Heather at Flickr took this great photoset that combines everything I love: public transit, books, and a little voyeuristic view of what people are reading. From her photo set I spotted the Chronicle comic pages, the Examiner, a book called Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, and another called Fresh Air Fiend (by Paul Theroux, the internet said).
You can also find kids reading a big colorful alphabet book, a biology text book (fish!), a book in Russian, and even a few shots of Chinese newspapers. I am really curious about this awesomely illustrated book and this tiny, worn-out leather-bound book.
On my commute, I’m still working through the second half of Haruki Murakami’s The Windup Bird Chronicle and Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet. Anybody got more book recs for commuting on the bus? Check out Heather’s slideshow above, revel in how many people still like to read, and see if you spot any more books you recognize.
If you liked this Muni diary, you might like:
Like Sex, Love, Lust … Muni? Click 
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are all on sale 
I love this slide show! I always read on transit; it’s my favorite part. Currently reading some excellent WWII Germany fiction, “Those Who Save Us”. High recommend!
I get all goosebumpy when I see the ladies on Muni and BART reading “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn” from the Twilight Saga. I know they’re trying to hide it because they take the covers off and if you skillfully obscure the title on the binding, it just looks like a huge black book. And I did the same thing when I was reading those damn things! I didn’t want to take them in public, but I literally couldn’t put them down. Twilight Saga FTW.
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What a beautiful documentary of photos. Kudos, Heather!
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Geoff Ryman’s book 253 chronicles all the riders/drivers on seven cars of a London Tube train. Each ‘chapter’ is 253 words long, so it’s a perfect read for public transit, if a little disturbing.
Here’s the website associated with the book: http://www.ryman-novel.com/home.htm
It’s a favorite of mine.
This morning the woman sitting beside me was reading a small book of prayers in Spanish.
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Eugenia Reply:
August 19th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Rachel thanks for pointing me to the Ryman site! How does one have enough discipline to write exactly 253 words?!
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The small leather-bound book (last link of second paragraph) looks like it could be a bible.
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Eugenia Reply:
August 19th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Andrew – I also thought it looked like the Bible but kind of too thin? It’s been about a billion years since I’ve picked up one so I really have no idea…
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Andrew Reply:
August 19th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
The type looked really small, so they might have been able to stuff it all in there.
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Anyone over the age of 16 reading Twilight is right to be ashamed.
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