Are you looking for a free audio book of a "classic"? A free book for your eBook reader?

What if you have to read "one of those old books" for school? Would it be easier to be able to search through it on the computer? Or better yet ... what if you could also listen to it?

And just what if you are doing research on the good old days, and you want a bit of info that everyone and their brother won't have ... then what?

And what if you still need some sort of relaxing distraction but that computer game is getting boring and you feel a little ... useless? Then what?

And how could there possibly be a connection between the last paragraph and the first? Well ... let me tell you.

Project Gutenberg is collecting and scanning literature and music of virtually all types. The item must have an expired copyright or be copyright-free. (But, no, they won't take in your latest unpublished novel or poem or short story ... etc. But! I know who will.)

Unlike other services, Project Gutenberg does not stop with the scanned pages. The accepted works are always converted into TXT formatted files and then into HTML, PDF and other formats for eBook readers. Some are being made available as audio files. The audio files are human voice or computer-generated.

If I were doing research, I would be inclined to use the PDF text because Adobe's Reader program does a very useful search display.

If I were being told to read a classic book, I would be very inclined to listen to it ... even if it's a computer-generated recording. A few months ago I started listening to Robinson Crusoe. Much to my surprise, it wasn't long until the passion of the author's words overtook the oddness of the computer voice. I still find myself musing over the story's beginning.

Now, back to my odd question ... Are your strategy-based computer games (aka solitaire and freecell) becoming dull? Or worse yet, are they making you feel useless?!

All of this work is accomplished by volunteers! I highly suggest you explore your "page a day" or "smooth reading" options at Distributed Proofreaders.

Explore Project Gutenberg and Distributed Proofreaders very carefully and thoroughly. You will find many useful (expected and unexpected) resources.

Some people act like there's a war on between audio books and eBooks and that eBooks are losing. I don't think so. I think that people just don't know how to use them together ... I think people don't know how to enjoy learning. What do you think?