Book Hide

Описание: BOOK HIDE.

Long ago, before alarms beeped and cameras blinked, people hid their valuables in clever places. Times changes, but people and their worries don’t. Folks routinely try to hide small or important objects like a bundle of cash in common household spots such as under mattresses, in sock drawers, or behind picture frames, but also, in such clever decoys as fake food cans, false electrical outlets, inside kitchen gizmos, or in baggies stapled or taped under drawers. Other popular, though riskier, locations include behind loose bricks, in the toilet reservoir tank, stuck in air vents, or behind flat art.

For all that of the smartest and most convenient hiding spots is right on the bookshelf. A hollow book looks boring, dusty, and very unexciting—which is perfect. Thieves usually skip boring things. If a hiding place makes someone yawn, it is doing a great job.

The first step toward making a hollow book is choosing the right book. A big, thick book is good, so there is plenty of space inside for the “hide.” Some say the book should not be valuable or useful. Do not choose a rare first edition, a family Bible, or your favorite story. The less anyone wants it, the better it is for this project. But a popular book is more believable to have around, so that helps “hiding in plain sight.” Some say a good choice is an old textbook, like outdated math, law, or computer manuals. Another great option is a giant dictionary or an encyclopedia from the year when people still used floppy disks. These books are heavy, serious, and about as exciting as watching paint dry—perfect for hiding stuff when you finish.

Once you have your book, open it near the middle. The cover and the first few pages should stay whole, so the book still looks normal. Use a pencil to draw a rectangle on the page. This rectangle shows where the hollow will be. Make sure to leave a thick border around the edges so the book stays strong. A flimsy hiding book is just a sad stack of paper. Now comes the slicing – the tool is likely sharp, so be attentive handling it.

Carefully cut along the pencil lines and remove the paper inside, page by page. This part takes patience. If you rush, the pages can tear, and your book will look like it lost a fight with a wild animal. Slow cutting makes neat edges and keeps the book looking real. I found even being slow and careful, I could not be very neat! After cutting enough pages, you will have a hollow space inside the book. When the hollow is deep enough, smooth the inside edges.

Some people glue the cut pages together so the hollow stays firm – I think this is a good idea, and it’s easier than cutting the pages! Let the glue dry completely before closing the book or put wax paper under the cover, then a few books on top to press it down. When finished, place it back on the shelf. It should look just like all the others.

That is the magic of a hollow book. It hides in plain sight, obvious yet not obvious. If someone flips through your shelf, they will probably skip the huge, boring textbook titled Advanced Tax Rules, Volume 3. Even thieves have limits. Thus, the potential downside of using a book believably on your shelf.

This hiding place also teaches an important lesson: old things can be useful again. Instead of throwing away a worn-out book that no one reads, you give it a new job. It becomes a guard for your valuables. Not bad for something people once used as a doorstop.

In the end, a hollow book is simple, clever, and sneaky in a quiet way. It proves that the best hiding spots are often the ones hiding right in front of us—especially if they look boring enough to put someone to sleep.

DOCTOR LEISURE: Brooms & Hammers, LLC. 107 South Drive, #126, Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71457. Jon Griffin “Dr. Leisure” Donlon enjoys and/or has studied leisure in many of its varied forms, but especially the more controversial sorts. He is a practicing artist working in drawing, painting, and photography, a published writer, and life-long boulevardier.

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