Are books dead, dying or neither?
When discussing the stubborn demise of newspapers, the same argument is always brought to me.
After a certain generation passes – the Baby Boomers, the over-40 crowd – the era of waking up in the morning, grabbing a coffee and paper will be gone. Anyone younger than that hasn’t been conditioned to read the physical newspaper; they don’t seek that tactile feedback each day that was common to your fathers and mine.
In theory, the same thinking goes for books, which appear headed for the same fate thanks to iPads and e-readers. But as newspapers have shown resilience, are books dead just yet?
The basis for this story, of course, comes from an eye-opening report last week. According to Amazon, e-books outsold traditional paper copies for the first time ever in April, only four years after anyone first heard the word “Kindle.”
“We had high hopes that this would happen eventually, but we never imagined it would happen this quickly,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said. The online retailer noted that, in the U.S. last month, it sold 105 Kindle e-books for every 100 print books to readers.
The Kindle hurts traditional print books – yeah, the iPad does, too – but since the news of Amazon’s numbers, there has been finger-pointing of many kinds toward the entire book biz.
Forbes, for one, says a flawed business model is to blame: the industry, it’s said, has a backwards approach to publishing.
“The books that publishers choose are almost entirely of zero interest to actual book-buyers,” the site’s Raquel Laneri writes, suggesting after-the-fact texts about 9/11 or the Iraq War don’t sell all that well when the Internet provides enough free info for all.
“In no other industry do producers actually wait passively to see what products are suggested to them, instead of doing market research to see what people really want to buy. Yet publishers seldom generate book ideas; instead they wait for literary agents to submit proposals.”
Yes, consumers are a fickle bunch – just look: 3-D is old news already – but it’d be amazing to see e-readers actually slam the door on something like books, which have a history dating back, oh, I don’t know, 5,000 years.
Are you still reading books? Do you prefer traditional print copies or their e-reader incarnations?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
*Follow Jason on Twitter here.
Posted by: ej | May 25, 2021 6:20:24 PM
Books and newspapers are still the way to go for me. No one is allowed to touch the newspapers that come to my house, before me. Nothing like a fresh newspaper... ahhh.. The fam thinks its funny, but they know not to rile mama bear, so its hands off til i read it. I still love the library, nothing like a good book you can't put down.
Posted by: J. G. Bergeron | May 26, 2021 7:40:17 AM
Books reading 50s-60s style is quickly becoming a thing of the past...whether we agree or not. I am still struggling to understand the shift to front wheel powered vehicles.
Posted by: Ken | May 26, 2021 1:17:31 PM
So if you buy an e book in Canada is it still more expensive than an e book in the USA?
Posted by: jus'thinkin' | May 27, 2021 2:14:41 AM
Ken; To answer your question, of course. Canadians always pay more.
I still read books. I have no luck with digital products. I always know that if I have to hit the brakes for some reason, I can pick up my book from the floor, dust it off and read it again. I tried an e reader. It lasted 3 days then I dropped it. It appears you're not supposed to drop them.
Posted by: Tenacious Otter | May 27, 2021 10:44:13 AM
Although my laptop travels with me whereever I go, I still throw a couple of books in with my luggage. I travel extensively, a work thing, but even at home I still pickup printed material. My children on the other hand hardly ever pick up a book, to my dismay, even though I read to them all the time when they were children. I often try to get them to pick up a newspaper and read it, it's pretty much an exercise in futility. Glued to a computer screen seems to be their thing, I think it has something to do with being able to search specific, no page turning, and get the information their interested in. In my opinion it narrows their observations, they don't pick up those interesting little tidbits because they skipped them. Are books dying? I don't think so, but they aren't likely to be printed as extensively as they were in the past would be my guess. Does it bother me? Not at all, I never was particularly fond of turning tree's into paper. Will I continue to read them, absolutely.
Posted by: tracey | May 29, 2021 12:31:52 AM
I still love paperbacks, when i am done reading my book, i take them to work, where we have a little library going. I have 36 people i work with, and those books go thru us all. then we take them to other depts. You can't do that with a e reader can you?
Posted by: Limey2 | May 29, 2021 1:02:20 AM
Last year I took 7 (yes - that's seven) boxes of books (at least 20 books per box) to the Salvation Army used goods store, so they could be 'recycled' and provide some money for charity. I had read ALL of these books several times. How can you do that with e-books?
It's a lot easier to sit in bed with your book leaning against your knees, or resting on the pillow, or whatever your favourite position, rather than trying to look at a small screen, having problems keeping it in a just-so position so you can actually read it without glare or distortion.
You can also trade books with your friends or co-workers - something you can't do with e-books. Also, not everyone in this world can afford the luxury of a laptop etc. Some can afford one but don't want one. I don't think books will ever become 'extinct'.
Posted by: SlHara | May 29, 2021 1:37:10 AM
I never ever thought I would switch to the e-reader, but I love it! No more library fines, no more trying to find purses that fit my book, not sore backs from carrying way too many books on vacations. I also find it easier to read in bed with, which I really never thought would be the case. I think people should try them before judging, and decide what works for them. I read a TON, so the e-reader works well for me, as I don't have enough storage space for all my books. Now I only buy my absolute favorites on paperback, so I can share them with others.
