I’ve been told that e-Readers remain a tiny portion of overall book sales, BUT are the fastest growing segment of book sales. Now the New York Times notes Great Expectations (pun intended) for holiday sales this coming month.
What do you think?
- Do you own an e-Reader (Kindle, Nook, iPad?)
- Do e-Readers represent the end of the world as we know it? Are they a sign of the apocalypse?
- Do you think e-Readers will replace, or at least make a major dent in, traditional book purchasing habits?
- Do you plan to give one as a gift any time soon?
As a published author, I’m fascinated by this growing segment of the book business. I don’t have one. Not sure if/when I will. I look forward to your thoughts.
I've been reading e-books religiously for about ten years now. I've never owned a dedicated e-reader, though: I read on a PDA or a phone or a tablet.
(Yes, Tom, you may remember that I had a Palm device with me back when we took the journey. It was loaded with novels, books on slavery and the slave trade, and even my own notes.)
For that matter, almost every time I return to "Inheriting the Trade," it's an electronic version I'm reading. It doesn't occur to me to grab a printed copy, which is usually within arm's reach.
I think the idea that the e-book represents the decline of western civilization makes about as much sense as suggesting that the advent of the printed book did. Scrolls, printed books, e-books, it's all the same: the pros and cons of each medium may be important, but the key is increasingly convenient access to written information.
I do see e-books becoming a significant share of the market for books. More and more people have a mobile computing device suitable for e-books, and while some people may never take to them, anyone can and a high proportion of each new generation will think it natural.
I tend to think you're right, James. And I also know that, for me, nothing will replace the feel of a hardcover book in my hands… ;o)