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Asteriktos
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« on: February 20, 2013, 04:48:40 AM » |
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Let's talk about books... specifically, what is their future? Will they become obsolete and a novelty/niche thing with the growth of e-readers? If so, how long will it take before we really see their end as a common thing? What will the process look like? Will it be something of a generational thing, with future children growing up (in school) on e-readers and never really using books? If paper books do get replaced by electronic versions, what will that do to our culture? What will it do to publishing, casual reading, literature, etc.? Will public/university libraries, which can be expensive to run/maintain, become small little things with most of their "books" being available for online download rather than physical borrowing?
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Gebre Menfes Kidus
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« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2013, 04:59:08 AM » |
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I think books will always be with us. I hope so.  Selam |
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"Salvation is free, but not easy. It is completely dependent upon the grace of God, and yet we must work it out with fear and trembling. It is given to all, but only a few find it. We are saved only by His Cross, and yet not without taking up our own." +GMK+
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Raff
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« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2013, 05:02:05 AM » |
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I hope this eBook thing is a novelty, but I doubt it. Think of the potential of schoolbooks for kids. It could possibly halve the book fees for parents and reduce the weight of a schoolbag by 90%. That said, there is nothing better than buying a leatherbound, gold trimmed, 600 page classic. Plus people in cafes wouldn't be able to tell that you are reading Ulysses, so why else read it? Just joking.
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Gebre Menfes Kidus
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« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2013, 06:34:16 AM » |
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I hope this eBook thing is a novelty, but I doubt it. Think of the potential of schoolbooks for kids. It could possibly halve the book fees for parents and reduce the weight of a schoolbag by 90%. That said, there is nothing better than buying a leatherbound, gold trimmed, 600 page classic. Plus people in cafes wouldn't be able to tell that you are reading Ulysses, so why else read it? Just joking.
Don't underestimate this dynamic. I personally confess to ostentatious public reading.  Selam |
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"Salvation is free, but not easy. It is completely dependent upon the grace of God, and yet we must work it out with fear and trembling. It is given to all, but only a few find it. We are saved only by His Cross, and yet not without taking up our own." +GMK+
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Arachne
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« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2013, 06:50:25 AM » |
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I love my Kindle, and it has greatly enhanced my reading, but I don't think physical books will be disappearing in our lifetime. They may become more expensive, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (certainly not if it stops some tripe from being published). Over the years of recession, the practice of book-swapping has grown so much that I can't see it dying down easily, even if the economy evens out. There's something wonderful about a used book, a feeling of connection to other people who read and enjoyed it before yourself. I see reading as an essentially social activity. Ebooks might be just the thing for university students, to cut down on textbook prices and bulk, both of which are simply outrageous. For schoolkids... not so much. The lifespan of an e-reader in the hands of a 6-year-old would be as many days.  |
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The reason why clichés are so satisfying is because the truth never loses its residual force. Blog ~ Bookshelf ~ Jukebox |
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Alpo
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« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2013, 07:11:25 AM » |
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There's something wonderful about a used book, a feeling of connection to other people who read and enjoyed it before yourself. I see reading as an essentially social activity.
That's nice way to put it. I hope one day a have a whole room filled with used books. Somehow they look more nice than new books and it's more ecological too to buy second-hand stuff instead of new ones. My latest purchase was second-hand Finnish Quran from the 40's. I believe books will be like vinyls are today. A vintage luxury. |
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Just a little reminder: this forum is not called OrthodoxChristianityUSA.net  |
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Asteriktos
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« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2013, 07:22:40 AM » |
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That's nice way to put it. I hope one day a have a whole room filled with used books. This is also a dream of mine. I just worry that, by the time I am in a position to actually build such a library, it won't be possible any longer. I believe books will be like vinyls are today. A vintage luxury.
Interesting thought... |
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Arachne
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« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2013, 07:30:07 AM » |
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That's nice way to put it. I hope one day a have a whole room filled with used books. Somehow they look more nice than new books and it's more ecological too to buy second-hand stuff instead of new ones. My latest purchase was second-hand Finnish Quran from the 40's.
