Spam yourself with the classics

September 14, 2006 3:57 PM

Choose a (public domain) book and Daily Lit will e-mail it to you bit-by-bit every day. Finally, War and Peace delivered to your inbox in only 675 bite-sized pieces. [via LH]
posted by camcgee (15 comments total)

Read the great works of literature on the crapper!
posted by ColdChef at 4:06 PM on September 14, 2006

Bit by bit?

Like, "Cool, today it's a zero - can't wait for tomorrow...."
posted by pompomtom at 4:12 PM on September 14, 2006

Such serendipity...
posted by sourwookie at 4:23 PM on September 14, 2006

But how will you mark a post on the blue as best answer, sourwookie?
posted by cgc373 at 4:52 PM on September 14, 2006

neat.
posted by mosessmith at 5:52 PM on September 14, 2006

What if one is on the crapper and needs more than one chapter?
posted by longsleeves at 7:11 PM on September 14, 2006

How long does it take to read a book?

That depends on three factors. First, on how many parts are in the book (shown when you browse for books). Second, on how frequently you choose to receive emails. Third, on how often you read more than one part (by using the "send me the next part immediately" feature). So here is a typical example. I am currently reading Dracula, which has 187 parts and I am receiving parts on weekdays, i.e. 5 days/week. So at most it will take me 187/5 = 37 weeks.

Absurd. Useless.
posted by Ynoxas at 8:30 PM on September 14, 2006

Cool. This would be perfect when one is stranded in a USian airport.

Wonder if I can get their records into my OPAC....
posted by QIbHom at 9:33 PM on September 14, 2006

Man, if only there was some way to obtain a book in a format that allowed you to read it at your convenience and on the go without being tied down to a monitor, P.D.A., or a power source. Now that would be a killer app.
posted by Iridic at 9:38 PM on September 14, 2006 [1 favorite]

Iridic: If you can also make it dirt-cheap and resistant to being thrown around and, what the hell, allow free-form markup on it - I'll buy one!

On a more constructive note, this reminds me of The Sherlock Holmes Project.
posted by vacapinta at 9:48 PM on September 14, 2006

Just subscribed to The Illiad with the conviction that I would never make it through any other way. So eat my dactylic hexameter, suckaz.
posted by Superfrankenstein at 1:17 AM on September 15, 2006

Superfrank: Enjoy book II !!! ;) ;) ;)
posted by mmdei at 1:35 AM on September 15, 2006

"While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules."

The Art of War by Sun Tzu via DailyLit

It seems DailyLit heeded the advice of a spell checker. Not wise. Not impressed.
posted by Shave at 5:51 AM on September 15, 2006

People can't afford books anymore?
posted by c13 at 7:06 AM on September 15, 2006

I sit at my desk for seven hours a day, quite often with little to do.

Reading an e-mail doesn't look suspicious to my supervisor. Reading a book would.

This is perfect.
posted by Lucinda at 7:48 AM on September 15, 2006