Books Will Not Survive

The Age of Speed is driven by our insatiable need for instant gratification. If we can have it now, that’s a good thing. The debate over paper bound books vs electronic books has been bouncing back and forth like a rumor at a healthcare debate. But digital products like the Kindle and Sony Book Reader will eventually be the death panel for paper books.

 

The biggest argument for book readers has been “loving the feel of paper in their hands.”  It’s a nostalgic notion not unlike the romanticism of riding on a train or in a boat or on a horse. These same people would still readily and primarily hop in a car or travel on a plane. The experience of reading a book is not about the paper folks.

 

The coveted experience is the escape. When you read a book, the only thing that you have consuming your focus is the story or content.

 

Books on laptops or desktops have not, nor will they ever, replace conventional books. Why? Interruptions and convenience. The dominant downside of the Age of Speed are the number of times we are interrupted in a day. Putting multiple functionalities on one computer (ie communication, video, pictures, business applications, etc) have obvious benefits. But add a book, especially a fictional narrative and you lose the escape experience. It’s tough to escape when you have, “You’ve got mail” dinging away.

 

I also predict the books on PDAs like the Treo, Blackberry and iPhone will not get past the early adopter phase. Again, interruptions will destroy the experience of reading a book. A new text message will ding. The phone will play that goofy tune only you think is cute. People will realize they can’t sufficiently dive into the escape experience of the novel.

 

Actually, let’s back up and understand that we humans are driven by an experience. We will buy expensive tickets for a Paul McCartney concert weeks in advance just to experience something we associate with our younger days. Which is what we did recently. Oh, by the way… it was amazing to look around and see how many people where texting while McCartney was performing. So much for “escape.”

 

This is a case in point. If the distraction is available, it doesn’t even need a ding to interrupt us. As your thoughts wander while you read a book or enjoy a concert the simple access to twitteremailtextingchattinginstantmessagingfacebooking is enough to ruin the escape with a compulsive look.

 

The biggest mistake Kindle and Sony Readers could make is to try to become a multifunction unit. Keep it a tablet to read and escape. Leave the PDA at home. Escape and enjoy.

 

And to all you books made out of paper. It was nice knowing ya.

 

Now I’ve got some inventory to unload. Buy those old fashioned books while they last. Why? According to Brian Tracy, the one thing all rich people have in common is a library.

 

So stock up so you can be rich and nostalgic all at once.

 

Click here.

 

Comments

[Tanya Webb]

Please don't tell me books are going to become obsolete. Being raised with a true love of books, the electronic version cannot compete with that special feel of opening a brand new book, with discovering a very old original text, the receipt of signed copy from your favorite author, or even just a "favorite book" found by a friend and gifted with a hand-written note in the cover. And what about the sense of true wonder you feel when walking into the BIG public library stacks? Sometimes the experience really is about the feel of paper. The coveted experience is escape, but how successful is that escape without all your senses being involved? Until books do become obsolete, I pledge to keep handing brand new copies of all-time childhood favorites (Green Eggs & Ham, anyone?) to kids just learning to read, hoping they'll get the full experience of escape AND paper!

[Vince Poscente]

Dear Reader,

I love the sentiment and agree that there is something magical about books. I surround myself with them in my office. It's a borderline fetish ;-)

Maybe I should have added (As We Know Them) to the title. But rest assured books will be pushed aside by future generations. Some of these same people will keep books on hand.

Think of it this way. The sound of cracking a new book open. Reading Where the Wild Things Are to your child. Sitting on a beach with nothing but the sun and sound of the waves to accompany the paperbound book. These are all things that we cherish.

Much the same way horse people love the sound of a leather saddle as you pull your self up from the horn and throw your leg over your horse. Or nuzzling your equine friend as you pat his sturdy neck. Or the gentle rocking of a train or the smell of the ocean and wind in your hair as you travel by boat.

New technology (cars and planes) didn't replace these experiences entirely, they just made it more of a "destination experience."

Long live books (in all forms)...

PS... I miss home cooked meals too ;-)

[Mark Arnold]

Great post, Vince! The tools may change but reading as an experience will not. If books don't survive, then surely reading will. My favorite interview question I ask is "What is the last book you've read?" The applicants' answers gives me invaluable insights into their soul.

By the way, I knew the Kindle had tipped when someone asked me if they could download my new book (Think Huge) for their Kindle (see blog.thinkhuge.info).

Keep up the great writing and think huge!