This blog is going to focus on two main topics:
1. What are e-books, and how will they affect the traditional print book industry?
2. How has the digital age affected children’s reading skills, and reading in general?
Introduction
Nothing in recent history has solicited the emotional response that is generated from this statement: reading and books are a dying art. The oft-heard argument that the Internet is causing the death of the printed word, and is responsible for the degeneration of reading habits amongst children and young adults creates a sentimental and defensive reaction from most people. In fact, it has even become “fashionable” to defend the honour of the printed book. Do a search on the Internet for “death of the book”, and one will find passionate defenses of the longevity and everlasting endurance of the book – but will find an equal number of articles, reports, and blogs that say baloney! The book is a dying breed and we’d best be prepared for it. One writer’s blog states, “I am convinced that we are only one device away from a digital publishing tsunami (this is from an executive of a major publishing company: In fact, read Michael Hyatt's blog as well as the comments on his blog for a well-rounded and educated discussion on the future of electronic books).
In contrast is another well-educated opinion from the Administrative Dean of Information at Columbia International University (Columbia, South Carolina). He argues that from an academic point of view, nothing yet replaces the printed word.
In addition to electronic formats, faculty and students must still rely on a well-stocked collection of paper books and periodicals for adequate access to thorough, balanced, credible, in-depth and durable information.
Most arguments that you find online aren’t coming from overzealous, traditionalist bookworms nor from techno-savvy, futuristic industrialists – they are reasonable, thoughtful and intelligent musings from leaders in both the publishing and electronics industry.
This discussion question has an activity component to it! Search “death of the book” on Google. What do you find? Which “side” presents a better argument?
17 Comments:
Hi Noreen, I love the look of your blog! I searched "death of the book" and found that the first 10 hits all say books are not disappearing! As a result I found that side to much more convincing. Arlene
I also found more articles on the "not disappearing" side. Even so, I would still believe in that argument. I find that I prefer the printed page, especially after a long day at work. I find screens too bright and hard on my eyes...perhaps it's an age thing.
Carol
Arlene, Carol, and Karen,
Thanks for your comments! It seems like any new invention or change in society comes with extreme views either for or against the change. I think there will be somewhat of a revolution with e-books, but tempered with societal habits of wanting to read a book in print. As such, print books are not disappearing any time soon.
Norene.
Hi Noreen: Great blog site. Anyway, I also found most sites were poo-poohing the demise of books, but all were written by people of a certain age who learned to read using traditional books and still prefer, as Bill Gates was quoted as saying, to "read" the hard copy of anything over 5 pages. I don't think our students have that tendency and are quite happy to read online. Time will tell.
Hi Noreen,
I read Michael Hyatt's blog entry! He wrote quite a bit that is no longer considered to be science fiction as it would have been if we had read it ten years ago.
We purchased new laptops for my husband and daughter in the fall of 2005. Both insisted on going back to Apple and both also purchased ipods and that technology. This has revoluntionized our travel this trip in what we can listen to on the road.
When I read Hyatt's list of 'future' technologies none of them surprized me. I just need to re-read them and decided what will be afforadable to sustain in a library budget.
Muriel
Part of an article at http://futureofbooks.blogspot.com
discussed Stephen King's experiences with marketing ebooks - it was interesting and suggested that electronic forms may not be as successful as initially predicted.
Shannon
In one of the first ten hits that came up for "death of the book", an article stated that science texts were made available on line 3 months before the printed version. The sales were surprisingly high once the printed version came out. Now that's interesting and says a great deal about humans. We like our possessions! Tangile books included it seems! Somehow a collection of e-books does not have the same appeal.
RoseAnn
Most of the articles I read began by emphasizing how difficult it is to predict the future. That was the most convincing argument of all!
