“A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face... one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy.”

Indeed! Indeed! But access and ability can be a problem...

A place we are slowly losing as the government expands its censorship.

Don't forget about the Internet, too! Of course, what we read and write here is logged somewhere else in case 'officials' 'need' to check to make sure we are not reading or writing something we are not 'supposed' to...

Books: good... but no, it is not the "only place" for these experiences... try one on one human interaction too...