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  • Amazon’s War on Kindle Book Ownership: The February 2025 Crackdown That Should Outrage Readers

    In a shocking move that cements Amazon’s control over digital books, the tech giant is gutting Kindle book ownership even further in February 2025. If you thought you owned the Kindle books you paid for, think again. Amazon is set to eliminate the “Download & Transfer via USB” feature, a critical function for users who want to maintain local copies of their books. Instead, Amazon is forcing readers into its ecosystem, where their access to books is entirely at the company’s mercy.

    What’s Changing in February 2025?

    Amazon is making two significant anti-consumer changes:

    1. Eliminating Local Backups: Starting February 26, 2025, Kindle users will no longer be able to download books to their computer and transfer them via USB to their e-readers. This means no more offline backups, no more DRM stripping for true ownership, and no more control over the books you bought. Instead, Amazon will dictate how and when you can access your own library, requiring Wi-Fi for all transfers.
    2. Killing Kindle Vella: The company is also shutting down its Kindle Vella platform, its failed attempt at serialized storytelling. While this affects a smaller group of readers and writers, it highlights Amazon’s lack of commitment to platforms that don’t immediately serve its bottom line.

    How to Download and Backup Kindle Books Before the Change

    If you want to preserve your access to your Kindle books before Amazon removes the download feature, follow these steps:

    1. Go to Your Amazon Content Library: Log in to your Amazon account and navigate to “Manage Your Content and Devices.”
    2. Select the Books You Want to Keep: Find the Kindle books you have purchased and select them.
    3. Download to Your Computer: Click the “Download & Transfer via USB” option. Choose your registered Kindle device to initiate the download.
    4. Save Files Securely: Store the downloaded files in a secure location on your computer or external storage.
    5. Strip DRM (If Needed): Use DRM removal tools like Calibre with the appropriate plugins to ensure you have full access to your books even if Amazon revokes them.
    6. Transfer to Alternative Devices: Convert and move the files to open-source e-readers like Kobo or Onyx Boox to maintain long-term control.

    Why This Matters: You Don’t Own Your Kindle Books

    This move reinforces the ugly truth about Kindle purchases: you’re not buying books—you’re renting them under Amazon’s terms. If Amazon ever decides to revoke access, change its DRM policies, or shut down a service, your entire digital library is at risk. And now, by removing USB transfers, Amazon is ensuring that no reader can create an independent archive of their books.

    The Dangers of Amazon’s Control Over Digital Books

    • No Offline Backups: Without USB transfer, if Amazon removes a book from your library (which it has done before), there’s no way to keep a local copy.
    • DRM Lock-in: Digital Rights Management (DRM) already prevents users from freely transferring books between devices. Now, without USB transfers, removing DRM for fair-use purposes will become even harder.
    • Amazon’s Kill Switch: Amazon has remotely deleted purchased books from customers’ devices in the past. With all books now dependent on Amazon’s cloud, your library could disappear overnight.
    • Monopoly Power: This move makes it even harder for readers to break free from Amazon’s walled garden. It’s a clear step toward total corporate control over digital literature.

    How Readers Can Fight Back

    1. Stop Buying Kindle Books: Support independent ebook retailers like Kobo, Smashwords, or Bookshop.org, which allow for real ownership of your purchases.
    2. Use Open Formats: Purchase books in DRM-free formats like EPUB or PDF instead of Amazon’s locked-down AZW format.
    3. Consider Alternative E-Readers: Devices like the Kobo Clara or Onyx Boox offer more flexibility and don’t tie you to Amazon’s restrictive policies.
    4. Speak Out: Public backlash has forced tech companies to reverse anti-consumer decisions before. Demand that Amazon reinstate local download options.

    Amazon’s Endgame: Total Control Over Books

    Amazon has built its Kindle empire on the illusion of ownership. With this latest move, the company is showing its hand—forcing users into a closed system where they have zero control over their books. If readers don’t push back now, the future of digital reading will be nothing more than a glorified rental service dictated by corporate greed.

