This question comes via my former client, and brilliant writer, Jennifer Hubbard.
For those of you who now have an e-reader, how have your book buying habits changed? Did you instantly convert to almost all e-reading? Do you still buy print books? Is it 50/50? Did you give up on the e-reader?
Poll below, if you’re reading in an RSS feed or by e-mail you’ll need to click through to see the poll:
stickynotestories says
The real difference that I've noticed is that I buy fewer books. Without having to go through that line and take the extra time to think about whether I really want the book or not I'm too scared to actually buy any books! I'd spend way too much money if I started (also, the handy "get free sample" button keeps me with plenty to read for free :P)
Lisa Aldin says
I buy almost all e-books now. But I have some print books I haven't read yet so I still read both.
But since getting my Nook, I find that I read MORE. I read about a book a week now on that thing. Thank goodness for the .99 books!
Susan Kaye Quinn says
I find I buy reference books, writing books, and special friend's books in paper. Everything else (that I can) on e-book.
Amber says
Ever since getting a Kindle for Christmas, my book consumption has increased tenfold. I buy more e-books than print books, and I'm not really risking anything by paying 9.99 versus 17.99 (for a hardback). It isn't that I love print, because I do, but as a college student who only works 14 hours a week, 9.99 is a steal, and 17.99 is a gamble. I also love how self-pubbed authors are on equal footing with traditionally published authors. With my experience on the Kindle, Amazon doesn't care if you're self-pubbed or not. Amazon only cares about how much you sell that determines your placement in genre lists. Right now, Amanda Hocking has been number one for a bit for children's fiction, and even in overall fiction, I think, she's one of the top ten, and she's self-published. Haven't read any of her books, but my Kindle has allowed me to discover self-pubbed author Tess Oliver because of this equal footing.
Cyndy Aleo says
I buy WAY more books, including RE-buying some favorites that I like to have with me (like $5 on Amazon for Water for Elephants so I can re-read it wherever I am). It helps having an iPad instead of a dedicated e-reader, because I can shuffle back and forth depending which store has a better price (or current Groupon).
kellye says
I also still go the "old-fashioned" route….borrowing traditional books from the library. (My e-reader is a kindle, and I haven't looked into whether I can get e-books from the library now that they have the "borrow from a friend if the pub lets you" option.)
Christopher Michael Bell says
I buy everything I can now on my Kindle. The speed with which I read now is massively improved because of the convenience of the device. I take it everywhere in my back pack, and can pop it out and read if I have a few minutes. A book always seemed more cumbersome and more of something I should settle down to read. With the Kindle, I find I'm popping in and out of my current books all the time. I don't know if that makes sense.
Anonymous says
I've actually become stingier in what I buy. I'll consider if my husband is also going to read it, since he doesn't "do" ebooks since he works on a computer all day – if he's interested we'll get a print copy.
If not and it's only for me, I'll compare ebook prices and then see how many TBR's I have. It's easy to have a stack build up in e-format due to the ease with which you can purchase them.
I'm willing to bet a *lot* of ebooks never actually get read, especially the cheap ones. They get bought on a whim because they're under a buck or something like that and sit on the reader for weeks.
kellye says
should have said, IN ADDITION to buying e-books and print books…still use the library.
Candice says
I've owned an E-reader (Nook) for almost a year and still haven't purchased one single E-book. I'm working myself up to it. For real.
Stephanie says
Before owning my eReader, I rarely bought books. (not for lack of desire….lack of funds!) I got them from the library. If it was a new release, I'd put in a request and wait a few weeks for it. But now, I buy some ebooks. I do still borrow from my library- my library "lends" ebooks.
Jennifer Davis says
I love print books, but I've compromised for the convenience of e-books by buying books I would ordinarily have bought in paperback in e-book format, while still buying the hardcover editions of those books and series that I want to have in hardcover for my library. In some cases, I have both.
Barbara Kloss says
If anything I read more. Being able to download at will has been so convenient–TOO convenient. I still have my hard copies, and any books that reach 'favorite' status via Kindle, I tend to purchase hardcopies. It's nice spending less for the digital copy, and if you end up wishing you hadn't purchased the book, it's not taking up any room on your shelf!
Nicholas says
I'm in the received-a-Kindle-for-Christmas club, and I've found that it's only changed my book-acquiring habits in one meaningful way: if a book is available in the public domain, I am now more likely to get a Kindle copy free off Gutenberg than to buy it in a brick-and-mortar store. (It's certainly helped alleviate the Shelving Problem.)
In some cases, however, I still intend to purchase out-of-copyright classics the old-fashioned way for the quality of the editions, commentaries, and notes.
Joseph L. Selby says
Since buying my nook, I have purchased only two paper books. They are by my two favorite authors and were both a part of series where the previous volumes were also paper.
A. Lockwood says
I'm a bit OC when it comes to books in a series. I like having them all in the same format. So even though I have an e-reader now, I'll buy physical books if I've already got the first books in the series. Eventually (once I've completed all my current series books) I'll probably buy exclusively e-books.