I believe books will be like vinyls are today. A vintage luxury. If I put all of my secondhands together, they'd probably take up more than a room. Between BookMooch, charity shops and Amazon bargains, there's a lot there. But you know what they say... if ever your shelves can hold all your books, it's time to buy more books!  |
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The reason why clichés are so satisfying is because the truth never loses its residual force. Blog ~ Bookshelf ~ Jukebox |
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Gamliel
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« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2013, 10:38:58 AM » |
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This is also a dream of mine. I just worry that, by the time I am in a position to actually build such a library, it won't be possible any longer. Don't worry. Captain Picard still reads books. |
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Jason.Wike
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« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2013, 11:03:06 AM » |
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I hope this eBook thing is a novelty, but I doubt it. Think of the potential of schoolbooks for kids. It could possibly halve the book fees for parents and reduce the weight of a schoolbag by 90%. That said, there is nothing better than buying a leatherbound, gold trimmed, 600 page classic. Plus people in cafes wouldn't be able to tell that you are reading Ulysses, so why else read it? Just joking.
It won't really do anything to book prices. E-books are not really any cheaper. They're ripping people off with real books (those $200 books cost about $10 to make), they're not stopping just because it costs nearly nothing to copy the book. |
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If you give up pride of place for yourself to God, you will find your soul and eternity.. if you insist on putting yourself before God you will loose yourself eternally.
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Jason.Wike
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« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2013, 11:05:03 AM » |
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People will always buy the books that are important to them in real rather than ebook form. I wouldn't want to be without the Bible or other books just because civilization ended and I couldn't charge my nook.
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« Last Edit: February 20, 2013, 11:05:28 AM by Jason.Wike »
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If you give up pride of place for yourself to God, you will find your soul and eternity.. if you insist on putting yourself before God you will loose yourself eternally.
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Papist
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« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2013, 12:25:10 PM » |
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Let's talk about books... specifically, what is their future? Will they become obsolete and a novelty/niche thing with the growth of e-readers? If so, how long will it take before we really see their end as a common thing? What will the process look like? Will it be something of a generational thing, with future children growing up (in school) on e-readers and never really using books? If paper books do get replaced by electronic versions, what will that do to our culture? What will it do to publishing, casual reading, literature, etc.? Will public/university libraries, which can be expensive to run/maintain, become small little things with most of their "books" being available for online download rather than physical borrowing?
The thing I like about print books over elctronic books is that print books are easier to mark and write in. |
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"The only-begotten Son of God, wanting us to be partakers of his divinity, assumed our human nature so that, having become man, he might make men gods." - St. Thomas Aquinas
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Cyrillic
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« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2013, 12:26:48 PM » |
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Lately most books I've read were read from my computer screen. But that's because I'm glued to my screen.
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"Ἔπαγε, ἔπαγε, μὴ γὰρ ἴδοι με σιωπῶντα ἥλιος."-Polemon of LaodiceaAll ye self-proclaimed intellectuals, come and read Lucian in the Book Club!
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Alpo
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« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2013, 12:53:17 PM » |
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print books are easier to mark and write in.
You might want to talk with your father confessor about that. It's terrible to read books with markings on them. |
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Just a little reminder: this forum is not called OrthodoxChristianityUSA.net |
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That person
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« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2013, 02:44:50 PM » |
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I actually read a pretty interesting blog post about this, arguing that, from a Christian perspective, the advent of e-books is a good thing, since they remove the sort of pride that comes from reading difficult books in public or owning a large collection. I wish I could find it.
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"Some have such command of their bowels, that they can break wind continuously at pleasure, so as to produce the effect of singing."- St. Augustine of Hippo
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Iconodule
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« Reply #15 on: February 20, 2013, 02:48:51 PM » |
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I love physical books but since I got a Kindle for my birthday the tremendous advantages of the format have become clear to me. Especially if you read a lot of old books (like any decent literate person should)- so many of them can gotten cheap or free and none of the massive shelf space and resultant complaints from the wife. I will however continue to retain and read physical copies of certain books, especially beloved classics.
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"A Poet a Painter a Musician an Architect: the Man Or Woman who is not one of these is not a Christian." - William Blake
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NightOwl
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« Reply #16 on: February 20, 2013, 03:47:31 PM » |
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I just ordered 7 books from Amazon with some old gift cards I'd been saving. |
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« Last Edit: February 20, 2013, 03:49:00 PM by NightOwl »
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Phanouria
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« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2013, 01:19:52 PM » |
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Any of you bibliophiles out there old enough to rememeber the smell of new books!
