In a very old library stood a large magical bookshelf. It could determine how well a person could read and, based on that, would offer them a book to read. All you had to do was say: "What should I read?", and the cabinet doors would open with an intelligent creak, and on the shelf lay a book selected by it.
In bygone times, there were lines at this amazing cabinet in libraries, but over time people began to read less and less. Books took a back seat, now replaced by electronic versions located in the depths of the endless Global Network. Now there was no need to stand in line at the bookshelf; you could simply select the desired catalog in a virtual environment, and sometimes even more simply, just search for a book or desired notes on a website. The library had fewer and fewer visitors and was eventually closed. The library's property was put up for sale.
And so an antique collector became interested in the cabinet, whose fame had spread far beyond the city where it was located. Since no one had approached this unique piece of furniture for so long, everyone had forgotten that it was magical. The cabinet was sold for a pittance.
The collector lived in a large house. He loved antique things and decorated his home with them. The collector had never before thought about the functional capabilities of his purchases. But when the cabinet 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, little Peter, entered his father's study and wanted to play there. He saw an electronic book on his father's desk.
What should I read?
The boy asked thoughtfully.
And suddenly the cabinet doors opened and on the shelf lay books with fairy tales "The Little Bun" and "The Turnip". The boy was frightened and ran to call his parents. When they entered the study, they saw an open cabinet 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 back, maybe you accidentally pressed something on it?
I'm telling you, I didn't touch this cabinet. I didn't even go near it. I wanted to play with your electronic book, and when I picked it up, I simply asked aloud what I should read. That's when the cabinet opened.
Reported the six-year-old boy.
Amazing.
Exclaimed the collector.
When the boy took the fairy tales about the Little Bun and the Turnip from the cabinet, the piece of furniture closed and they couldn't open it again. The boy loved the books very much; they were quite colorful and the font was just right for him. He ran to his room and began to read the fairy tales.
Meanwhile, the collector couldn't understand how the cabinet had opened by itself. He invited a furniture assembly specialist, but he too couldn't open the cabinet. Then he decided to ask the library workers what kind of strange antique he had bought. But none of the current library workers could tell him anything useful. But one of the workers suggested he contact the librarian who had retired long ago—Ilya Petrovich.
With difficulty, the collector managed to find the retiree's address. He went to his home, and Ilya Stepanovich told him that the cabinet was magical.
And how do you open it?
You simply need to say: "What should I read?", and the cabinet will select a book for you
Answered the retiree.
And why did they sell me such a magical cabinet for a pittance?
The thing is, nowadays people read books very little. So the magical bookshelf became useless to everyone.
Answered Ilya Stepanovich with sadness.
The collector returned home and approached the cabinet.
What should I read.
He said carefully.
The bookshelf 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 once read long ago but never finished. He took the book and began to read it, and became so engrossed that he read all night.
In the morning, the collector realized that he and his family had indeed almost stopped reading books. And he decided to change that. Now every evening they visited the magical cabinet and spent 2-3 hours a day reading books. The cabinet seemed to have grown younger, for it had begun a new life!