    It’s time to reclaim digital book ownership before Amazon erases it entirely.

  • Naval Ravikant’s Reading Strategies

    This article was inspired by this Tweet:

    Renowned investor and thinker Naval Ravikant attributes his remarkable success to a simple yet powerful habit: reading for 1-2 hours every day. This dedication to reading has not only shaped his worldview but also contributed significantly to his professional achievements. In a recent compilation of insights, Ravikant shares 43 invaluable reading tips, offering a glimpse into the mindset that has propelled him to the forefront of success and innovation.

    1. Embrace Reading for Pleasure: Ravikant advocates for reading materials that genuinely interest you, as this nurtures a love for reading itself.
    2. Explore Controversial Literature: He encourages delving into books that face opposition or banning, suggesting these often hold significant insights.
    3. Quality over Speed: He emphasizes the importance of absorbing quality literature slowly and thoughtfully.
    4. Investing in Knowledge: Ravikant regards spending on books not as an expense but as a crucial investment.
    5. Revisiting Great Works: He advises re-reading and even re-buying books that have a lasting impact.
    6. Intelligent Reading: As one’s understanding deepens, reading becomes a slower, more thoughtful process.
    7. Depth over Brevity: Books that can be speed-read, he asserts, are likely not worth the time.
    8. Reading as a Fundamental Skill: He views reading as the ultimate skill that can open doors to endless knowledge and opportunities.
    9. Reading as a Vacation: Ravikant finds reading to be a fulfilling and peaceful way to spend one’s leisure time.
    10. Restful Reading vs. Audio Learning: He differentiates between the efficiency of reading in stillness and learning through audiobooks while in motion.

    Ravikant’s tips continue, covering a broad spectrum of advice that underscores the transformative power of reading. From advocating for self-directed learning to challenging oneself with complex texts, his insights reflect a deep appreciation for the written word and its capacity to enrich one’s life and mind. His approach to reading is not just as a pastime, but as a strategic tool for personal growth and intellectual development.

    Naval Ravikant’s reading tips are a testament to the profound impact that a dedicated reading habit can have on an individual’s success and intellectual growth. His advice spans from choosing engaging literature to viewing reading as a key investment in one’s future, offering a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge and thinking through the power of books.

  • The Life and Art of Painter Allen Sapp

    Allen Sapp (1928-2015) was a Cree painter from the Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was best known for his paintings and drawings that depicted the everyday life and traditions of the Cree people. Sapp was born in the same year as the signing of the Indian Act, which imposed many changes on Indigenous communities in Canada, including the residential school system. Sapp attended a residential school as a child and later said that the experience had a profound impact on his life and art.

    Sapp began painting in the 1960s and quickly gained recognition for his work. He was inspired by the art of the Group of Seven, a group of Canadian landscape painters, but he sought to depict the experiences and stories of his own community. Sapp’s paintings often featured scenes from his childhood, including the hardships and joys of life on the reserve. He also depicted traditional Cree stories and ceremonies, such as the Sundance and the Round Dance.

    Sapp’s work was characterized by his use of bright, bold colors and his attention to detail. He often included small, personal touches in his paintings, such as a favorite toy or a family member’s name. Sapp’s work was a powerful celebration of Cree culture and a testament to the resilience of Indigenous people.

    In addition to his paintings, Sapp was also a skilled draftsman and printmaker. He produced several series of prints, including a set of lithographs depicting traditional Cree stories. Sapp’s prints were highly sought after and are now held in collections around the world.

    Sapp received numerous accolades for his work, including the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honors. He was also the subject of several books and exhibitions, including a retrospective at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina. Sapp’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across Canada and around the world, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

    Despite his success, Sapp remained humble and dedicated to his community. He used his platform to advocate for Indigenous rights and to preserve and promote Cree culture. Sapp was a role model for many Indigenous artists and a respected elder in his community. He passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on through his art and the many people he inspired.