I’m dealing with some computer problems here at work, which is complicating an already busy week. Fiendish computers! Must you toy with me so?
Meanwhile, just wanted to recap my (unscientific) poll from yesterday.
The percentage of people who said you’d have to pry paper books out of their cold dead hands:
2007: 49%
2008: 45%
2009: 37%
The percentage of people who welcome their coming e-book overlords:
2007: 7%
2008: 11%
2009: 19%
That, my friends, is what they call a trend.
And in case you’re wondering if computer problems are affecting my affinity for e-books: nope. An e-book of CHILD 44 is an engrossing distraction on my iPhone while I wait for things to load.
The Writing Muse says
Cool!
Bane of Anubis says
Evidently, the trend is that your older readers are passing on. You're a bad man, Mr. Bransford, and the computer Gods are smiting you today (no, They are not logical, nor will They ever be) — better keep that iPhone on lockdown.
DG says
Although your data show a trend toward the acceptance of e-books, writers are probably the wrong group to poll. Consumers will determine the success or demise of the e-book, based on price, access, and convenience. Writers on the other hand, are forever tied to the romance of being published, which for most of us means a hardcover book with a beautiful shiny dust jacket emblazoned with our name.
p.s. have you considered a Mac?
Nathan Bransford says
dg-
My home computer is a mac and I will soon be retreating to its comforting safety.
Vacuum Queen says
WOW!
Kathleen Foucart says
I voted for the "prying from my hands" option, BUT I am getting a Sony eReader for Christmas. I like the efficiency of ebooks/readers, and I want one for reading manuscripts on the go (mine & my crit partners). But I still love my physical books. 🙂
Donna Hole says
OMG! I'm not commenter #153 or so this time.
I see the hold-outs for going paperless in my job (I'm a county employee) all the time. I was one of those myself. But I've learned you can't stop progress, you can only slow the inevitable.
Technology really isn't a bad thing – not always.
Except, when your computer is down and you can't do your job without it. I'm with you in frustration, Nathan, as I've been there too many times to count.
Good luck with your error message.
……..dhole
vbonnaire says
I wanted to say thanks for all the great posts you have for writers — and also I took your poll yesterday.
I love books though. I really do (like Chronicle books) and going to bookstores!
It may be a trend, but, I hope books will still be around in the gorgeously designed forms they come in for a long time…
What if they used sustainable sources for the paper?
Thank you for this blog, Mr. Bransford.
Anonymous says
You know what they say – "Computers do the work of one hundred people. Unfortunately, they all call in sick the same day!"
Good Luck!
Paula
Madison L. Edgar says
I think DG's right… How many of you writers out there (who obviously desire to be published) want to see their own book in their hands? Want to feel the thin crisp of paper on your fingertips as you flip through the pages? Want to smell the aroma of freshly printed paper?
*Shaking my head and awakening from trance*
I'm sorry, what we were talking about again?
Anonymous says
Wow! You do this every year. Well done.
RLS says
bane is being mean. I'm telling.
Or do I not get the joke?
Pamala Knight says
Teehee! Shall we call the new land INDOCTRINATED and who'll be the leader? I vote Steve Jobs.
Kristi says
I love my Mac – although I blog from my PC. As far as the results and the 8% drop in people saying you would have to pry the book from their cold, dead hands – I can only assume there have been some tragic deaths involving blog readers in the last year. My condolences. 🙂
Marilyn Peake says
So sorry you're having computer problems. I hate computer problems. 🙁
All this eBook talk reminded me that I own two Palm Treos which I had completely forgotten about when answering the poll yesterday. I used one for promotion of my eBooks years ago, downloaded assorted eBooks into the other one, and eventually stuck them both away in a file cabinet drawer. I mailed one of them to the Oprah show with my own eBooks plus the eBooks of other participating authors downloaded into it. The Executive Producer from the Oprah show called me on the phone (I nearly fainted), said they'd like to keep all my paper submissions for consideration for a possible future show but felt they should mail the Palm Treo back to me because of the cost of the device. (When it arrived at my home, I turned on the Treo and discovered that the last view occurred a few pages into one of my own books. I nearly fainted, again.) Anyway, I probably ought to sell one of the Treos and start reading all the small press books I downloaded into the other one. Eventually, I’ll probably purchase a Kindle or something like it because of the ease in purchasing and downloading books, the lack of backlighting and the larger screen.