Donna says
I just got an iPad and I am plowing through my paychecks buying books. I live overseas, in Jordan, so it used to be that I had to order through amazon and waiiiiit forever. So I hardly bought anything until I flew back to the States. I've had the ipad for less than a month and I've been buying at the rate of a book a week. I've also bought several for my kids, figuring the novelty would get them reading (it has).
Rachel Menard says
Most of the physical books I buy are discount books or ones I want for the cover art, like Zombies vs. Unicorns. Otherwise, I go digital.
Matt Uhrich says
For the past several months, I've done most of my reading on my iPhone. I love having my books with me wherever I go.
I have come to the point where I get annoyed if a book has not been released in one of the ebook formats, and I have even decided not to buy a couple of books for that reason.
Nazarea says
I usually buy books on the nook, but there are favorite authors I'll still buy in print version so I have it on my library shelves.
Ez says
Yes!
I wasn't expecting it, but it was like giving a mainline to a druggie.
I still get most of my books from the library, the difference is, now I do my library checking out from my computer straight to my Nook.
Pre e-reader I found time for one book a week.
Post e-reader I average a book every 2-3 days.
Iliadfan says
I've always read a lot, but taking my Kindle everywhere means I'm finishing 2-3 books a week. And I can hide the true extent of my book-buying addiction from my husband. 😉
Jessica says
Since getting my Kobo in December, I've found that I borrow more from my library; e-book lending is wonderful. I can see as I move forward that I'll be more likely to buy novels that I don't want signed or to keep for posterity in e-book format, while special novels and reference books & those I'll want to take notes on will be purchased in print.
Keetha says
I have the Kindle app on my iPhone. I have two books on it: one was a free download, the other a novel I bought.
I've read little of the novel. I don't like looking at a screen when I'm reading for fun.
Steve Fuller says
As others have said, convenience is key. We have a Kindle, but my wife uses that. I use the Kindle App on my phone. I never used to take books with me (unless I knew I was going to a coffee shop to read), but having an e-reader means I always have a book with me. It's easy to read a chapter here and there.
Psychologically, it feels like I read e-books faster. Maybe because the pages are so short, it feels like I'm making better progress, so I want to keep going.
Either way, I read more now. I get "into" stories just as much. And there's just something about having almost a million books at my fingertips that I love.
I can't ever imagine buying another paper book unless it's a classic novel I want to display as "art."
Devaki says
I don't have an e-reader, but I use the e-reading apps from Adobe, Palm and Amazon. I've been using these for the last 15 months or so, and yes, I do buy e-books where possible. At the same time, when the e-book edition is not available for India, I buy the print version online.
Kiki says
I joined the e-revolution at Christmas but I just don't "get it". I read one book on it and went back to paper. I can't put my finger on what it was I didn't like but it's not for me. I'll just have to hope paper books don't disappear any time soon.
L. Shanna says
Maybe it's the combination of a new Nook with a new baby whom I rock to sleep at all hours of the night… but I'm on my 7th book on my Nook and I've only had it three weeks. LOVE it.
Liana says
when it comes to books I buy I def prefer e-books because you can get them instantly! But not all books are e-books so I buy those paper. But I still check a lot of paper books out the library
Diana Horner says
Reading much more, combination of free and paid for ebooks. Have stockpiled books from boot fairs etc, but finding I am reading more on my Kindle-can read at nights more easily with large font size!
Sommer Leigh says
I read a lot more on my Kindle than I do paper books, mostly because reading on my Kindle while working out at the gym is WAY easier than taking a book to the gym. No pages to hold back!
Right now I'm only buying print books with gorgeous covers I absolutely must have. I love book covers.
See Elle Oh says
I've only had a Kindle since Christmas, but I already feel a difference. I'm much more reluctant to buy new print books (I've always had an affinity for used ones). I'm also borrowing more books from my library.
Anonymous says
"I've owned an E-reader (Nook) for almost a year and still haven't purchased one single E-book. I'm working myself up to it. For real."
I'm doing the exact same thing. Which makes me wonder sometimes, in spite of all the hype about change and digital books, whether or not people will fully embrace e-readers.
All predictions indicate the transition from print to digital. And we're all hyped up about buying e-readers. The only problem is I'm not fond of using the e-reader, to the point that it's been on my kitchen counter for months just staring at me. I dust it, look it over once in a while, and then put it down and pick up a book. It almost reminds me of those digital read-outs in cars back in the l980's, and when cars starting talking to the driver, giving basic, but annoying, instructions. That didn't last long.
Mabye it's generational, my absolute dislike for my e-reader. I find it absolutely annoying. But wouldn't it be interesting if the e-reader really did turn out to be the hoola hoop (or talking car) of the decade?
