As of August 1, 2010, the best estimate of the number of unique (as defined) books in the world is 129,864,880, according to Google Books. It is amazing that such an effort at counting was launched.
This number is very nearly the number of minutes in 247 years (247* 365.25* 24* 60). And 247 years is the span from 1763, the year the Seven Years' War ended, to 2010.
Browsing the world's books ceaselessly at the rate of one book a minute would take me from 1763 to now. However, from now on, I would be in a comfortable position since English language books are published only at the rate of one title every 1.82 minutes.
Here appear occasional jottings of my random musings. Profound or jejune, they reveal the contours of my mental universe, with world history, intellectual history, civilizations, philosophy, religion, society, knowledge, and books as some major themes. Since May 2011, this blog has been exclusively focused on Singapore. All my other reflections are now posted in "Notes from Noosphere" (see link under "Miscellany" on the right margin).
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