M. Hyatt is convincing in pointing out that one new device could change the whole discussion. But I found his comparison to the i-pod rather weak. Portable listening has a long history beginning with the transistor radio. The i-pod is just really another format in that chain. Reading is quite a different phenomenon because it requires a different level of engagement than listening - you can't really do it while doing something else. Yes I know, many of you will object that you read and watch TV at the same time, but I think you actually go back and forth, not do them simultaneously like running and listening to music at the same time.
Although M. Hyatt described a rather appealing 'e-book device', I don't see the advantage for extended works. Who needs more than one novel with them at once? (unless perhaps you're on vacation) It would be good for essays or poetry or short stories perhaps.
I found D. Marsh at Marshill Review most convincing when he suggested that it is likely to become more of a "both-and" scenario, like the auto and airplane, with print books and e-books both likely to have their own niche in the market.
One thing I hadn't thought about was the area of academic publishing, so I found R. Darnton at NY Review of Books quite interesting in his statistics and analysis of that area. It seems that cost and limited markets are really driving a move to e-books there.
Once again, I'm long-winded,
Marilyn
Doing a search on "death of the books" gave unexpected amount of hits. But despite people's facts and opinions, I still don't see the traditional book disappearing anytime soon. In fact, I believe they can always coexist to serve readers with different reading taste.
Peter
I too was suprised with the amount of information on this subject. Most of the article are on the not dying side. I don't think the book will die because people still want a the whole experience of holding a book, turning pages, smelling paper and ink; it's not just reading. Judy
I agree with Judy that reading is more than just absorbing information. It is about the tactile experience of the printed book. I feel that this is especially important for recreational reading. I envision the soft glow of the lamp on a page, not the harsh light of the computer screen.
With or without the articles, there is little evidence that ebooks are going to replace to the printed word any time soon. You know I've never even seen an e-book, much less someone reading one? There is something about the printed format that is comforting and stable to us, and no where have I seen e-books replacing them.
Amanda
I don't think there will be "death of the book", but I do think publishing industry will be shifting toward more e-book publishing.
Personally I read e-books because I always sits infront of the computer and if I have extra money to buy a PDA, then I'll upload all my e-books there, so I can read it anywhere I like. :)
-Any. ^-^
Hi Norene,
After searching "death of the book" in Google, I found an equal mix of sites for and against the said subject. To me, it seemed like the people who felt that the death of the book was inevitable were people who felt that technology is a machine that cannot be stopped. However, the argument against the death of the book tends to revolve around the idea that you cannot replace the reading archetype with a computer screen.
Now, in my opinion, I would say that both arguments were weak and did not talk about whether or not we should introduce e-books to children. Really, can anyone see the future where we sit our children down and bring out some type of computer so that they can read before they go to sleep. Maybe... however, a child being exposed to a computer screen at a very young age poses questions about the development of their eyes. (For me, I started wearing glasses after writing a long paper on the solar system when I was in Grade 8)
In the end, all I have is a statement to this discussion question and that is.... I don't like reading computer screens because its hard on my eyes. This is all I know.
Hi Noreen,
I was quite surprised with the 16,600 hits I found when searching "death of the book". I was able to find information on both sides and truly believe that the book will never die. How can it? We are such a material society and how can you show off e-books?
Also,I brought this up with my daughter Celine who is 15 and she just looked at me with a strange expression. She could not picture not having books around. She asked, what about text books? She further went on to say that she would be hooked on pain medication because she gets sore eyes and headaches from being on the computer too long. I find the same thing with me when working on the computer for long periods of time, it is just not worth it.
Do we really want this for our children?
I just cannot picture being wrapped up in a blanket on the couch reading off the computer. It just does not have the same effect and feeling of holding a book. You lose the feeling of the warmth, depth, and texture a book has.
I also believe that we can have both traditional books and e-books - that is something we cannot stop. As technology progresses, so do different formats. The example of the IPod I found was off base because the music industry has been changing formats for many years and the IPod is just another part of its evolution.
Yes, the book has also undergone many formats since its inception; however, it also has stayed as an object for people to handle and feel. I would say that the book is here to stay!
Chantal
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