The Future of Books

I went to visit my Grandmother yesterday and we started discussing books. She asked me if I believed what's being said about the printed book eventually becoming obsolete with all of our new technology. I answered, "No" and I firmly believe it.

The printed word has existed longer than Christ. It is the mostly widely used and longest lasting medium. Telephones did not replace it. The radio did not eliminate it. Television can barely be said to have competed with it. The computer did not destroy it. What makes these computer-savvy technology advocates believe the Internet will?

Yes, the Internet is a wonderful portal. It holds and shares massive amounts of information. I will even admit that I have had an Internet addiction since the beginning of middle school. That being said, the Internet does not even compare with the printed book.

First of all, books are gorgeous. Bookbinding is an art. Libraries are beautiful works. Even fiction books are true. They are true in the sense that blood, sweat, and passion all went into making them. No one can write a book in a few hours (while websites can be created by any person any age with or without any education on the subject matter). Furthermore, unless you have a lot of money or power, your book is not going to spread around the world unless it is worthwhile. Only good books are found in libraries and stores in every country. Again, the Internet has so much junk on it, you have to question the validity of every website you come across. Due to copyright laws, any relatively modern book can only be altered by the author (and editors/publishers with the author's permission). Therefore, the words of the author remain constant and unchanging as long as that printed book sits on shelves.

You can carry around books, flip through the pages, smell the fresh paper, and fall asleep with it in your lap. After your done, you hand it around to acquaintances who share your passion for literature. There is something magical in discussing books and letting people borrow them. The joint knowledge held only by that specific group who has read the book approaches surreal. Furthermore, books have caused the rest of media! Think about it... radio shows began by reading stories. Television shows and movies are based on written scripts and books. Many websites are devoted to books either by selling, publishing, sharing, or critiquing them.

Books are as solid a part in our future as the binding that holds the pages together. They're not going anywhere anytime soon.