It is not uncommon to hear “experts” predict that print books will cease to exist. The fact of the matter is that, contrary to what some people believe, print books are still more popular than e-books. E-books are gaining popularity but still remain a large portion of the book market. This article will explore why print books are not dying and why they may even be gaining more popularity than e-books.
Print books are better for your health than e-books
The difference between reading a print book and reading an e-book is not merely visual. Research by the SUNY College of Optometry found that readers of e-books reported a larger amount of eye strain, more fatigue, and a decreased ability to focus. Readers of print books also reported a greater sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, a factor that e-book users may not be as aware of.
Researchers at the University of Iowa compared three major medical publications-UpToDate, MD Consult, and Harrison’s Online-to print versions. The researchers asked medical students to compare each one’s accessibility to major medical publications. The participants tended to prefer print versions of the three resources. It was not accessibility, however, that was the driving factor for choosing print over e-books.
Print books have surpassed e-books in content
E-books have become a popular alternative to traditional print books. While more people than ever are joining the digital world, the printed book industry faces challenges from this new wave of readers. Online media such as blogs are creating new markets for backlist titles, which traditional publishers have traditionally overlooked. Publishers can now reach the online audience that they previously couldn’t reach with traditional print publishing. Meanwhile, bloggers can serve as public relations agents for traditional print publishers.
Despite their advantages, e-books still can’t meet the expectations of book consumers. Aside from the ability to share a single e-book with others, printed books have other advantages. They can be given as gifts, lent to friends and family members, and sold second-hand. In addition, they can be left in out-of-the-way places, which e-books can’t do.
Print books have overcome technological obstacles
As we move from paper books to electronic copies, print books are facing several challenges that have been created by technology. For example, the printing process was once considered a divine art, and its masters wore aprons and sometimes had inflated views of themselves. Despite this, the book industry continues to grow and develop. This article looks at some of the challenges that are facing the traditional print industry and how technology can help overcome these obstacles.
In the Renaissance, Gutenberg, a goldsmith, began combining movable metallic type with a wooden press, which had been used for making wine. Gutenberg’s printing press transformed the process into a mass-produced medium. Though copying books by hand did not disappear, the printing press swept through Venice, where a dense cluster of print shops served as the first Silicon Valley. Nevertheless, the printing press reshaped the social order.
Print books aren’t dying
The trend is not entirely clear. The majority of adults now prefer reading ebooks to print books, though a small percentage still reads print books. The decline in sales has many causes. The use of e-books has made it easier to access new publications, but people still prefer holding a book in their hands. In addition, the increased use of smartphones and tablets has resulted in fewer physical books being destroyed. The growth of ebooks is largely due to a number of technological advances, which have reduced costs for authors and publishers.
While e-books have overtaken print books as the most popular form of reading material, there are also many health issues associated with digital content. E-readers can cause eye strain, headaches, and even blurred vision. And yet, research shows that print books are still relevant and have a place in the digital world. In addition, paperbacks are friendlier to the human eye than hardcovers, and the physical form of a book makes it more comfortable to hold.
