The first day of summer in New York dawned, or rather failed to dawn since the weather has been abysmal the last few months, and the family began its Saturday morning routine. Mom went to the gym, Dad got breakfast for the children and then began typing at the computer. The door bell rang, and the dogs barked wildly in a Pavlovian manner.
Dad smiled and dashed up the stairs from the basement to answer the call. He was pretty sure who it was and why they had come. Pushing the canines aside, he opened the door and took the parcel from the outstretched hand of the FedEx deliveryman. It was a white box with the delivery instructions "Do not deliver before June 21." On the side was printed "Deeper Secrets. Darker Power. Stronger Magic."
Dad called the 8-year-old down. "What do you want?" grumbled the child. "I have something for you," Dad beamed as he handed the box over to his son. A moment of wonder passed the child's face, and then, he saw the famous name on one of the panels of the box. The box never had a chance after that.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix had arrived, four months after it had been ordered on-line. The critics will have their say, and the marketing people will devise new strategies based on Ms. J.K. Rowling's success. Much will be said, little of it meaningful compared to a simple fact -- a book 890 pages long has had a printing of over 8.5 million copies. Children of all ages have been waiting to get their hands on a book, not a new record album, not a new video game, not a new movie, but a book. Ms. Rowling has convinced a new generation to read; and reading leads to thinking, which is followed by progress. Thanks.