Which is no doubt why I found it so galling when the consequences of getting older began to appear. Having to give up football was the first big one. The knees just couldn't hack it any more. Still, I didn't miss it that much, and it's not like I'm reminded of the fact every day. Unlike the eyesight! After 45+ years of 20/20 vision, the need for reading specs was at first an amusing irritation, but as my eyes slowly deteriorate it's becoming less of a chuckle. However, it has given me an insight into the world of bird book marketing...
My first copy of 'Collins' (ie. the modestly titled 'The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe') was the enormous coffee table job. No particular reason, other than the fact that I wasn't concerned with having a little one for the field. So I didn't bother with the small soft-cover version until the 2nd edition came out. And I only bought that because there wasn't a big one yet. When it arrived in the post I suddenly found myself appreciating the big hardback on a whole new level. The print was so ridiculously tiny! And then it hit me - the big one was for old people. It is dawning on bird book publishers that most birders nowadays are only a couple of summers off their first Zimmer frame, and can hardly see, so, slowly but surely, popular bird books are starting to appear in two versions - a small, cheap one for kids, and a huge, expensive one for the deep-pocketed geriatric. It's true! Take the 'Advanced Bird ID Guide' by Nils van Duivendijk. I bought the original, and immediately had to pop down the chemist's for a stronger pair of specs. The print is ludicrous! Even with mega-specs I still have to hold it 6 inches from a 100W bulb. Only the very young indeed can use it in the field. Never mind, I thought, if it sells well there will soon be a big 'un. How could I be so sure? Easy. All the oldies would innocently buy the micro-print version and be able to read just enough through their upside-down bins to know that here was a seminal work they couldn't be without, even if it was impossible to use. The publishers would wait just long enough for the word to spread, then bring out the big boy, diplomatically calling it the 'reference version'. All the half-blind suckers would buy both.
Marketing genius...
Left: Advanced Bird ID for the Saga Generation Right: Advanced Bird ID for the Pre-Pubescent
Print comparison
My theory was proven when I discovered - on p.35 of the small version, under Pacific Diver, imm/ad w - the following sentence: 'Ha ha, bet you can't read this, you knackered old loser!'
Gav, isn't it annoying when the closest you can focus is about 12 feet away. However, with reading glasses on I can now see something about Caspian Gull in the print comparison. Hmm, on inspection the text appears to be a list of topographical facts with the words: Some, possibly,usually, sometimes and often thrown in for added confusion.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the publishers should add your 'how to actually ID the bird' version for clarity.
Next you will be at the large print section of the local library wondering why many other people are marking the books with various symbols and dots!
ReplyDelete(It's to remind forgetful old people that they have read it already)
Dreadful, marking the books like that. I simply tear off the corner of page 8.
DeleteYes!!! I've been suffering in the 'can't read it' camp myself...
ReplyDeleteWell, fellow sufferers, it's all downhill from here...
ReplyDeleteOn "The Continent" we do not laugh about the fact that the Collins guide claims to be the most complete guide; we know it is. The fact that the title still includes "to the Birds of Britain and Europe" makes us wonder about the insular mind though.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you ever read BirdForum Pim? But if you think the Collins Guide title is quaint, you should see the heated exchanges that occur every time the topic of Britain and Ireland comes up...
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