I know I’m not normal. I know that. I am inordinately obsessed with the weather, I get giddy every time I see L’Oreal spokesman Collier Strong appear on a reality television show, and I watch this video every time I need a laugh.
And lately I’ve been doing something else that may be a tad out of the ordinary.
Booksellers, please cover your eyes…
I have gotten rather obsessed with reading on my iPad. I love reading e-books on my iPad. At night. On the train. At lunch. Upside down. In space. YOU DON’T KNOW.
I genuinely feel like reading on an iPad is a superior experience to reading on paper. There. I said it.
Reasons: No nightlights or bookmarks needed. I can instantly buy new books. I can highlight passages without breaking out a pen and look up words without grabbing a dictionary. I can set it down on the table while I’m eating lunch without the pages going crazy. It doesn’t take up much space. Yes, I can’t read as easily in the sun, but have you been to San Francisco? We do fog and rain, not sun.
I don’t know if I can go back to paper.
Okay, booksellers, you can open your eyes now.
I still buy print books because they are beautiful and permanent! I love bookstores and buy from them accordingly. I do.
But when I wanted to read Into the Wild… I paid for the e-book. A PAPER COPY IS SITTING ON MY SHELF. I bought the e-book anyway. I’m that attached to reading on my iPad.
Now, like I said, I’m not normal. As an author and former publishing employee I have no qualms about sending my hard-earned money back over to the publishing industry and to authors no matter what’s in my bank account. Jon Krakauer deserves every penny I’m sending his way and then some. I know this isn’t a situation for everyone.
But the movie industry reaped huge rewards when everyone replaced their movie collection with DVDs. The music industry had a boom when people switched over to CDs.
Could something similar happen to the book world? Could people grow attached enough to their devices that they might replace their book collections? Could planned obsolescence come to the publishing world?
Bohemienne says
Well, you just said yourself that you purchased an e-book of IN THE WILD despite having the print version right on the shelf. As much as I love my iPad I haven't bought a single book on it yet for practical but boring-to-explain reasons; however, when circumstances change and I do give in, I've already decided that my all-time favorite book (of which I already own 3 paper copies) will be the first e-book I buy. So yes! I think it's already happening. And if this whole crazy "enhanced e-book" thing takes off, almost like DVD bonus features or the essays and book club questions you find in the "P.S." books, it'll come even more so.
Bittersweet Fountain says
I could definitely see people replacing entire libraries. I know when I really love a book, I go out and buy the hardback–even though I just read it in paperback. Last year I replaced my Wheel of Time collection in hardback and now I'm thinking about replacing it with eBook.
But then again, I still haven't replaced my VHS collection with DVDs. That's right, I'm 24 years old and I own a VCR and several movies on VHS. I have a VCR, a DVD player, and a Blu-Ray player and as long as I have all three I feel no need to replace the movies I already own.
Cid says
I've already begun slowly buying my favorite books in ebook for functional re-reading. I still like owning my favorite books, but you're right. eReaders are just more convenient!
D U Okonkwo says
Nathan – of course you're not normal, none of us are, we're writers and in very good company here in Blogland! LOL
In all seriousness, though, I don't think it matters whether or not most people turn to Ebooks eventually, the publishing industry will find a way to make profits from it, that's what they're in business for and that's fine. Change is good, it keeps us all on our toes. Fundamentally we want our readers to be able to access our books in the best way that suits them. We live in a world of choice and that's a blessing.
M.J.B. says
I feel the same way about reading on my Nook! It has overtaken my reading life, and I've already begun to re-buy all the books that matter to me (I can't wait until "Harry Potter" becomes available….). There's nothing like seeing hard copy books on a shelf, but I now feel similarly when I am holding all my favorite books at one time on a single device! Overall, e-Reading has become my preferred way to experience a book….and publishers will get my money because of it.
Vivacia says
Totally understand where you're coming from Nathan. I have a kindle and have already purchased a number of books I already own in hard back. Why? Because I just don't have space anymore. Those hardbacks will be going to a second hand store (or to freinds if any are interested) to give me more space for… well, more books likely!
