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Saddest thing I've read in some time. Without books and the knowledge they contain, many people are little more than animals.
The content of books isn't going anywhere. I'm still reading "the knowledge they contain" and I haven't bought a paper book in almost a year. Same exact content, just a different format.
In fact, ebooks are arguably doing more for the content of books than paper books do. They allow people to access out of copyright books for free, like all the big name classics (Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, etc) - but also, lesser known works which we might never have even heard about, let alone had access to without ebooks.
So apparently Amazon is selling more e-books than hard covers. No doubt they're giddy as it moves them a step closer to getting rid of the shame they feel for originally being a bookstore website. Anyways I'm about half and half hardcover and softcover. I can't see myself continuing to read if it goes to all e-books, or even only e-book on the books I want to read. Am I the only one?
I prefer real books as well although I've read a few books on my iPhone.
Saddest thing I've read in some time. Without books and the knowledge they contain, many people are little more than animals.
If it wasn't for books, I'd actually believe the gummint.
If anything, more books will be accessible to more people. There are many people in rural communities that don't have libraries that can supply enough books to students, and others in their communities. If I need a book, it is rare that I won't be able to get it and even better, most classics are free on Kindle!
Aren't most B&N and Borders like libraries anyway? Why would it be so sad if they all went away? There are far too many people that go in there to read and never buy books. The only thing that annoys me about Kindle is that some of the books don't seem to scan over right - there are more grammatical and spelling mistakes I would assume. I am not 100% sure but compared to my paper books I just find more errors.
Perhaps people will start to have better education opportunities in the rural areas of the world because of Kindle...the sky is the limit with the books they offer. I will continue to buy real books that take up space on my bookshelf regardless.
I am a "Real book in hand" person. I am not ready to go to, The EBook way of life. I like to read the book and have it in my hand. When I am finished reading the book I either bring it back to the Library or if I own it I like to put it on the shelf to share or read again someday.
If anything, more books will be accessible to more people. There are many people in rural communities that don't have libraries that can supply enough books to students, and others in their communities. If I need a book, it is rare that I won't be able to get it and even better, most classics are free on Kindle!
Aren't most B&N and Borders like libraries anyway? Why would it be so sad if they all went away? There are far too many people that go in there to read and never buy books. The only thing that annoys me about Kindle is that some of the books don't seem to scan over right - there are more grammatical and spelling mistakes I would assume. I am not 100% sure but compared to my paper books I just find more errors.
Perhaps people will start to have better education opportunities in the rural areas of the world because of Kindle...the sky is the limit with the books they offer. I will continue to buy real books that take up space on my bookshelf regardless.
My uncle and aunt live in a rural area. There are two mom and pop bookstores about 20 miles away from them but at times those two stores don't have a good selection. Both my uncle and aunt bought Kindles last year and it gives them an advantage of getting books right away instead of ordering from online or having to keep to check at the stores near them.
Many bookstores are libraries. I notice the same things happening at the stores you mentioned. My friend's mom worked at Borders part time a few years back after she retired from teaching and she said about 50% of the people who went into the store she worked never bought anything.
I discovered some errors in a couple of books that were free through Project Gutenberg. Others have complained about errors on e-books on various sites.
E-books are great for shut-ins and others who can't get out to go to the library or bookstores. They definitely serve a good purpose. That doesn't mean that paper books should go away. New inventions like e-books, or IPhones or what have you should be for enhancing people's lives. It all depends on the users wants and needs.
Please understand that I am not criticizing your or anyone else's preferences but I really wonder what you folks who insist that the only "real" books are paper books would do if you were no longer able to read them due to failing eyesight which is the problem for so many elderly people.
Would you then give up reading rather than use an e-book?
I'm dreading the day retailers replace books with e-books (just have a feeling this will happen in the future).
To me, using e-readers just doesn't compare to the feeling of a nice book in your hands and being able to flip to your favorite parts quickly.
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Give Me Paper!
The only thing that annoys me about Kindle is that some of the books don't seem to scan over right - there are more grammatical and spelling mistakes I would assume. I am not 100% sure but compared to my paper books I just find more errors. 
