Photo Gallery: Reading on Muni

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.

8 comments

  • CAK

    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.

  • What a beautiful documentary of photos. Kudos, Heather!

  • 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.

  • Andrew

    The small leather-bound book (last link of second paragraph) looks like it could be a bible.

  • Erik

    Anyone over the age of 16 reading Twilight is right to be ashamed.

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