Deb says
Sold! I have a Kindle but really thinking, for me, Ipad is the way to go now. So, so many reading options and there is a lot I have to read on the computer, so why not go with IPad and I can do it on there. I don't think I'll be replacing my print collection or not buying print books anytime soon, though….but that is just me. In other words, my book habit is mighty expensive.
Stephanie Barr says
I own almost no books on my ebook reader that I didn't originally buy in paper versions (with the exception of some classics that came for free that I had never gotten around to reading). Part of that is because I wanted to invest in books I knew I liked and would read over and over again. Part of that is because many of my favorite authors are dead and so I already own all their books.
And reading on my reader is so much easier. Taking a month's worth of reading in a tiny package is fantastic.
In the future, though, I'll be buying more and more in eformat only.
Monica-Marie Holtkamp says
Ah yes, I remember well my days in the Richmond district wondering why some parts of the city got a little sun but we never did! Those were the days! *SIGH* That being said……LOL
Yes, even though you're addicted, I think that the book publishing world MIGHT forgive you since you're still buying print books as well as making them! LOL It isn't odd that you're addicted to something technological…after all it's in your DNA. Men are just naturally attracted to gadgets. I think that it's left overs from the caveman days and we were inventing the wheel etc.
"I" say enjoy the fun you're having. It's a good thing that you love your ebooks…just remember your book books! LOL
Silicon Valley Diva says
Oh good, glad I'm not the only who has bought a book and then downloaded the ebook version 🙂
I alternate between my Kindle & iPad. I much prefer the iPad for nighttime reading whereas I bring my Kindle to the beach or throw it in my purse when I'm on the go. I find it more portable.
stickynotestories says
Although I really can't afford to replace my entire library on my Nook (and half of the books aren't available as e-books yet) I did buy my favorite book as an e-book yesterday although I was reading the paper copy in bed the night before. It was mostly because the paper copy is falling apart (and yes, I will replace it with a new paper copy – I love the book that much), but I also wanted to have my favorite book with me all the time.
I think as people get used to reading on the e-readers they will start re-buying their paper books as e-books, if only because they can read them any where at any time and it's so convenient. But just like DVDs – I'm not paying double for the ones I won't watch/read again.
Silke says
My dearest significant other gave me a Kindle for Christmas.
I'm now holding off buying new books, unless I can get them as ebooks.
Older books, if I can't find them anymore, and if they are available as an ebook, will be replaced by the ebook.
I LOVE my paperbacks, I truly do. But for convenience an e-reader is definitely the way to go.
(I can't afford an IPad. But I wouldn't complain if someone got one for me lol.)
Jess says
I am the same way with my Nook…it is just so convenient to read on, and for me (crazy girl alert) there is something extremely comforting about knowing that I have a few hundred books in my purse. As long as I have power I will never be bored. Plus, I can sync my place between my Nook, iPad and iPhone, so no matter what gadget I have with me, I can always pick up right where I left off.
I have been reading ebooks since they were super expensive and only available on my Pocket PC…over the years I have purchased quite a few books I already own in paper copies just to be able to have them with me. Like you, I don't mind giving more money to authors that I love.
I've also been using ebooks to fulfill my desire to read new books even though right now, I don't have a place to put any new physical copies. Until I get new shelving, real book purchases are few and far between!
Anonymous says
I don't buy CD's any more if I can get a download– this includes books. My audible account is cherished.
I rarely buy new print books any more. The books I would really like to buy to have on my Kindle are rarely available in digital. One old paperback fell apart on rereading so I scanned it and rolled my own ebook. It was surprisingly easy. I even checked it for spelling errors and OCR artifacts and was pleased to find that a book published in England in the mid 60's had none, while one Kensington title I read on my Kindle a year ago had an astonishing 49.
But I think those of us who replaced our vinyl with cassette then CD will probably not be drawn along that path again.
Elizabeth says
I'm not going to say it won't happen. But I will say it won't happen for everyone. To put it bluntly, some books aren't worth the re-read.
