Philosophy
Just a few years after the launch of the Kindle, old fashioned books are making a comeback as authors promote the joy of bookshelves and well thumbed pages over the e-book.
by
Louise Gray
July 21st, 2013
The Telegraph
A year ago Amazon reported its Kindle e-books were outstripping its sale of printed books.
However summer reading lists this year show that most authors prefer a proper old-fashioned book to touch screens.
Writers prefer a well stuffed book shelf to one slim tablet and admire well illustrated book over a touch-screen. “Ugly adverts” appearing on screens is also a problem for authors.
Alain de Botton, the philosopher, said he soon dumped e-books when he realised the information didn’t really sink in without physical contact with a real book.
"I'm a recent apostate from e-books. I found that whatever I read on my Kindle I couldn't really remember in the long term. It was as if I had never read it," he told the Sunday Times.
Jilly Cooper missed the ability to makes notes on e-book readers in the same way as with traditional books.
"I like to scribble all over [books] and write things and say 'Well done' and 'God how awful' and 'Let's remember that bit'. I always underline good bits and turn over the pages of bits that absolutely knock me out," she said.
Amazon launched the UK store for its Kindle e-book reader three years ago and a frenzy of e-book-buying followed. In 2011 sales grew by 366 per cent, and they doubled again last year, when 65m e-books were sold in the UK, making up 17 per cent of the total book sales market.
The Fifty Shades erotic trilogy by EL James has contributed much to the phenomenon, filling the top three slots in last year's e-book sales charts.
Philip Stone of The Bookseller said growth is slowing.
"After the initial dramatic sales, we've seen enthusiasm wane more recently," he told the Sunday Times. "The format is certainly here to stay but we are expecting sales will only increase by around 20 per cet in total this year."
Mr Stone said the bestselling genres on e-book were those such as thrillers, which are commonly read in a hurry.
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Philosophy
Printed books aren't dead
"Authors stand up for traditional books over e-books"
Just a few years after the launch of the Kindle, old fashioned books are making a comeback as authors promote the joy of bookshelves and well thumbed pages over the e-book.
by
Louise Gray
July 21st, 2013
The Telegraph
A year ago Amazon reported its Kindle e-books were outstripping its sale of printed books.
However summer reading lists this year show that most authors prefer a proper old-fashioned book to touch screens.
Writers prefer a well stuffed book shelf to one slim tablet and admire well illustrated book over a touch-screen. “Ugly adverts” appearing on screens is also a problem for authors.
Alain de Botton, the philosopher, said he soon dumped e-books when he realised the information didn’t really sink in without physical contact with a real book.
"I'm a recent apostate from e-books. I found that whatever I read on my Kindle I couldn't really remember in the long term. It was as if I had never read it," he told the Sunday Times.
Jilly Cooper missed the ability to makes notes on e-book readers in the same way as with traditional books.
"I like to scribble all over [books] and write things and say 'Well done' and 'God how awful' and 'Let's remember that bit'. I always underline good bits and turn over the pages of bits that absolutely knock me out," she said.
Amazon launched the UK store for its Kindle e-book reader three years ago and a frenzy of e-book-buying followed. In 2011 sales grew by 366 per cent, and they doubled again last year, when 65m e-books were sold in the UK, making up 17 per cent of the total book sales market.
The Fifty Shades erotic trilogy by EL James has contributed much to the phenomenon, filling the top three slots in last year's e-book sales charts.
Philip Stone of The Bookseller said growth is slowing.
"After the initial dramatic sales, we've seen enthusiasm wane more recently," he told the Sunday Times. "The format is certainly here to stay but we are expecting sales will only increase by around 20 per cet in total this year."
Mr Stone said the bestselling genres on e-book were those such as thrillers, which are commonly read in a hurry.
- Does An Electron Have An Aroma?
E-books are here and will remain but they cannot replace the ambiance of holding a "real" book and absorbing special odors. And you cannot write in the margins of an E-book. "5 Reasons Why E-Books Aren’t There Yet" by John C Abell June 3rd, 2011 Wired...
- A Backfire In The E-book Biz?
"2 E-Books Cost More Than Amazon Hardcovers" by Julie Bosman October 4th, 2010 The New York Times Readers of e-books may not be able to turn paper pages, lend their copies to friends or file them away on living room bookshelves. But they do have the...
- Book Sources
Book junkie? Here are some sources. BOOKS NEW AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE BIBLIOFIND DAVID BROWN BOOK CO. DOVER POWELLSBOOKS USED ABEBOOKS ADDALL ALIBRIS ANTIQBOOK ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLERS'...
- E-books Trumps "real Books"--maybe
Yes, it is Marilyn Monroe. So what! Tell me what will happen when the power ceases or the batteries run dry. Will the ambiance of a romantic interlude be lost when an electronic text is read under the oak tree? "E-Books Top Hardcovers at Amazon" by...
- Real Books Vs E-books And Personality
With E-books our persona will be concealed. Not good. How are we going to impress others. Don't you want the one sitting next to you on the trolley know that you are read a technical text on quantum physics? "In E-Book Era, You Can’t Even Judge...