There's so much out there that people would like or are interested in, but don't know about enough to seek it out and purchase it, especially books and magazines. People should pay a yearly fee and get guaranteed random books on completely random topics, fiction and nonfiction, to read.
Or, another way to do this, in order to introduce people to new authors and styles, would be to have library memberships come with a random book delivery service. When people get a library membership, they automatically get sent random books every week or so. If they don't like them, they just return it, at which time they are handed another random book. Eventually, people would become fairly knowledgeable about what's out there and what they're interested in.-- smizzou, Jul 06 2001 Books @ Random http://www.randomhouse.com/Random House publishers. In Australia their shipping department tries to live up to the name. [sirrobin, Jul 06 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004] bookcrossing http://www.bookcrossing.commy second favourite site [neilp, Oct 04 2004] [PeterSealy] Yes, but I don't make it down every aisle. I scan nearly every magazine that looks half-way interesting, and I have sections I frequent. I realize that for many, if Barnes and Noble doesn't have it, it doesn't exist, but for others of us, what about things these bookstores don't have? Random selections could be very obscure. Also, scanning at a bookstore often leads to picking up and browsing books only with clever designs or titles. Actually, physically being handed the book would, in most cases, force one to take a closer look, even if they wouldn't do so in a bookstore browsing situation.-- smizzou, Jul 06 2001 But there's so much poorly-written gunk out there that is of interest only to those fascinated by a particular genre--I simply won't read "Summer of Passionate Kisses" by Ima Hack if I don't like the writing or the subject, and then my money is wasted. I like libraries. Also rummage sales and used-magazine sales. I guess they offer enough oddball finds and variety for me. But then I'm a middle-aged guy well set in my preferences.-- Dog Ed, Jul 07 2001 Rather than a random selection from books & mags perhaps just a single monthly 'sampler' with extracts from this months random selections.-- DrBob, Jul 07 2001 With pages assembled randomly, of course.-- The Military, Jul 07 2001 What if you filled out a profile first, then you get sent a book on a topic that you probably know nothing about based on the profile?-- futurebird, Jul 08 2001 TM - if you assembled the words in random order, you could leave the pages in their original sequence.-- beauxeault, Jul 09 2001 waugsqueke: QPD still do it. And hugely irritating it is too. Every month you get a couple of paperbacks that are not worth reading, and you have to find the time to send them back before the (brief) grace period expires and you are charged for them. I'm all for broadening people's cultural horizons, but I'll have to fishbone this.-- mcscotland, Jul 09 2001 Not a bad idea but you might have some problems with the name. (See link)-- sirrobin, Jul 09 2001 [DogEd] I really like the title "Summer of Passionate Kisses". Perhaps you doth protest too much. You have a knack.-- thecat, Jun 16 2003 random, halfbakery