Q07131

            Death of the printed book?

Are printed books dying out, is the age of written text over. With all this new technology being brought in it seems that, yes printed books are dying out. Althoughwith the introduction of the e-book and also now being able to read books on iPads the book still strives on.

However books are not the same as they used to be. Back in 2008 book publication was up 38% from 2007 which was also up 38% from 2006, but in 2010 book publication was down 10% from 2009. With more and more people choosing technological route for reading instead of the old fashioned way. It seems that it will only be a matter of time before the printed book has died out completely.

With the introduction of the e-book (an electronic book where you are able to download books) more and more people are getting hooked up on electronics rather than read a book. Statistics say that by 2014 the e-book will be 13% of US books sales and 6 percent by the end of 2011. This proves that people would rather read an electronic book than a printed book, why? What’s the difference between an electronic book and a printed book? The difference is that printed books have been around a very long time and electronics are new and exciting. If you were to take an old classic novel and an exact copy of that same novel except on an ipad or an e-book and walked around town asking teenagers which one they would rather read and why at least 75% of people you ask will say the e-book or the ipad because it is more appealing to them as it is an electronic. Most teenagers seem to be hooked on electronics.

All this new technology that is, or will soon be available seems to be taking over the world. Books are now being replaced by electronics. These days children and teenagers are spoiled by electronics. One in threechildren and teenagers have either a playstation,1,2 or 3 x-box, x-box 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP or an iPad. Not many books these days are sold to teenagers because they are not interested in them. Most teenagers will not have even heard about the classic books like the “Wind in the Willows”, “Moby Dick” or “Tom Sawyer”. Books are a place where people after a hard day at work or school can sit down and relax and get lost. Unfortunately Playstation X-Box computers and Nintendo are developing in the same way. This is clear by the way teenagers moan about having to read.

In conclusion it seems that because teenagers are very reluctant to read and this is harming the publication of printed books. It seems that it will only be a matter of time before electronic books are the future of reading and that all printed books will be heading for the museum.