Yesterday I had the opportunity to do something I've been wanting to do for years, but somehow never quite managed to accomplish: I spent the day at the National Book Festival on the Mall in downtown Washington DC.

The 2006 National Book Festival took place on a chilly, overcast, drizzly day, but that didn't seem to keep the attendance down - the Mall was thronged with crowds of people of all ages and colors united by a love of reading. Individual pavilions catered to those interested in "Mysteries and Thrillers," "History and Biography," "Children's Literature," "Fiction and Fantasy," "Poetry," and other topics. In these pavilions, authors talked about their work and answered questions from the audience, while in another section of the festival area, those same authors were available to sign copies of their books (available for sale at two large sales tents). In the "Pavilion of the States," each of the states, territories, and Washington, DC, was represented at an area dedicated to its writers and library system...most offered a small prize to anyone who could show a current borrower's card from a library in the state, and all had plenty of educational handouts. The Library of Congress, sponsor of the Festival, had its own pavilion with displays dedicated to copyright protection, preservation of digital media, and the new National Audio-Visual Conservation Center. They also offered a long, blank paper wall on which everyone was encouraged to write down their favorite book title, and explain why they enjoyed reading. Food was readily available, and there was plenty to occupy the attention of young children.

I enjoyed listening to presentations by Kathy Reichs (a forensic pathologist who writes thrillers based on her experiences), Douglas Brinkley (author of The Great Deluge, a fierce indictment of the failures that compounded the devastation of Hurricane Katrina), and Nathaniel Philbrick (author of Mayflower, a history of the Plymouth Colony and of King Philip's War). I had especially enjoyed Mayflower, and was very interested in Mr Philbrick's discussion of the book and his research in writing it. Mr Brinkley's forceful presentation and keen sense of moral outrage over the aftermath of Katrina were entertaining and inspiring...he was so critical of New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin that one questioner asked if he planned to run for mayor himself in the next election. I also had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Mr Donald Miller, the author of Masters of the Air, a history of the Eighth Air Force bomber offensive against Nazi Germany in World War II.

There's nothing like reading - a lesson I have tried to pass on to my children and grandchildren. Coupled with the ability to speak well and write clearly, it is the foundation stone of a good education. My mother used to say that if you had a book, you were never without a friend, and she was right. Reading is your ticket to other times, places, and experiences you might otherwise never know. Learning is a lifelong experience, and reading is the key to learning.

Read, think, and grow. The world is yours.

Have a good day and a good week coming. More thoughts later.

Bilbo