Anonymous says
Your numbers are only accurate if you are polling the exact same people. I for one wasn't here in 2007 or 2008. How many more followers do you have now compared to 2007 and 2008? As someone pointed out: the people responding to your poll have a different take on the book industry than not only the general public but also authors who do not follow your awesome blog.
AjFrey says
Nathan-hope your computer works soon. There's been a dark cloud on the workfront in this time zone for sure.
I'll admit that I am quite the hypocrite on this one. As a writer, I am all for ebooks. Heck, I love it. How many times have I spotted a book on amazon or a review, and planned to buy it then didn't. I love the idea of the instant sell. Not to mention, not too many ye ole used ebook stores, or shelves of ebooks at Goodwill.
But to read, I still like paper books. That's how I answered the poll-as a reader.
Anonymous says
But what are the percentages over the three years of the other two categories?
Fiendish Computer says
Nathan,
Yes, I must.
Regards,
Fiendish Computer
Anonymous says
My old MAC G-3 was doomed when I upgraded its OS to 9.3 from the perfectly perfect perfection of 8.5.1 (where EVERYTHING functioned like a well made Swiss clock)
and nothing ever worked right again on Photoshop (which I needed to be usable for my very life!).
After hundreds of tech dollars and forever trying to unravel the issues, they were widespread, I finally found that there was no wrap-a-round, and it was a widespread shock amongst graphic artists at the time.
The only solution was:
new computer, new software, new expenses. Ca-Ching! Ca-Ching!
The computer overlords going:
Braaaa hahah Hahhh Haaa!!!!
Tina Lynn says
You need to watch those computer Gremlins, Nathan. They make it their business to mess with you most whilst you have much to do:D
ryan field says
Now I'm wondering how I would have voted in 2007.
Redleg says
I, for one, welcome our e-book overlords, and would like to remind them that as an unpublished author, I can be useful mining sugar in their underground sugar mines.
Anonymous says
Now's your chance – Block Fiendish Computer!! LOL
Laura Martone says
Thanks for the tally, Nathan. The e-book trend is interesting indeed. The real question is… are e-books getting easier to negotiate between authors, agents, and publishers? With every new technology (like DVDs for the film industry), it seems that contracts and percentages get even trickier.
Good luck with your computer woes! I feel your pain, believe me.
P.S. Bane, you're one sick puppy (just like Jack Handy)… and I mean that with the utmost sincerity.
Anonymous says
You seem obsessed with this topic. Perhaps you need a little break or a day off–go enjoy an afternoon browsing at one of the great bookstores in SF.
Tricia says
I never even finished the first few e-books I purchased; I disliked them so. Although I still prefer the feel, smell, and curl up on the couch ability, of the old fashioned paperback novel – I have grown ever so fond of the e-books so conveniently stored on my iphone. I wonder what conclusions previous generations would draw if they were to see pictures and videos of us highly evolved, 21st century humans spending so much time reading our tiny telephones?
Bron says
OK, it might not be the most scientific poll, but it's still showing a trend. Even if it's not the same people commenting on here as in the previous polls, it still shows that a growing percentage of a sample of people are, or want to, switch to e-books.
But I think there's a little too much hysteria in some quarters over this. Just because e-books are becoming more popular doesn't mean paper books will disappear entirely. It just means there will be less of them, and consumers will likely only buy them for special titles. If you want to stick entirely with paper books, then you might just have to pay more for them, as e-book readers are having to do today (for the devices at least).
Oh and nice one Redleg 🙂 Or should I say, Kent Brockman?
Anonymous says
Error 403.1 execute access forbidden. 403.2 read access forbidden. 403.3 write access forbidden…403.13 client certificate revoked, 403.15 client access licenses exceeded…403.17 client certificate expired or invalid.
How appropos.
An e-book is somewhat like a cake, you can't always have it and eat it too. I was at the library today selecting some reading material and stopped to check out the book sale table. Spent money I shouldn't, but got some titles to own for awhile. And that's something that e-books don't yet support, full ownership of a physical object, no access denied, execute, read. and write at will.
Sam Hranac says
Computer trouble you say? Hmmm… let me see if my book is working.
Yep! the cover opens and I can search or browse for content. No down time.
