For those of you who are not aware, Google Books is an excellent resource, and with the various books Google has loaded online that are in public domain, this is a great tool for the Christian apologist.
There has been a lot of discussion lately concerning the legality of what Google is doing. To catch up to speed with what’s going on, PC World writes,
Google Books is a wonderful idea that is having a hard time meeting legal requirements. That’s the upshot of the latest round in the battle between the world’s search leader and the people who actually create the content Google exploits for huge profits.
It should surprise no one that Google ran into legal challenges after it decided to suck all the world’s books and magazines into its search engine.
It will be interesting how the legal development plays out.
Lord willing, for the next week Veritas Domain will feature some of the books that are entirely free for download online! If you know of any other works you found that’s great for the Christian apologist on Google books, do share with us here!
I have just recently appreciated it’s significance for the Christian apologists. For instance,
- Christians can download on PDF some of the books on public domain. It makes it convenient to have it on your hard drive.
- It can be a great place to glimpse through the books that are on limited preview–seeing the table of content, specific chapters, etc– and gives more information thus whether a particular work is worth acquiring for one’s research.
- Some good books happen to be out of print books.
- It is a great source for hard to find books.
- Older Christian classics can be downloaded.
- Philosophical classics are available.
- Cult materials are available for documentation (think of groups that change beliefs or have false prophecies!).
- Great for researching cultural and theological trends found in print over time.
- It allows instant access for verification of other people’s references.
- It allows instant access of the resource you are providing documentation of, to those whom you are presenting your case to.
What do you think?
It is a huge benefit to all engaged in study, whether it be secular or religious. The belief that computers will one day put an end to actual libraries may be dubious, but Google Books is the first comprehensive endeavor that may make it possible for computer nerds to never have to leave home to do research.
Depending on the outcome of litigation that may take years and years, of course.
At the very least, I hope the courts allow Google to make all books searchable. Think of the revolution in research that will provide. Now, instead of spending hours backtracking bibliographies, a 0.063 sec search result will yield a list of books along with corresponding page numbers. A trip to the library may only take minutes and grant us a more focused, fruitful study. Is that too optimistic?
Indeed Shaun. It is a great thing! Let me know if you have found anything worthy that has full view on Google books!
“If you know of any other works you found that’s great for the Christian apologist on Google books, do share with us here!”
William Paley, Evidences of Christianity.
Another good resource for free books is: archive.org They have all the books that are available at Google Books and additionaly many digitalized university collections.
Thanks for sharing! Unfortunately for me, my computer’s block ware blocks out archive.org for some reason. But thanks for letting me know
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