For example, when I bought an iPod, I bought a lot of music to replace the CDs too scratched to import. Hanson's "Mmmbop" was not one of them.
And some books, sad to say it, are just like "Mmmbop".
Rebekah says
I am so glad you posted this, I was begining to feel like some kind of weird nerd for loving my ereaders so much!
When we got our Nook and iPad, we decided that unless it was really something special, we would not be buying any more print books – we love our readers for all the reasons you said. For books we already own, we *Try* not to buy them again, but since we are both avid readers, it is easy to see a book you already have and think "Ohh I like that" and buy it, forgetting that you have a copy at home. (Yet another advantage of ereaders – you have your list with you when you go to the bookstore).
I'm not sure I will ever go entirely to digital books, but I am now treating print books as a luxury expense item.
L.G.Smith says
As long as you aren't whispering "my precious" to your ipad as you read, it's all good.
I don't have a dedicated e-reader yet. I've read one book on my iphone, and I can see the appeal. If I ever do get an ipad I can imagine replacing all my favorite novels with downloads. I think people have mentioned before about packaging the two together: Print and digital. I'd go for that.
Natasha says
I feel like I just sat in on an AA meeting. Love your candor. Haven't had the opportunity yet to read off an iPad although one is in the mail.
Question: Do your eyes get sore? Looking at a monitor all day hurts my eyes. I'm not sure I'd want to spend my evenings reading off one.
Ang says
As several folks have already noted, you aren't that abnormal, after all! I, too, have several nook books that I also have in hard copy on my bookshelf. You raise a valid point about planned obsolescence. The industry has to be forward-thinking if it is to survive, first and foremost, but ultimately to thrive.
Erin says
Yes! I started reading "The Help" in hardback a year ago and set it aside after the birth of my second child. I'd love to finish it, but now that I have an iPad, the thought of dealing with a physical book is like a psychological barrier! I may end up downloading it from iBooks after all. Perhaps once you go ereader, you can't go back.
Loree Huebner says
This may be a silly point, but for me, it kills my eyes to constantly read from a screen – large, medium, or small. I use all three. When I get eye strain now, it comes on a lot quicker after reading from a screen for an extended period of time. Do we know any long term effects from hours of reading on the computer, Ipad, Kindle, or phone screens?
Laurel says
I do the same thing. I'm with Jess, my ebooks are my new security blanket. I can't be trapped anywhere with nothing to read. Get a yen for a re-read at 2 am and I am stuck at the mother-in-law's house? NO PROBLEM!
The only reason I haven't fully committed to putting everything into digital is because I'm worried that formats will change significantly. What if .mobi gets replaced with something else and they slowly shift away from any readers that will use it? And my Kindle will eventually die. With paper, I know that outside of a housefire or some bizarre book-eating beetle infestation I can go back to that book in thirty years.
If somebody can give me a guarantee, like "If we ever change formats we'll convert your library free", then I'm all in.
Tiana Smith says
I am a chronic re-reader. In fact, the ONLY reason why I haven't purchased an e-reader of some kind is because I am waiting for my favorite books (that I already own) to be available in ebook form.
I can definitely see me replacing a large portion of my physical book library once I get an e-reader. One of the main advantages of e-readers is that they are portable, and I want to take my favorite books with me, not just new books that I am taking a chance on.
Donna Ball says
I actually am one of those people who doesn't mind paying for a book twice if it's a book I love. I'm a fan of Patrick Taylor's "Irish Country" books which I think are beautifully produced in hardcover and trade… but when I wanted to read one quickly over Christmas, I downloaded it on my Kindle and ordered the paper version later to keep. However, the sad truth is that unless a book has collectible appeal to me I'm not buying so much in paper any more.
Mr. D says
Hhmmnn… That's a pretty convincing argument. I might just have to get an iPad one day.
Kevin says
I don't yet own a kindle or a tablet, so I can't weigh in on agreeing/disagreeing with you. I must say, though, that it's brave of you to be so honest in a place that's likely so full of purists.
Things they are a-changing, and hanging onto the outmoded media (as much comfort as people get from it) has never ended up being a good idea.