Posted by: Lulu | May 29, 2021 9:49:52 AM
Like other readers, I too have carted off boxes filled with books, all of which I have read, to libraries for donation. I love reading books, however, I did NOT like having to pack 4-5 books for a two week vacation (yes, I read a minimum of 2-3 books per week) which took up valuable realestate in my carry on and checked baggage. I also did not like to have to tag along the infamous booklight, which eventually would get smashed in my luggage requiring the need to acquire a new one, so I could read in bed without disturbing my husband's sleep.
Now, I have a kindle with a case that has a built-in light (how cool is that? Gone are the days of wondering where the heck my husband placed my book light) and I ABSOLUTELY love it! I have over 1000 books on my kindle and it is a dream. I no longer have to decide which book to bring, I can just bring them all. Yeah!!! Gone are the days of figuring out what I need to sacrifice in clothes or accessories so I can fit my books in my luggage weight allotment. Gone are the days of wondering where to store books after I have read them - a closet is only so big. Gone are the days of paying WAAAYYY more than I should for a paperback book.
I do value Reference books in print copy, but mindless reading that is purely for entertainment, and inspirational books are so much easier to handle on an ereader.
Posted by: whit | May 29, 2021 9:54:59 AM
books will never be the past for children. nothing beats reading a night time story to children. imagine holding an interactive story with a screen for kids at night? they'd never get to sleep
Posted by: Pebble | May 29, 2021 10:10:44 AM
It's difficult to read things on an e-reader for me. It's impersonal and stimulus-free -- everything just looks the same when I try to read something on those things. I think I'll continue to stay faithful to our paper friends.
Posted by: Dave | May 29, 2021 10:13:56 AM
If you drop a book, all you have to do is pick it back up. If you drop ereader...
Posted by: josie | May 29, 2021 10:58:59 AM
poolside or at the beach - you can leave your book on your lounge chair or towel and it will be waiting when you come back. leave an ereader....
Posted by: Anne | May 29, 2021 11:12:12 AM
I have read books all my life, and have many boxes to show for it! What I hope to see is that my daughter going to college can get her books in epub or pdf format....Once it is purchased and downloaded, she can put it on anything now....ereader, Playbook, iPod or iPhone, or all of the above! I gifted my Mum a Sony for Mothers Day, her a forty year DoubleDay book club member, but she has developed a severe allergy to ink and books so the ereader is a blessing! In Canada, the kobo newspaper and magazines are not available, but I hope it comes. I am reading books on my Playbook every day at work, and love it! The ereading phenomena is environmentally and economically friendly, weighs less than a pound, and I easily bookmark and highlight the pages that are relevant. I, for one, welcome this technological advance (PS I am over 40, by the way!)
Posted by: Carrie | May 29, 2021 11:29:57 AM
I like having the option of both the e-reader and a book. I like the e-reader while I am traveling on the train to get to work. But the book works best when camping.
Posted by: Red | May 29, 2021 11:46:04 AM
When the zombie apocalypse happens...and all the power goes out...I'll still have my books...but you guys won't be able to recharge your ereader.
Posted by: Shawn | May 29, 2021 12:05:08 PM
All my business readings (newspapers and magazines) are in e-format. However, for bedtime reading or downtime, nothing beats the feel of the paper when turning the pages of a paperback or newspaper.
Posted by: andrea | May 29, 2021 12:42:17 PM
ebooks can be convenient. However, never had my real book be unreadable because of the sunshine, scratched a page while reading at the beach, oops dropped it in the tub while soaking, good thing it dries easily.
The TV will destroy the movie industry, movies will destroy the stage, VHS will kill theatres...TV will destroy radios. ebooks will become a market, but not destroy print.
Does amazon's figures really state the truth, or only that for amazon ebooks outsell their paper books. I live in a small town with 3 bookstores, all doing well. Maybe in the big world ebooks aren't all that hot. The early adopters don't always survive.
And no ereader will ever replace a book in bed. Fall asleep with the book on your chest, slips to the floor and in the morning you step on it. Goodbye ereader.
Posted by: MizKel | May 29, 2021 12:57:10 PM
Not everyone has an Ipad or an E reader. I'm one of them. I am of the just over 40 crowd and getting increasingly frustrated seeing so many things dying out in front of me. I will always treasure sitting in a comfy armchair underneath some dim lighting, wrapped in a throw, reading a book. A REAL book. One the requires me to turn the pages. Tactile is in. I feel that technology is making people anti-social and indifferent. It's like we're all being expected to move into a virtual world.
Posted by: Hilary | May 29, 2021 1:09:51 PM
I have an ereader and love it. It's not too heavy, I have an unlimited amount of memory for all my books, I can make notes on it and play music. I've dropped it and it survived (good workmanship Sony) and my grandaughter draws pictures on it which I can carry with me. It was a great Christmas present. I still have books but will no longer buy paperbacks due to dwindling natural resources. And I've read authors that I have downloaded for free whom I would never have purchased but will now that I've been introduced. I can read a book in three hours so it's great to only carry my reader and not several books when travelling. Will I purchase books in the future? Yes, but not as many and only for special occasions and reasons (I can't see using my ereader for cooking) and there's nothing quite like a book when sharing knowledge with young people. ereaders are great for fiction and entertainment but I don't think they will replace all books on the market.