Technology replacing books.
Fun and light read: one of my favorite post-apocalyptic books, The Gypsy Morph by Terry Brooks.
Can you imagine if all schools and libraries replaced their books with a digital archive (a “book-free library“)? What if a visit to a bookstore meant standing in front of a computer, browsing through titles and downloading them into your Kindle? What if bookstores won’t even exist anymore because all you’d have to do is download an e-book from your computer?
I don’t think books will ever disappear from the world but doesn’t the thought of it make you sad?
In Terry Brooks’ The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy, [Spoiler Alert!] they are searching for a relic of the old world (Shannara is magic-filled, fantasy world that was created after the our current earth and it’s people died from an apocalyptic event), only to find out that this relic is a huge compound full of discs filled with past human history and scientific discoveries BUT they can’t access it because they don’t understand nor have the technology to read the “discs.” What an oversight from a world that was so far in terms of technological advances, huh? [/Spoiler] Now imagine if all of our information were stored digitally… what happens when technology ceases to work? Everything would be lost.
You can increase information-sharing and save tons of space and money by going digital but the experience of reading a book just wouldn’t be same and would completely loose it’s essence. The touch of a book, the smell of the pages and even the occasional smudge of ink is all part of the experience. Walking in a bookstore, being surrounded by books and spending hours browsing the shelves is fun and therapeutic but where’s the fun in standing in front of a computer or reading The Pillars of the Earth
Real book-lovers like myself will never go digital because there is nothing like the touch of an actual book or seeing those spines lined up beautifully on your bookshelves.
Well unless they are 948430lbs textbooks… then I’ll reconsider.
KATY:
Real book lovers?
Well in my case, I considered going digital to conserve space as well as paper. I still consider myself a real book lover.
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Katy
September 11th, 2009 |
I think you’re a real “story” lover… as for me, I love my actual books (and my stories of course). Same thing.
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I read books to get away from the internet and TV, to rest my eyes from the flickering screen. I read them when I travel and need something that can get damaged without costing me the world.
I’m not a big book reader, but with people like me around combined with all of the true book lovers books will never disappear. They might become more scarce, like CDs or records before them, but they wont disappear.
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I can’t stand reading books digitally. It hurts my eyes, and we rely so much on electricity! My book collection is overflowing my bookshelves, but it’s so much cooler than just having a kindle laying around.
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You don’t know how many times I think similar thoughts throughout the day. Everything seems to be all digital. While it is an easy and quick way to share information, there’s nothing as permanent as a printed book. I don’t know how I’d ever live without holding a book in my hands and being able to read it without having to rely on electricity or the internet.
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NEVER!! I won’t live in that world! I hate reading ebooks because it really hurts my eyes to stare at a comp for so long. And I love the joy of opening a newly bought book!
Sighs… Wow thanks for sharing that book! Really is interesting! 
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Although I could see this applied into the future, I prefer hold and feel my books. I’m pretty much not too focused reading things online especially if it’s so long, like stories in the book.
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I also prefer holding the real thing… it’s weird how many things are already intangible, I can’t imagine a world without books!!!!
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I was actually thinking of getting a kindle, yes reading the actual book is always better but the kindle saves treees! LOL
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Katy
September 12th, 2009 |
I’m not ready to sacrifice my books for the environment! There are other ways of saving trees and helping the enviroment and I don’t use much paper anyway as much as others people (everything I do already is already digital) so I don’t think I’ll ever feel bad about buying books.
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As many others, I can’t stand reading digital books. I prefer the real deal!
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It is sad!! I love my books and I love going to the book store and roaming around!! I can spend hours in the book store!!! I have a kindle but I prefer a book
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I think when you taking away the flipping and feeling the texture of pages and replace them with scrolling a LCD pixelated screen, the experience dwindles by half.
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I prefer real books, but I can see having a Kindle or something being convenient for traveling, or even for students with a pile of textbooks maybe? Those things are killer weight. Even so – I enjoy having all my old architectural texts on a shelf. They are very impressive looking books.
Did you hear they are closing down all of Philadelphia’s public libraries due to lack of funding? That’s really sad…
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Katy
September 14th, 2009 |
I googled it right after reading your comment this morning. It is sooo sad! I wonder where the city’s priorities lie? Closing libraries aren’t going to help educate kids or people who don’t have enough money to buy reading materials.
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I work in a book store that actually sells the Sony E-book reader. People occasionally come in and gawk over it. I, even though I should be the best sales person here, tell them it’s not worth it. One, it’s way too expensive, and two.. having the book in your hand while enjoying a story is so much better!
It is quite scary to think that some day libraries may become digital. I pray it never does. I’m like you.. I enjoy the feel of a book in my hands. The smell, the texture, turning each page in anticipation! Good thing I have quite a collection of books.. just in case they become extinct one day.
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Katy
September 14th, 2009 |
That’s another thing about eBooks… they cost almost the same as a regular book! Why would I pay that much if I can’t get the real thing in my hands? What I lose the downloaded file or I forget to back it up while reformatting my computer? That’s $10 wasted.
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I keep going back and forth on this issue. I love the feeling of getting a book and flipping through it and there are some books that I still own just because their covers are so pretty. But at the same time, not having to move a ton of books everytime I move and not having to buy extra shelves is REALLY nice.