I, for one, welcome our new e-book overlords.
Michael Offutt says
I've had my iPad almost since it was first available last year and it's filled with ebooks. I use both the iBook application and the Kindle app depending on where I'm at on the internet when I purchase a book. I love the price of ebooks too…the last ten books I've bought haven't cost over $2.99 and I almost feel like anything more than that is too expensive and not worth it when I can find something cheap. I honestly haven't stepped into a Barnes & Noble bookstore in over a year. I used to buy stuff there all the time and I live right across the street from one. So yeah, it's just easier to sit in bed and download instantly and start reading than it is to run across the street and try to find a book on their shelves. Another thing I love is the free preview. It really lets me know if a book is something I want to continue reading or if it isn't for me.
Leanne (Ironic Mom) says
I love my Kindle, too. I find it easier to read than paper (and as my vision starts to worsen, I can increase the font size). Although I'm only (?) 40, I can see a huge market in targeting the elderly. You have instant large print available, the pages can be turned with a click which is much easier if you're arthritic, and it's portable.
The biggest revolution in reading since Gutenberg.
Backfence says
I can't speak for the iPad, but I love my Kindle. And I have the 1st Generation, without all the improvements and increased speed and memory, but I really love the immediacy of purchasing a book I want and reading it like … NOW. And I love not having to fight to keep my page open when I'm eating & reading simultaneously.
It finally(after some 3 yrs or so?)went Kaput and I am having severe withdrawal symptoms already.
Now that there are more choices out there though, I feel I need to explore my options despite the fact I've been very happy with the Kindle.
And, yes, I still buys shelvesful of real paper books.
Zachary Grimm says
Cool post, Nathan! Excellent questions. I don't own an iPad (yet), and have never read an e-book. Several of my friends have, and like it for many of the same reasons you mentioned. But you're right, it is odd how the technology changes us.
I posted a similar thing just last night which made me think about similar ideas you pose.
Happy blogging! 🙂
https://grimmztales.blogspot.com/2011/03/technology-stories-mind-whos-driving.html
L.C. Gant says
Funny you should mention this. I just received my brand spanking new Kindle in the mail this week, and I'm already debating when I will start replacing all my printed books with their digital counterparts. I'll probably sell the hard copies first and use the money to purchase e-books.
Anyway, I think you've pinpointed the coming trend brilliantly. An e-book boom is inevitable. It may take a few years, but I think eventually the temptation to access reading material anytime and anywhere will be too much for most people to resist. Some may keep a few printed versions for sentimental reasons, but I don't see that being the norm. E-books are just too convenient.
Cristin Terrill says
I have the exact opposite problem. I too really liked reading on my Kindle at first, but I discovered that whenever I loved a book, I wanted to have a permanent, physical copy of it on my bookshelf. I was buying so many books twice that I actually STOPPED using my Kindle for everything but traveling. Not, I'm sure, the intended effect.
Bryce Daniels says
Never thought I would find myself typing this. YES, I love my Kindle. My wife bought me one for Christmas, and now we each have our own collections at our disposal. Guess I know what she is getting for her birthday. (Here's a wild thought. Maybe they could come up with a "bi-fold" model where we could both read seperately at the same time. HA.)
Will definately make our next move easier as well. Boxes of books are VERY heavy. Just ask my back.
Go figure. All this coming from a guy whose 8-track didn't give up without a fight.
Anonymous says
It might happen but (and this is purely anecdotal evidence) I find more people will re-watch a movie than re-read a book. So having the dvd of a movie you owned on vhs makes more sense than needing to buy the digital version of a book you love. Not to mention that vhs is of much poorer visual quality than dvd, you don't have the same problem with books. There's not much to be gained from "upgrading" your existing library to digital.
Tere Kirkland says
I barely read paper anymore, either. And I was one of those paper purists for a long time. The only time I read paper books anymore is in the bathtub. I'd read my nook in there, but when else am I going to get through all these paper books I have?
And I've had my nook since June, read on it for hours at a time, reading large to extra-large font, and have found my eyes actually get LESS tired than reading a paper book.
