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My father has always been a tech-geek, fanatical about researching the latest technology, staying on top of the best trends in electronics and gadgets and I've always made fun of him for it. He was a Blackberry user before it became trendy and ubiquitous. But my father has also always been a big reader. I grew up in a house full of books which was not only mentally stimulating but fundamental to my current love for reading. When I visited home in September my dad was raving about the Kindle, his new favorite toy. I was quite disappointed in his latest obsession because in purchasing and downloading books at $9.99 he is thereby contributing to the extinction of a perfectly adequate 500-year-old technology. He talked of practicality, ease of use, portability and, the word that defines our culture the most today, convenience.
With the launch of the Ipad and the litany of feminine hygiene jokes that it fostered, the demise of traditional publishing and reading is likely to get pushed into overdrive. Imperiled authors will receive little to no royalties for e-versions of their work and the culture of reading will change forever. Reading a kindle or an ipad in the tub just doesn't conjure up the same image as the tactile version.
Part of my memories of my pre-France life involve hours upon hours spent sifting through the aisles of a bookstore, reading my favorite titles until my parents practically dragged me to the car. As was the case with independent coffee houses who were put out of business by the corporatization of convenience, the independent bookstores will continue to suffer a similar fate.
A couple of weeks ago I went to an independent book shop across the street from my apartment and bought a new book for 23€. Yes, I could have found it for significantly cheaper on amazon, but I'd rather do my part to keep these quaint book shops in business. Proponents of ebooks argue that reading is about content and not the tangible object but for me the joy of reading is absolutely about the pleasure of holding the book in my hands, turning the crisp pages or, in the case of an old book, the worn pages with that wonderful antique smell that reminds me of my grandfather's home, that can never be replaced by a piece of glossy, sexy machinery.
While I do agree that reading in any form is what matters most in the end, I will not partake in the e-book culture that is rapidly developing. Slow down, read more! "Save the Shop Around the Corner and you will save your soul".
What about you? Will the Kindle, Nook and Ipad replace the tried-and-true, old fashioned book? How is your experience with books conditioned by their form?
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Comments
02.09.10
I have to say I absolutely love the idea of ebooks. I love the idea of being able to get a book right NOW. I love the idea of being able to carry a lot of books all at once. I like the idea of having a smaller device that takes up less space than most books, and I don't have to prop the pages open. And I'm excited about the possibility of new capabilities of ebooks, like making annotations, cross referencing, and online dictionaries. Unfortunately, I'm also cheap, and can't stomach paying hundres of dollars for an ebook device.
My attachment to physical books is more about keeping them as 'trophies' to place on my bookshelf. So I'm not sure how this need will survive the move to ebooks. However, I've never had this fetish of the 'feel and smell' of paper books. I've never, ever, smelled a book. Do people really do that?
For me, it's all about the story.
02.09.10
Reading this reminded me of something I read on Seth Godin's blog not long ago...
"Who will save book publishing?
What will save the newspapers?
What means 'save'?
If by save you mean, "what will keep things just as they are?" then the answer is nothing will. It's over.
If by save you mean, "who will keep the jobs of the pressmen and the delivery guys and the squadrons of accountants and box makers and transshippers and bookstore buyers and assistant editors and coffee boys," then the answer is still nothing will. Not the Kindle, not the iPad, not an act of Congress.
We need to get past this idea of saving, because the status quo is leaving the building, and quickly. Not just in print of course, but in your industry too.
If you want to know who will save the joy of reading something funny, or the leverage of acting on fresh news or the importance of allowing yourself to be changed by something in a book, then don't worry. It doesn't need saving. In fact, this is the moment when we can figure out how to increase those benefits by a factor of ten, precisely because we don't have to spend a lot of resources on the saving part.
Every revolution destroys the average middle first and most savagely."
02.09.10
The digital publishing industry still has some ways to go before it's truly available to the masses, in my opinion, but it's certainly making large strides. Like Scott, I'm really excited about having a book now, especially when it costs less than it would cost if in print. I can buy two or three ebooks for the price of one print book. I _love_ that. Because I can buy more ebooks, I'm more willing to try new authors (if I like their work, great - if I don't, well, I'm only out a few dollars).
Now, that said, I also love print books - I like the feel/weight/smell (especially if it's a book I've been waiting a long time to get), being able to lend them to friends (DRM free, baby), etc. I don't think print books are going to truly go the way of the Betamax or mixed tapes, especially when it comes to certain reader audiences (ie - those with small disposable income are less likely to run out and buy a dedicated ereader).
It's still all so new and there's a lot of room for ebooks/epublishing industry to make a stance. I'm definitely excited to see how reader-tech develops.
02.10.10
Scott, I'm an example of someone who loves the smell of new and old books! For me that IS part of the experience of reading and is somewhat just as important as the story itself.
Thanks for your comment!
02.10.10
Russel - the only way to save something you love is by refusing to partake in the new technology that tries to replace it. Until books are COMPLETELY wiped out by ebook technology, I will stick with traditional reading. As for newspapers, I don't expect the medium to be saved, the signs are all pointing to dissolution.
02.10.10
Oh! The intoxicating smell of a book!! More so when it is an old book!!!
02.10.10
I have far too many books. and I also don 't have a blackberry. This should say something about how I feel in regards to technology.
I think I take heart in the fact that everything has a built-in obsolescence when it comes to technology. When our printers stop working, we're relegated to taking notes. When we have a blackberry fail, we have to use those old daybooks. When messenger suddenly goes down, we have to (oh gosh!) pick up the phone.
I think there will always be room for books. I also am a total supporter of book shops, big and small, and I know, they'll always be getting my business :)
Thanks for the fab post!
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