Letters: 'The Shallows,' 'Jaws' : NPR
Listeners respond to an interview with The Shallows author Nicholas Carr; and our story about searching for Bruce, the mechanical shark used in the original Jaws film. Robert Siegel and Michele Norris read from listeners' e-mails.
ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
Time now for your letters. And my interview yesterday about Nicholas Carr about his book "The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains," got many of you writing. In the book, Carr argues that Internet multitasking is changing our brains.
Mr. NICHOLAS CARR (Author, "The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains"): I noticed that I was basically losing my ability to concentrate, and this was even when I wasn't online. I'd sit down with a book or a long article, and after a couple of pages, you know, my brain wanted to do what it does when I'm online: check email, click on links, do some Googling, hop from page to page.
SIEGEL: A number of you agreed with Carr, including Annie Jacobs(ph) of Butler, Maryland. She writes: At 22, I could write thoughtful, in-depth papers at the drop of a hat. At 52, with more education, experience and resources, I am struggling to get my thought process going on what should be minor projects.
MICHELE NORRIS, host:
Scott Antol(ph) of Columbia Station, Ohio, says he couldn't even get through your entire conversation with Carr. He writes: Unfortunately, before your story ended, I was back reading email and missed the end of the story. Good thing I can listen online later, when I lose concentration again.
And Travis Malone(ph) of Fort Worth, Texas, says he found it ironic that a conversation about concentration and the Internet concluded with an invitation for people to read a portion of the book online at npr.org.
(Soundbite of song, "The Jaws Theme")
SIEGEL: Finally, our story about searching for Bruce, the mechanical shark used in the original "Jaws" film, inspired some listeners to share their own encounters with the 25-foot great white machine.
Stephanie Miller(ph) of Los Angeles wrote this: When I was growing up, my mom worked at Universal Studios. One day, while I was at the office, she said she wanted to go over to the stage and wish the crew merry Christmas. It happened to be the crew that was building Bruce.
She walked around and wished everyone a happy holiday. Her last stop was to speak to an engineer who was standing with his head and shoulders inside Bruce. She wished him a merry Christmas, and his merry Christmas to you came out of Bruce's mouth. I suspect I'm one of the very few people in the world who has received a holiday greeting from a great white shark.
NORRIS: Thanks for all your letters, and please keep them coming. Just go to npr.org, and click on contact us at the bottom of the page.
(Soundbite of song, "The Jaws Theme")
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