I’d jump on the ebooks bandwagon if buying an ebook means I actually OWN one, and if the e-format is significantly cheaper than the dead-tree format. Right now, most best-sellers come in a regular book price, and only $1-2 for an ebook format. Not much of a discount, IMO.
I’d love it if buying a physical book somehow unlocks the e-book version so I can dowload it for free. That way, people who buy books can still buy them, but not have to carry 5 books around with them.
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Katy
September 16th, 2009 |
“I’d love it if buying a physical book somehow unlocks the e-book version so I can dowload it for free.”
That’s a great idea! I would always buy a hardcopy of the book just so it can sit on the shelves and I can say I own it but it would definitely be convenient for travel. Not sure if I would read an eBook though because it’s so hard reading from a screen but it’s still a reassuring thing to have.
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I truly hate the thought of technology replacing books. It’s just so… unorthodox and it reminds me of the book I was reading titled “Amusing Ourselves to Death” by Neil Postman. It talks about how television has replaced our public discourse and how we as a society rely on being entertained and amused.
I really would not be a fan of e-books because I find it even more distracting. I’d rather have a book in my hand to read rather than use the computer screen.
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Using a reader definitely saves paper which is a bonus.
As an aspiring writer though, I can see why it costs the same to buy the Ebook. The author of a story only makes about $1.50 -$2.00 off the sale of a standard paperback novel, sometimes less. Now granted you cut out the publishing process, but the book still has to see an editor, digital typesetter, etc., and everyone is out to make their money off that Author’s work. If you reduce the price too much, the author is the one that suffers in the end. Agents, editors, publishing house, etc., will all take their share and leave the little bit left in the end to the person that actually wrote it.
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I have a beat-up copy of “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” that has crossed more countries and hands than I’m comfortable acknowledging (I got it from a friend who visited me who got it from another friend in Peru). I of course plan on passing it on soon. Sounds cheesy but it gives you a warm feeling just holding that book in your hands — one of those things digital copies won’t ever be able to replicate.
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hey lady! i love this post. i just got back into reading becuz of the damn twilight series (dont hate me for that comment) but am getting into other books as well. i havent got into any digital booking yet and dont plan on it for a lil while. i find it difficult to read on a “screen” for the usual complaint – it hurts my eyes.
i have great memories of books as i was THAT girl in grade/mid/high school that participated in summer reading programs. but i stopped readin’ for leisurely purposes once i hit college. boo. i can definitely relate to the smell of a book and the memory of “time” when i think or pick up a book. the best part is having physical evidence that i read something. ima have a the biggest bookcase eva when i get a house.
i hope u are well! u look great as usual! xo!
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Katy
September 16th, 2009 |
That’s okay.. I don’t hate on anyone who reads Twilight even though I voice my opinions about the actual book a lot. Books that get people into reading no matter the genre or quality is a good thing!!
I use to be the “top reader” in my elementary school classes because we had to keep reading logs and mine always had the most books. It was so geeky but I was so proud of myself. LOL. I grew up always loving reading and use to spend half my time at the library because my mom and sister loved books too. I stopped reading for a bit especially late in high school and art school too but now that I’m done, I have A LOT more time for it.
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I can see where you’re coming from. I love taking my book with me places. I’ll usually read at the gym, so having an actual book is nice and I can tuck it in the little book space on the elliptical, and stick it in my bag.
The only e-book I’m fond of is textbooks, and that’s just because it’s cheaper and I won’t need it after the semester.
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so not totally related to books/technology/e-books but it IS related to books/reading.
I finally got the black Billy bookcase from ikea!!! Boyfriend put it together for me and I’m still organizing my books out of their boxes but hopefully it will look nice after I rearrange everything. haha.
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Katy
September 16th, 2009 |
Yay! Make sure to secure the back board to the shelf because I didn’t do that at first and the weight of my shelves basically pushed out the sides of my bookcase and all my books fell down. I was sooo scared but luckily none of my books were damaged.
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If books ceased to exist, that will be a tragedy. I love the smell of the pages of a new book. It’s a wonderful feeling to flip through the pages of a novel, a history book, a reference book. I don’t think navigating the pages of a book on a computer can replace that feeling.
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hey, what happened to your entries lately? they are so boring lately, you used to have very entertaining subjects and posts but now they’re short and just…not very interesting. sorry didn’t mean to be mean about it but i used to look forward to your entries ..and now i guess i would say i’m disappointed.
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Katy
September 16th, 2009 |
Sorry, but this is a personal blog and hits aren’t my biggest concern… besides I don’t make a living off this blog so I write whenever I’m not busy. I blog about a wide range of categories that interest me and I know they obviously don’t interest everyone but I don’t force anyone to read anything. I write for myself before I write for readers… blogging isn’t fun when you’re writing for someone else. Sorry to disappoint you.
AND K-Pop (and other stuff) has taken over my life once again so I haven’t been blogging as much I use to. Maybe I’ll start again when I find time.
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Great post! It’s a very sad and scary thought to think about. I agree these eBooks, Kindles, PDF books etc…that people purchase and download are disposable pieces of text…which is not how beautiful pieces of literature should be handled.
I tried to read an eBook online and it hurt my eyes…lmao so I gave up and bought the books. Which was so much better.
I hope it doesn’t come to this.
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uugh I hate reading e-books. Reading is a pleasure but not in front of my laptop. I have nothing against technology (I almost worship the internet^^) but books are not meant to be digital.
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