ones.
First little one was with her dad who was looking for a book on postcards (how to make ’em)
Hook the man up and ask the girl –
Do you want to want to be smart?
Happy Children’s Day
Yes.
You should read science fiction.
Blank look.
Do you know what Science is?
It’s a subject.
Great, do you know what Fiction is?
Silence,
It’s a story, not real, some are real fun.
Smile.
So next time your daddy brings you to the store what are you going to get him to buy?
Science Fiction! (Girl gives a big smile, I give her a high five).
Second little one was a boy with his mom,
Mom walked in to flog some books, I was explaining to her that we like non fiction, literature and Science fiction. Showed her a damaged book of Goethe’s Faust and told her something like this we would love to buy. She picks up the book and says she wanted to buy it, I explained that it was depressingAF, says she likes depressing shiz.
Boy comes over and I try and pimp him the most excellent Time Machine by HG Wells.
Dad says he could get a e version for free (fucker).
Mum all gushy, I like the music you are playing.
Cool I will send you a play list that we listen to at the store A LOT, we normally listen to a song for days on end till we get sick of it and then move on, the ones at the end are the most recent victims.
Can you suggest some books for me?
Sure, give me a feeler, what do you like? What kinds of books have you enjoyed recently?
She mentions one word, consciousness.
We suggest Ray Kurtzwell’s most excellent, how to create a mind and a few other pop sci books.
She says I like your taste, in music and books.
Smile.
Now for the young man, can I suggest something for you?
Mom goes all proud of her son is smart, he has made a youtube video.
Well that’s great, but the question is do you want to be smarter?
Yes.
Well in that case you need to read Science Fiction.
Boy smiles.
What do you ask for the next time you come home to Goobe’s?
Science Fiction!
p.s. The point of this entire post is to make you realize that if you want your kids to be smarter, they need to be encouraged to read SF, two scientists that I know of have been inspired to Science and Botany by Science Fiction. We happen to love Science Fiction and kids get it, the question is – Do you?
Goobes 