Introduction
The electronic book is rapidly gaining popularity, and most conventional bookstores have been put out of business. Online stores such as Amazon have become a hub for the new evolution in e-books, and there is no question that the advent of internet and technology has automated the way information is published and distributed. Starting 2011, e-books have topped the physical book sales and the percentage of people using them doubled since 2010, including children and young adults. There is also a web explosion of blogs and websites that has rendered conventional newspapers, magazines, and other printed media unfavourable in this technology age.
My Claim: However, you can’t just give up on the book. Paper books will never die.
Importance
Technology is great, and its inevitability is certain in modern day society. Nevertheless, not all people are pro-tech, and most of them prefer their traditional paper books to e-books. The printed book represents an ornamental culture that’s been cultivated over many years since the first copy was established, a culture that epitomizes the pinnacle of civilization and intellect. The library, a sanctuary of knowledge, intelligence and reflection is also irreplaceable, whichever way people may choose to look at it. In comparison, the printed book is like a multiple course banquet that is to be meticulously savoured and enjoyed over time and with prodigious serenity. On the other hand, e-books are like fast food, produced en masse for quick consumption (Castro De La Mata, 2015).
Reason One
Books are nostalgic, and those that prefer printed books over their digital counterparts keep referring to things like smell, the feel, and the weight of carrying the book around. This experience cannot be reproduced with e-books. The texture and roughness of paper warrant the continued existence of books for generations to come.
Counter Argument: Many sceptics of the conventional books will argue that there is nothing to enjoy about them because the feel and smell of paper and glue remain the same regardless of which book one is reading. They also argue that one should be enjoying the words and the stories written in the book more than the feel should be the main reason for reading it in the first place.
Rebuttal: However, e-books will never replace this personal and intimate experience and attachment that a good novel or a book of poetry brings out. In essence, books are like a favourite piece of art that draws out various emotions when in the hands of the reader.
Reason Two
Printed books are collectible. They possess an element of scarcity, which implies that there is some uniqueness in owning a book or having a whole collection from your favourite author. This sense of ownership is not duplicated when downloading several e-books to one’s iPad or e-reader tablets. Digital technology makes one feel like they own a book, but in actual sense, they are paying for the right to access its data.
Counter Argument: E-books enthusiasts understand this but maintain that there is no need to own a book that will just occupy space at home, and you might not end up reading it most of the time. They reason that e-books are better because they cannot be stolen, they are inexpensive and easy to share and distribute.
Rebuttal: There is a loss of authenticity in this kind of reasoning because words, art and ideas are lost in an unappreciative society. E-books will never be exotic and cannot be valued as collectibles, thus signifying a loss of art and culture (Novak, 2015).
Reason Three
Printed books have provenance. The value placed on traditional paper books cannot be duplicated by e-books. They define a person and create deep connections of significant emotional value. This experience converts these books into personal artefacts and gives them a lasting impression and appreciation derived from the reader and the author. Printed books have been around for centuries, and many people accord them a high aesthetic value and have formed formidable relationships with them than e-books.
Counter Argument: Digital book readers are against forming relationships with books, saying that you cannot establish a relationship with an inanimate object. Furthermore, there is no value in getting stuck with some book because there are a lot of distractions with modern tech (Jarvis, 2006).
Rebuttal: E-book readers place very little sentimental value on their books displayed in iPads or Kindle, and will never get the experience of owning a rare copy or catching up to a valued author and book during your free time.
Connection and Conclusion
The book is slowly becoming an outdated means of communicating information, and thanks to technology, efforts to revolutionize the book industry are being realized. Many people have argued that we need to kill the book and focus on efforts to transform electronic books. There are many advantages to e-books, such as online connections and referrals, storage and availability. However, paper books are making significant comebacks because their purpose is still valued and while new generations prefer being modernized, there are older generations that haven’t lost their touch with the paper books.
In conclusion, there is a modern outlook at the aesthetic value that books have come to be valued for. Each is unique and should be enjoyed as such. In this digital age, digital books and printed versions are finding a way to exist and flourish, and everyone is adhering to their preferred taste.
References
Castro De La Mata, G. (2015). The printed book will never die. The World Bank - Working for a World Free of Poverty. Retrieved from http://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/printed-book-will-never-die
Jarvis, J. (2006). Books will disappear. Print is where words go to die. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/jun/05/bookscomment.mediaguardian1
Novak, M. (2015). Paper Books Will Never Die. Gizmodo. Retrieved from http://gizmodo.com/paper-books-will-never-die-1680405494
