Real paper books: Is it time to cut our darlings?
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For a few years now, I have been a book publicist. When the first Amazon Kindle came out, all of us in the book industry - including author Nick Hornby - chuckled and said to ourselves: "An electronic reading device! Well, that's cute. Faddish. Real readers, though, like real books."
However, just like the iPhone, it didn't take long for the Kindle to gain competitors. A story in the Chicago Tribune compared the Kindle to its latest edition, the Kindle 2, along with Barnes & Noble's Nook and the soon-to-be-unveiled Sony Reader Daily Edition. One of them can talk to you, by turning text into audible speech.
Now, there's no denying that the latest generation of e-readers have cool features. And it is handy indeed to consolidate all of your reading material - books, blogs, this very website - into one portable device. There's the obvious green advantage e-readers present, too, with less paper usage by its owners.
About a year ago, I remember walking into the storage facility of my publicity firm. Faced with towers of books, some that had been sitting there for years and awaiting eventual recycling, I had a writing-on-the-wall moment. This won't happen for much longer, I thought. Why should it? Like music did a little over 10 years ago, books are going digital. And it is cheaper, greener, and easier to email media contacts a link to books online, rather than mail bulky packages. One book editor friend of mine at a Texas news daily receives over 200 books a week - the grand majority of which have to be disposed.
But. (You knew a 'but' was coming). As a reader, not a publicist, I am still attached to books.
In bed, on the bus, or in a hammock, I like to curl up with one book, not 50 digital novels and/or news sources all simultaneously vying for my attention. We are too multi-tasked a culture as it is, and my focus on a rich plot would all but evaporate should I cram my hands with even more virtual reading material.
"But it's greener!" you say. And you, my friend, are correct. Also, Amazon recently announced an electronic recycling program for its Kindle. So my old school book lovers and I don't even have tech waste as an excuse.
I'd love to hear from Planet Green readers on this issue. I'd love, more than anything, to be able to embrace an e-reader without reservations. Have you made the switch to e-readers? Do you love it? Or do you miss your books? Weigh in by leaving a comment below.
Read more about e-books and e-readers here:
Get Your Reading Fix for Free with e-Books
Kindle Outsells Everything on Amazon
Green Your Media: Download Your Books and Magazines