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"It's said in publishing that no cat book ever loses money. Maybe it's true; bibliophiles tend to be ailurophiles, and both are tenacious breeds."
Emily Toth, Woman's Review of Books 1 Jul 1995
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Arachne
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« Reply #18 on: March 23, 2013, 01:35:30 PM » |
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Any of you bibliophiles out there old enough to rememeber the smell of new books!
Of course. Despite the toxic fumes behind it. |
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The reason why clichés are so satisfying is because the truth never loses its residual force. Blog ~ Bookshelf ~ Jukebox |
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Gamliel
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« Reply #19 on: March 23, 2013, 01:56:14 PM » |
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I made an earlier comment about Captain Picard. I do not know if people in the future will still have books in paper format, but I know I shall always enjoy reading paper format. I see computer screens enough at work that when I am home and have the opporturnity to read Scripture, the Fathers, history, or a novel, I aways do so in paper format. I find it easier to keep my place and it is easier on my eyes.
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Phanouria
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« Reply #20 on: March 28, 2013, 09:50:04 PM » |
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I am a librarian, so folks think that I own hundreds of books. Nooooo. That's why libraries exist. So you don't have to buy them all. Collect your favorites and get a library card. No complaining spouses, no expensive additions to your house for bookshelves and no e-readers to make books extinct.
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"It's said in publishing that no cat book ever loses money. Maybe it's true; bibliophiles tend to be ailurophiles, and both are tenacious breeds."
Emily Toth, Woman's Review of Books 1 Jul 1995
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Iconodule
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« Reply #21 on: March 29, 2013, 08:17:25 AM » |
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Any of you bibliophiles out there old enough to rememeber the smell of new books!
You do realize that they still print them, right? |
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"A Poet a Painter a Musician an Architect: the Man Or Woman who is not one of these is not a Christian." - William Blake
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Schultz
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« Reply #22 on: March 29, 2013, 09:03:02 AM » |
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I am a librarian, so folks think that I own hundreds of books. Nooooo. That's why libraries exist. So you don't have to buy them all. Collect your favorites and get a library card. No complaining spouses, no expensive additions to your house for bookshelves and no e-readers to make books extinct.
Nice to meet a fellow librarian on here! I think the same way. I have two decent library systems close to my house and take full advantage. When we met, I had probably three times as many books as my wife did. Now it's the other way around as I've jettisoned much of my collection of the past decade. No reason to buy a book you'll probably only read once and never look at again. If it really is that good, then perhaps you can buy it, but libraries are great for "try before you buy!" |
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Achronos
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« Reply #23 on: March 30, 2013, 03:00:08 AM » |
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I am a librarian, so folks think that I own hundreds of books. Nooooo. That's why libraries exist. So you don't have to buy them all. Collect your favorites and get a library card. No complaining spouses, no expensive additions to your house for bookshelves and no e-readers to make books extinct.
lol great avatar |
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Kerdy
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« Reply #24 on: March 30, 2013, 07:41:34 AM » |
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I think books will always be with us. I hope so. Selam I do as well. I have never really like ebooks. |
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"Let it be understood that those who are not found living as He taught are not Christian- even though they profess with the lips the teaching of Christ." - Justin Martyr ( c.160 )
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stavros_388
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« Reply #25 on: March 30, 2013, 07:53:39 AM » |
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I think books will always be with us. I hope so. Selam I do as well. I have never really like ebooks. I love ebooks merely for their affordability and easy accessibility. But there is nothing like smelling the pages of a newly purchased book... mmmm. I think there will always be a market for physical books. |
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"Our mind is pure and simple, so that when it is stripped of every alien thought, it enters the pure, simple, Divine light and becomes quite encompassed and hidden therein, and can no more meet there anything but the light in which it is." -- St Simeon the New Theologian
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« Reply #26 on: March 30, 2013, 12:58:29 PM » |
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I think books will always be with us. I hope so. Selam I do as well. I have never really like ebooks. I love ebooks merely for their affordability and easy accessibility. But there is nothing like smelling the pages of a newly purchased book... mmmm. I think there will always be a market for physical books. Same here. I loves me some books. |
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