Glencoe was great. Well, it was wet, but it was great too. All those hardy, windblown visitors – wow, I hope they were briefed on the weather.
Apart from shifting a shed-load of books, it was fascinating to see the dynamics of the project in play. Many people read and reread the sign, apparently having difficulty parsing what they were seeing and what made sense within the parameters of the world we’re used to.
Before starting this, friends and family told me that hordes of people would scoop armfuls of books and run for it. That is not what happened. Once they ‘got it’ people were respectful, most taking one each or perhaps another for a friend. On occasion, a bus driver would take a few on behalf of his passengers. From my perspective, this is a greater risk because a book may be put into someone’s hands without them having first (and internally) agreed to the honesty condition. That said, it is a risk I am willing to take.
At one point, a young girl picked up a handful, brought them to the car and her mother took one and sent her back to replace the rest. On another occasion, a young adult took a book, reconsidered (perhaps it was not for him or his girlfriend had one in the car already) and he then took a long walk back to the pile to replace it. That is the sort of behaviour that dominated the two days I spent there. He could have taken it and dumped it in a bin later, but no. That is cool.
Thank you all and thank you to Scott and The National Trust For Scotland for tolerating my presence. The Glencoe video is to the left at dreamwords.com
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Hello Paul,
Thank you for a great book which I am half way through. We were stopping in a cottage near Kinlochleven and my wife and mum drove up the Glencoe pass for a bit of sightseeing when they came across your pile of books. My wife took one for me and my mum took one for herself. Glad to say we are both reading it and I will pass my copy on to a friend once I have finished.
I really hope all goes well and that the people that picked it up are honest. I would love to see the next book and your trust in people rewarded.
The £3.50 is on its way and hopefully a lot more should come that way from the book my wife picked up on that day!
Good luck
Iain
Hi Iain,
Thank you for thanking me… lol! It’s cool to read of stories like yours, a thousand journeys weaving to one. With luck, and I believe it will be so, enough people will be as honest as you to help make this fly.
Paul
Hey Paul
this is Andrew, the young Australian fellow you met whilst in Fort William.
Congrats and all the best on this new adventure, i REALLY hope it pays off!
Hi Andrew,
Great to hear from you. Hope you managed to get on the hill to use your new ice-axe and navigation skills. Thanks for the good thoughts.
Paul