Two people have loaned me hardcover versions of books I want to read, and I haven't touched them because they're too heavy, and the print is too small. I'm about to break down and buy them for my nook instead. 😉
I still buy art books, but that's about it.
Matthew MacNish says
That's a very interesting question. I don't think I would buy two copies of every 'book' if I had an e-reader, but I would LOVE to have two copies.
I don't think I would be willing to pay twice, but I could probably handle paying slightly more than once.
I can connect my turntable to my computer, and record a track to the hard drive, and then burn it to cd, or transfer it to an mp3 player. I suppose there is a scanner and some software out there that could do the same for books, but I'm not sure it would be worth the trouble.
Sean says
These comments over the past few days have been interesting. It's kind of like traveling back in time with RuPaul to an old, drafty farmhouse in Christmas Past 1993, where an old married couple is arguing about the possibility of new confounded cell phones replacing their precious wall phones. They can't see RuPaul and I but I can hear the old man yell, "You'll have to pry this yellow, rotary dialing wall phone from my cold, dead fingers!"
Of course we now know the old man's wife was right. Convenience is always a key aspect of evolution. When I was a kid, our wall phone never rescued us from an overheating radiator on the side of the road.
I look forward to when the conversation turns to the different ways aspiring writers can take advantage of this new world. IMHO, debating whether or not the e-revolution is here – or even how to craft the perfect query letter – is only looking back. And remember what happened to Lot's wife when she looked back. That's tight, she was attacked by Charlie Sheen's zombie. Not pretty.
Reena Jacobs says
The idea of replacing books with digital copies kind of makes me sad. I have a DVD collection I can look at. As outdated as I am, I still have a CD collection. But I think there's a difference between books and the other media. Books have always been pretty to me. I've never been able to flip the pages of my VHS or 8-track.
Don't get me wrong. I'm still a fan of eBooks. My pile is growing like crazy. I can even see myself reading more digital than print as time goes by. What I can't see is walking into my library and viewing just my Kindle sitting on the shelf instead of a host of tree-books.
I get an ache in my chest just thinking about it.
Becky Levine says
It's a concept I have trouble with, but…I keep thinking about the days when print books became affordable. You know, when "all of a sudden" lots of people were literate and books were there and you could buy them and bring them home and put them…where? When did bookshelves happen? What was on the walls before that? What went away to make room for books. (In my house…art, duh!) And here we are now, maybe on the flip side of the coin. If we could fill up houses that had previously had no contact with shelves and shelves of books–why couldn't we move into a world where the opposite happened? Am I going to "suddenly" (in a couple of decades?) have room to hang posters from all my favorite kids books in my office? Will I have a wall quilt that shows silkscreens of the original art from the Secret Garden?
Part of me says no way, but then I'm pretty sure that's what a lot of people were saying about paper books at one time.
Tana Adams says
Thank you!!!!! I've been trying to convince people for months that ipad has bested the Kindle. I happen to have both and no longer even open my Kindle. In fact I gifted it to my boys for Christmas, and no, they weren't that thrilled.
Before the ipad I thought the Kindle really had it going on. But in truth, comparing Kindle to the ipad is like jumping from a black and white TV with no remote, to a plasma with a DVR. The difference is really THAT big people.
And no, it doesn't hurt my eyes.
Scott Marlowe says
Ditto, but with my Kindle. Not only am I buying more eBooks than paper books, but I'm buying more indie authors b/c they (we?) price their books at a more attractive price. I'm reading one right now that *was* traditionally pub'ed, but the rights reverted back to the author who is now selling the eBook himself via Amazon. Best of both worlds, IMO.
Bryan Russell (Ink) says
Like Lot's wife, I did not heed the warning, and have now been struck blind and turned into a pillar of salt.
On the upside, my family's condiment expenses just went down.
therealjasonb says
I think they could see some replacement, particularly if the ebooks are, shall we say, reasonably priced? I recently did a similar thing. My wife bought a big fat paperback (like 900 pages) that I was interested in reading, but when I started it, it just seemed so bulky and hard to deal with, I bought if for my Kindle instead.