😎
Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Marilyn Peake says
There was an interesting discussion on an MSNBC news show this morning related to the topic of rapidly changing media technology. GE is apparently selling majority stake in NBC Universal to Comcast, although the actual deal sounds fairly complicated. As an aside, I did not know until I read that first article that "MSNBC.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal." The news people talked about how cable shows on MSNBC are paid for by subscibers, while NBC constantly needs to attract advertisers to pay for their shows, and about how difficult it is to increase profits every quarter while paying for advertising. One news person remarked specifically about cable TV news shows that who knows where all the new technology will lead with people able to watch TV shows on all their handheld devices. Reminded me of the poll here yesterday regarding eBooks. 🙂
Nathan Bransford says
Anon@1:00-
the rise of ebooks is one of if not the biggest change to the publishing industry in decades. So………. I'm gonna blog about it.
Thermocline says
Neil Gaiman was on NPR this Monday talking about audiobooks. He commented that sales of downloadable audiobooks have been stronger than those of audiobooks on CDs.
I wonder if we'll see trends for audiobooks similar to those for e-readers as more people become comfortable with digitized formats of books.
Anonymous says
Nathan, do you ever worry that the ease of publishing e-books could lead publishing houses to use inhouse slushpile readers and editors on fixed salaries instead of literary agents who receive percentages? The future will undoubtedly bring all kinds of change.
Anonymous says
I came upon a muse uttering his song: "e – e," he said. "e-e?" I asked.
"e -e," he replied (in a sing-song voice). I found him irresistible.
I was not sure what he meant, but none-the-less, he seemed sure and he played a nice flute and I followed him down to the river…
Lydia Sharp says
Can't deny trends. Thanks for sharing.
Scott says
I wonder what the numbers will show a year from now.
Christine H says
I didn't respond to the poll because all of the choices implied a choice on my part.
I think that in my lifetime paper books will become either obsolete, or expensive luxury items. I don't think I'll have a choice.
Susan Quinn says
I've heard it said recently that MG books are read by both boys and girls, but YA books are read primarily by girls (ostensibly, because less boys read once they hit puberty).
I was wondering what your thoughts on that were, and do you think the coming e-book overlords, who will undoubtably manifest themselves on the portable device du jour for teens, will have any impact on the number of boys reading YA?
Icy Roses says
I certainly think e-readers will be more popular as time goes on, but they won't take over.
You're polling mostly writers, who read voraciously. For the general public (and especially people like my mom who read maybe a grand total of two books a year–being generous here), it's not practical to buy one of those things. Unless, I suppose the price goes down, way, way down.
Maybe it's just wishful thinking. I'm one of the "pry them away from my cold, dead fingers" people.
Joseph L. Selby says
And by "dealing with some computer problems," you mean trying to access a page you don't have permission to access. Naughty boy.
Ryan says
Was doing some research for my proposal and read e-books sales jumped 108% from 2008 to 2009. I think I-Phones and similar devices have more to do with that statistic than e-readers. Would be interesting to see the break down of e-books bought for e-readers, I-Phones, or computers.
Anonymous says
So I can assume the rejection you sent me the other day was a computer error, right?
Marilyn Peake says
Just noticed another trend. Only 330 people took the poll in 2007, compared to 1,143 people in 2008 and 1,451 this year.
Terry says
As much as I'm not thrilled with this trend, I hope it bodes well for writers, as in more book sales. Any thoughts on that, Nathan?
Also, I live in Florida, and I hear a lot of retirees talking about getting e-readers for the large print option. It's amazing how the retirees seem to embrace all the new technology. Often, more so than many much younger people.
L. T. Host says
I have to say, my boyfriend called me old last night because I was telling him about your posts championing e-readers. He wants one, whereas I– as I've said– will always have paper books, whether I get an e-reader or not.
That elicited his comment about how I must be older than I look because I'm so hesitant to embrace new technology. He then patted me on the top of the head, and I told him to be careful– since I'm apparently getting old he might just rub the hair right off of my head.
It's weird, because I both love and embrace technology, but love and embrace–and crave– history and antiques. I think that's why I want to keep paper books for myself but can appreciate the benefits of e-readers.
Marilyn Peake says
Nathan,
You might enjoy these videos of people taking out their rage on malfunctioing computers. I wouldn’t recommend using them as role models. 🙂
GhostFolk.com says
Nathan, I wonder how many writers are using a typewriter. Man, I hated dithcing my IBM-Selctrci III — it was so marvelous.
Jason says
I have War and Peace on my iPhone. I haven't read it yet, but it sure makes me feel smart.
christina says
That is interesting!!!! I guess it is one way to save the trees!!