In a very old library there stood a large magical bookcase. It could determine how well a person could read and, based on this, would offer them a book to read. All one had to do was say: "What should I read?", and the bookcase doors would open with an intelligent creak, and on the shelf lay a book it had selected.
In days gone by, there were queues at this remarkable bookcase in libraries, but over time people began to read less and less. Books took a back seat, now replaced by electronic equivalents, stored in the depths of the endless Global Network. There was no longer any need to queue at the bookcase; one could simply select the desired catalogue in a virtual environment, and sometimes it was even simpler—just search for a book or desired notes on a website. The library saw fewer and fewer visitors and was eventually closed. The library's property was put up for sale.
And so an antiques collector became interested in the bookcase, whose fame had spread far beyond the city in which it was located. Since no one had approached this unique piece of furniture for a long time, everyone had forgotten that it was magical. The bookcase was sold for a pittance.
The collector lived in a large house. He was very fond of antique items and decorated his home with them. The collector had never before given thought to the functional capabilities of his purchases. But when the bookcase was delivered to his home, he decided to look inside, but was unable to open it. So he placed it in his study simply as a decorative object.
One evening, the collector's son, a little boy named Peter, came into his father's study and wanted to play there. He saw an e-reader on his father's desk.
What should I read?
The boy asked thoughtfully.
And suddenly the bookcase doors opened and on the shelf lay books with fairy tales "Kolobok" and "The Turnip". The boy was frightened and ran to call his parents. When they entered the study, they saw the open bookcase with books.
How did you open it?
The collector asked his son in surprise.
I didn't touch it. It opened by itself.
I tried for a long time to open it, but I couldn't manage it. Think—did you perhaps accidentally press something on it?
I'm telling you, I didn't touch this bookcase. I didn't even go near it. I wanted to play with your e-reader, and when I picked it up, I simply asked aloud what I should read. That's when the bookcase opened.
Recounted the six-year-old boy.
How remarkable.
Exclaimed the collector.
When the boy took the fairy tales about Kolobok and the Turnip from the bookcase, the piece of furniture closed and they couldn't open it again. The boy very much liked the books; they were quite colourful and the font was just right for him. He ran to his room and began reading the fairy tales.
Meanwhile, the collector couldn't understand how the bookcase had opened by itself. He invited a furniture assembly specialist, but he too couldn't open the bookcase. Then he decided to ask the library staff what sort of strange antique he had bought. But none of the current library staff could tell him anything useful. However, one of the staff members advised him to contact the librarian who had retired long ago—Ilya Petrovich.
With difficulty, the collector managed to find the retired man's address. He went to his home, and Ilya Stepanovich told him that the bookcase was magical.
And how do you open it?
You simply need to say: "What should I read?", and the bookcase will select a book for you itself
Answered the retired librarian.
And why did they sell me such a magical bookcase for a pittance?
The thing is, nowadays people read books very little. That's why the magical bookcase became unwanted by anyone.
Answered Ilya Stepanovich with sadness.
The collector returned home and approached the bookcase.
What should I read.
He said cautiously.
The bookcase doors opened, and on the shelf lay a book by A.S. Pushkin, "Eugene Onegin".
And indeed, this was the very book the collector had read long ago as one of his last, but had never finished. He took the book and began reading it, and became so engrossed that he read all night.
In the morning, the collector realised that he and his family had indeed almost stopped reading books. And he decided to change that. Now every evening they visited the magical bookcase and spent 2-3 hours a day reading books. The bookcase seemed to have grown younger, for it had begun a new life!