With the Kindle, I've also been more willing to sell/giveaway books I've read, since I don't have a ton of space to store them and I can just get them again for the Kindle if necessary.
D.G. Hudson says
An e-reader is convenient, but I'm definitely not as converted as you are. The interconnection is the attraction. It's so easy to do all those things — like looking up a word, etc — with only a few finger flicks or taps.
But if we get up less to do things like getting a pen, or breaking out the dictionary, then we had better do something else to keep us active. We could turn into sloths, with large eyes. It's all very efficient to use the e-reader, but I'm still reading my paper books. I'd only buy the same book on the e-reader if my paper copy wore out.
If publishers experience an e-book replacement boom, then will the authors benefit or will it simply give a $$$ boost to the industry?
Star-Dreamer says
This is a subject that has really been taking over the blogosphere and the writing networks lately… are ebooks better? I don't know. I don't have an ereader or an ipad and I don't like reading pdf's off my computer unless it's my own manuscript. However, that being said, I've plaid around with my friend's kindle, and I have to say, I could really get use to that. Now granted, I am definitely attached to paper books, but this is a whole new tantalizing arena.
The one thing I note that is a + for ebooks is the fact that it is becoming easier than ever for indie authors to make it big… IF (of course) the have a well written book with a target audience, marketing strategy, and have actually put work into both. But, as people are finding out, this is often times the case. I noticed, Mr. Bransford, that you've recently posted about the "successful" indie authors out there… many of whom I've been looking into. Indie publishing is rising out of the ashes and the bad reviews and actually becoming NOTICEABLE.
Now, I'm not published yet and so far I've made no plans to go indie, but that is not to say I haven't considered it. Believe me, I have. The world of publishing and writing is quickly changing. Writers need to stay on top of things, or fall back in the dust.
Nathan Bransford says
d.g.-
Authors would definitely benefit, they'd get royalties on the e-book sales.
Turbi says
I adore my ereader. That said I have been an avid book buyer since I would save my allowance to buy books.
For the last few years, I have been replacing old books with ebooks. When you own 62 cartons of books, moving is not easy! With ebooks, they are just easier to transport.
Also, when you are a fast reader, its nice to have a selection on hand to choose from. The ereader gives you that option. I always have my to read pile with me.
I still buy physical books, but they tend to be more like treasured collectibles now.
Lucinda Bilya says
Nathan, we all know you ain't right, but we love ya anyway. (could be because we ain't right neither)
Your recent blogs have me studying and reading even more about the evolution of the e-book invasion.
A conversation with my oldest son about the US postal service and its looming demise, and the closing of a major book store, we agreed that when traditions dig their heals in, refusing to adjust and change with the times, they will break. Barnes and Nobel made their own e-reader to jump on the band wagon. Even if they don’t survive the e-book invasion, they are at least trying. The US postal service didn’t think much about email and that nothing could ever replace sending cards and letters the “old” fashioned way. They are feeling the squeeze now.
At first, I resisted the idea of reading an e-book, and although I have yet to purchase an e-reader, I read my computer ALL. THE. TIME! I read news on my e-device. I check the weather…I research e-encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc. ON. MY. COMPUTER.
So, I am adjusting my thinking about the publishing industry as well. For years, the advice has been, NEVER self-publish for it will ruin your chances of ever becoming a successful writer. Now, the world looks a little different, even though I feel I am running along behind that band wagon, I plan one day to hitch a ride on it one way or another.
Keep on reading your e-devices! At least people are reading, right?
Love Lucy
https://lucinda.110mb.com
Diana says
There's been a resurgence in vinyl records. I saw a turntable for sale in Target the other day. I haven't seen one in a store in over twenty years.
If the publishing industry does follow the music industry, then in ten to twenty years we'll see paper books return to the shelves. 🙂
P A Wilson says
I hope so. I've replaced my VCR tapes with DVDs I've uploaded all my CDs to my itunes library and would love to be able to put some of my favorite reads in my e-library.
The other thing I would like to do is buy some back titles from my favorite authors.