Paper books have avoided the fate of most other physical media.
So what is it about books?
That equation has tipped far in the digital direction in all other media.
Kimberly Farmer / Unsplash
We might be nostalgic for Polaroids, but we dont buy a camera and film.
We download an app that makes our photos look like Polaroids.
An e-reader uses a non-glowing, reflective white page with black e-ink.
Eliott Reyna / Unsplash
It relies on reflected light to view it, just like paper.
This is what makes it way more comfortable to read for hours on end than any tablet or phone.
So the anti-screen argument doesnt make much sense either.
Association of American Publishers
The majority of responses I got romanticized the book as an object.
“The experience is incomparable.
Its like eating in a Michelin star restaurant vs Subway.
Youcanread e-books on your phone, but its a poor experience.
Perhaps this alone is a big enough barrier to e-books?
In the early days of e-books, they took off just like all other digital media.
Instead of jumping onto e-books, publishers put their weight behind paper.
Today, books really are beautiful objects.
You touch quality paper when turning pages, look at the beautiful coverit all contributes to the experience.