MBee says
I am almost exclusively buying e-books because my current living situation does not allow me anymore room for print books 🙁
Ender says
I find myself being somewhat selective in how and what I purchase. I love reading on my nook, but I also love the heft of a good book. Also, I was inundated with loaned paper books right after I got my nook, so I felt obligated to read those paper versions first, mainly as cost avoidance. Even if I start buying mostly e-books, there are a few authors whose books I want to have in hardback. I look forward to the option to buy a physical book and get a e-book included, for, say, $5 more. I'm all in on that!
Anonymous says
I find that if I read an e-book that I really love, I HAVE to have it on my shelves in print form. It's just not enough to have that electronic version.
Amy
Doug Pardee says
Got my NOOK almost a year ago, and haven't bought a print book since. I've got two print novels that have been sitting, waiting to be read, since before I got my NOOK.
If I need to buy a technical reference book, that'll be paper. But for fiction, it's 100% e-book.
lotusgirl says
I love my Kindle, but I still love a real book. I still buy more print books than e, because I love holding and reading a book, and my daughter (who reads a lot of the same books I do) won't read ebooks. She's very attached to her print books. This surprised me so much since she's in the cyber generation, but she absolutely refuses to touch them. At 16, I would think she's a big exception. I often buy ebooks when I can't get to the store and have a deadline (like for book club) or can't find the book at the store or sometimes when the book is big and heavy. It's just more convenient to read on Kindle because the weight never changes and my hands don't get tired trying to wrangle an enormous tome.
cwsherwoodedits says
Since getting a Kindle in September, I'm buying about triple the number of books I used to (and was a heavy consumer anyway. It's easily quadrupled since my 5th grader got a Kindle for Christmas. We're both buying about 80 percent e-books. When I fall in love with something and know I'll want to keep it forever, I'll buy a hardcover copy too. I haven't dared total up my book bill with two Kindles in the house.
But one thing I love is that I'm also reading more–middle of the night insomnia now means I read at least an hour more a day, thanks to the lighted Kindle cover. Book lights never really worked well before and this has been a Godsend.
MJR says
I'm glad I have the ereader and it comes in handy, but I prefer reading printed books. Because the bookstore in my town closed, I now go to the library more. The problem with the ereader is that it's hard to browse and I've ordered some lousy books that I wouldn't have bought if I had flipped through them first at the bookstore or library–and so I've wasted a lot of money. I also enjoy the feel of books, I like being able to flip back and forth through the pages etc. After a while pushing buttons on a little gizmo over and over gets old and I like reading books to be something different and special–not another screen to look it.
Sometimes, though, the estore has $5 deals–that why I read the Stieg Larson books, which I never would have read (and I actually really enjoyed them).
D.G. Hudson says
It's added to my reading material. Many of the books that came with the e-reader were ones we had never got around to reading – English classics, old mysteries by A. Christie, French classics, etc. We're enjoying being able to read those without hauling those tomes around.
For the time being, we're 50/50 in purchases. I pick up the e-reader when hubby isn't using it. I haven't given up on real physical books, and probably never will. I think there's room for both with hardcovers likely to become the extinct species.
Nicole MacDonald says
Books in NZ are really expensive ($35-$40 on average for a new paperback) so even though I only have Kindle for PC at the moment it's preferable 🙂
The Arrival, only .99c on Amazon
http://www.damselinadirtydress.com
Joanne says
I'm buying more books, but spending the same amount of money (maybe a little more – impulse buys are a bit easier). I'm still buying print books when they're not available on kindle (which is often, since I read a lot of small press poetry), and when I have the opportunity to meet the author and get the book signed.
Sandra Ulbrich Almazan says
Since getting my Kindle last year, I prefer to buy e-books. I like the convenience of reading samples and buying books instantly, plus I think e-ink is easier to read. I even read Locus, the SF/F news magazine, on my Kindle. I only buy paper books if I can't find them on Kindle.
terryd says
I buy print books when I want signed/inscribed copies, or when I visit bookstores to talk about my own book. Otherwise, I'm an e-consumer, and buying more books than ever.
Nancy Kelley says
I bought a Kindle due to space constraints–I'm moving overseas soon, and the cost of shipping books gives me nightmares. If a book is available in the Kindle store, I buy it there. If not, I consider seriously how much I need it, if it's something I can get from the library, and if it's something I'll want to take with me when I go. If the answers line up, I'll buy the hard copy. Otherwise, I wait.
daniel t. radke says
I just got my wife a Nook Color for Christmas and it's awesome. It's like being at the bookstore. Just the other day I read a cool review on Griftopia by Matt Taibbi, downloaded a sample, loved it and bought it. And I'm pretty sure I did all of that while lying in bed.
Anonymous says
I didn't vote. No e-reader. Waiting for price to go down, color, and technical improvements, specifically, that I won't lose my book when the technology changes (like I lost my software, computer usability, music, etc.)
But when that is to my satisfaction, probably will buy all but collector editions and books with Great Cover Art. (I have heard that vinyl is coming back due, in part, to the Great Album Art).
Anonymous says
Hey Nathan,
Is your Great Gatsby on e-book or is it real?
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
E-book. I read it on my iPad.