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The Push Toward Paperless: A Conspiracy?
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I didn't feel attacked. However, I am very critical of e-readers and e-books. They will eventually lead to the demise of printed books and I do not want to contribute to that. If you don't understand this, you're not paying attention.
The connection between rescuing my dogs, recycling my trash and recycling/rescuing books, buying only renewable electricity (and paying more for it) and reducing the overall carbon footprint is all part of a lifestyle choice.
In an age where the individual has very little power, these inter-connected actions are what an individual can do to preserve a vanishing way of life. It's a matter of individual choice.
I can't end the insane wasteful and unwinnable Iraq and Afghan wars, restore economic growth and put people back to work, or combat the financial greed of Wall Street and corporate America, but I can do these things.
The best part of eBooks is that you get to read all of those books that are out of print, many that will never be reprinted again. Most are free through Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org). If it wasn't for eBooks, most of these books would be lost forever and it's to the credit of public domain houses like the Gutenberg project and others like Feedbooks.com that a lot of great books and stories will be around forever. Just today, I downloaded for free Mary Roberts Rineharts's first book, The Bobbsey Twins (to read to my nieces), The Pilgrim's Progress, The Scarlett Pimpernel and some pulp fiction by some obscure American and British authors - not to mention some works by new authors that have never been published by traditional publishers. Even if you don't have an eReader check out the public domain sites you'll probably find an old friend you'd thought may have been lost forever.If you have questions about how eReaders work, check out the Group on GoodReads specifically for eReaders and the Amazon Kindle.
I love books at least as I can see them piled in the corner. The government want book- less schools - just rows of terminals. I think this is another attack on the author. Will there be any authors soon who will be employed full time? The power of the Kindle is immense. It is greed and knowledge is power. As for the paper book, it will not go. The Kindle will become a consumer item, you will have to keep changing it. It will add far more pollution and toxic chemicals to our biosphere. In the West, we will see decline and exchange rates fall because our political leaders are failures. The world's resources will run out and become expensive. Welcome the new Stone Age. This is all very academic.
I bought a Kindle and I absolutely love it. The fact that I can enlarge the size of the text, and when my eyes are tired, I can switch to have the book read out loud to me was the selling point. Not to mention the saving of bookshelf space in my home - saving of trees, and the price is right!
I can have my favourite paragraphs saved to a clipboard for easy access in future, without having to do further work.
Some people just love collecting books.
Cheryl wrote: "The best part of eBooks is that you get to read all of those books that are out of print, many that will never be reprinted again. Most are free through Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org). If ..."I picked up a copy of a relatively new copy of The Scarlett Pimpernel for 50 cents at my local used book store.
I tried reading a book online. It just wasn't the same as the printed page.
I think this should be of interest to anyone who writes novels. Over at Librarything there is a thread that is focusing on "Underappreciated Writers." For an entire month the writer is asked wide-ranging questions about his or her work. The goal is to broaden readership and appreciation of the work, but the questions can be demanding and revealing. By the way, anyone can pose questions to the writer. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the writer for February, and for another 10 days will be answering any and all quetions that come my way. Other writers will be chosed in the months to come and dropping in on the site to ask a question or make a comment may be a good way of introducing yourself. The link to the thread is http://www.librarything.com/topic/82398 By the way if you ever want to take a look at the primary novel being discussed, The Red Album of Asbury Park Remixed, the free PDF is http://www.willcall.org/web/redalbum.pdf
I think the most important element of the mix here, is not paper verses electronic books. The big issue for all writers is will they be paid at all for all their work to cover their costs. So many successful writers show large earnings, but if you investigate closer it is not from book sales. It seems that writers need to demand minimum terms from publishers and not allow themselves to be divided by a few who do special deals with let us say, Google. Otherwise, a great element of modern culture will disappear as has in the music industry. We may end up with books written by teams of second-rate writers – the art being totally lost.
