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I just became aware of this thread today. I just wanted thank PatColo for starting this thread three years ago, no less.
I will search through my files and see if I have any other free download book links that may be appropriate to submit here.
I wanted to suggest to some enterprising persons a new kind of business that I think might make some money.
Not only can the dumbed down general population no longer read and have even a less desire to read, but there are many people who have been avid readers all their lives who are now unable to read, for various reasons such as age, eye problems or other problems.
I personally would be happy to pay for audio books of the kinds of text book downloads that I see here in this thread.
A person once posted something converted from text to audio on Grizzom.blogspot.com. The audio was remarkably good, not the usual strange robot sounding audio that the programs often provide. I think it was done in BabbleFish. I think when using that program, one has a choice of "voices" to choose. The Grizzom post used a remarkably tolerable "voice" but I do not know the specific name of the the voice used.
This new business that I am suggesting could also allow people to pay to have a physical book sent to them on loan, then scanned into computer text, and then converted to good audio file to be purchased also by the book submitter. The audio produced could be sold to any and all interested parties / customers of the company, but the actual physical book would have to be sent back to the original customer. Anyway, some service like that.
Maybe could charge a regular monthly or yearly membership fee for the right to purchase these audio books that are made for sale by this company, as well as for the right to arrange for individual customized audio books prepared as described in last paragraph.
I have an eye condition that is undiagnosable and incurable, and it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to read. There are many many other people like me who would be potential paying customers of the suggested company. The world of ideas and knowledge and books is a big part of my life and I would love to read the books listed in this thread as well as some of the new ones I have purchased but cannot read.
Audio books of the kind listed in this thread and provided by very good, non-robot, sounding voice.
Even good human voice actually recording a book might be something providable too. For a human to be hired to read a book, you need probably a male deeper voice of someone who is a good reader who does not stumble and is able to put the emphasis on the correct words while reading. You also need someone who pronounces words correctly and can even make a good stab at correct pronunciation of foreign language phrases and names.
Does anyone think this is a good idea that could really make some money?
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Originally Posted by Dachsie
I cringe to think of how long it's been since I've read a real book, cover to cover! I rather like articles which make their point in a succinct way; book reviews; podcast interviews with authors; and even the amazon reader reviews of "real books", which can leave you remarkably conversant about a book, which you've never read! 