E and paper publishers are using an old methodology of divide and rule the authors and appeal to their greed. A few have entered the gate with big inducements and rest get broken and fleeced. Later, the lucky few are squeezed with renegotiated contracts.
Everyone should take advice from his or her professional bodies. This is not socialism at work as some mealy-minded people may think, but more like a city corporation negotiating with a medieval king or accountants and lawyers negotiating their fees. If you are not a member of a professional body, then join one.
Chiming in a little late on this, but I am one of those who read electronic books as well as print books. When traveling, the e-book is ideal. I tend to read 2 and 3 books at a time, and carrying that many books (or more) while traveling is ludicrous. E-books may eventually cause the demise of print books (not in my lifetime, though), but they are also saving books for the future. So many books that are out of print are available electronically (just check out the Gutenberg Project). I would rather know that the knowledge is preserved instead of worrying about the demise of the print book.
I'm a conspiracy nut of the first water but I really don't see one here. Well... I COULD, but I don't. -grin-I just see it as another advancement in technology. One that can be used in many ways for many reasons.
I truly would love to have a device to carry around for a few reasons.
1. I could have a much larger selection to choose from right now.
2. Size and weight.
3. Sheer convenience.
That being said, there is no way a device will ever replace the printed page for me. I collect books because I enjoy reading and because I enjoy the book as an artform.
I know there are enough like me that books will continue to be printed.
Then again-
I DO see and understand where this comes from. Ecologically speaking there are those that feel printing books is a waste of a valuable resource. I personally don't think those people read much if at all. -grin- It's always easy to argue against something that will not impact you.
The problems with the paper industry is simple - greed. There is not a shortage of paper or trees. There IS a shortage of well-managed forests that COULD well become a shortage of trees/paper.
The rising cost of paper is only partially factual based on economy. But much of it is simple greed.
Any time these companies don't match thei PROJECTED annual income, something based on their personal portfolios and greed, they see it as a loss. Doesn't matter that they made a profit for the year, they didn't make their fantasy projections so they panic. This can be seen world-wide and is a large cause of the trouble our economy is in.
what does this have to do with paper? Everything! It's all tied together but more importantly, it's the mindset of those who are setting the prices and creating the false shortages.
We've all seen how the price of books has skyrocketed in the past 10-20 years. If you were to base price increases on realistic increases, our books wouldn't be nearly so expensive.
And THAT is what is driving the down-turn (if there is one) in readership. Books are simply getting too expensive.
Then again, books are still the least expensive form of entertainment you can buy and they keep on giving.
So while there will be a push towards electronic media, which I welcome as another CHOICE, I really think books will be around for the forseeable future.
PS. Any of you that really don't like their Kindles or whatever, let me know. I'd love one! -grin-
Interesting topic!I am author whose book (and upcoming books) is/will be available in both eBook and print form. I like having it available in whatever format people prefer to read them. I am also a big fan of Star Trek (all the shows) and remember seeing characters on the shows reading books on pads, so based on that and other things, I always knew one day that would be a reality.
I don't have an eBook reader, maybe one day I will, I don't know. I love the look and feel of a paper book (I donate tons of books to charity when I've read them, though I keep a personal collection of faves that I share with family & friends). I just love curling up with the printed page. I also really enjoy taking magazines & books into the bath, with candles & music, which is one of my favorite ways to relax - I wouldn't do that with an electronic reader.
Long live books in all forms!!
Rai Aren, co-author of the award-winning sci-fi/mystery novel SECRET OF THE SANDS
Brett wrote: "I'm a conspiracy nut of the first water but I really don't see one here. Well... I COULD, but I don't. -grin-I just see it as another advancement in technology. One that can be used in many ways ..."
I also treasure & enjoy books as artforms...
Wow -- I didn't think I'd be personally attacked for expressing myself here. Guess I won't frequent this discussion anymore. But I am glad that you rescued your dogs -- what that has to do with eReaders and books I'm not quite getting but it's a nice thing to do anyway and I wish more people did it.
Over and out.