Are books going to become a thing of the past?

hi, I don't like to read online. But now a days many people used to read books online. eBooks can take the place of normal books but it will take many years. Because people like us are fond of reading normal book. Normal books can be read anywhere. But both has advantages and disadvantages. In modern days lifestyle goes on changing day by day. Modern things have taken the places of old things. Thus it can be happened in the future books going to be a thing of past.

Noooooo.....I won't let that happen. :( I love books way more than ereaders. There's just something about a real book that an ereader doesn't have. I've always preferred books over ereaders, and I think I'm going to keep on choosing books over ereaders unless I have no other choice. I think ereaders are going to kill the printed word if and only if people let that happen. If people prefer ereaders more, then that's where the world is going. But if people prefer books, then books will be here for a longer time. I hope so...

I hope that books won't become a thing of the past. My mum worked as a librarian before she retired. I have always loved books and I have many of them on my bookcase. I love travel guide books with a color map and destination photos. I got given as a present an e book reader and I love it too. It is very useful on my trips out and about. I don't have to carry lots of heavy books just my e book reader. I don't think e books will ever kill real books.

I hope not. I still love the feel of a traditional book in my hands. I don't have an eReader although my phone supports an eBook. I love looking at my books all lined up in the shelves, even if it takes a lot of space. These are the books I have collected all those years, a testimony to my love for reading. An eReader can be very convenient but not really for me.

Books will never totally disappear in favour of the ereader for a number of reasons. Ereaders aren't a lot of use when that big spider runs across the wall as you stand with a horrified look on your face and a book in your hand. The uneven spot on the kitchen floor that always seems to be under the table leg can't be cured with an ipad or similar. A teacher in a classroom can't throw a kindle the length of the room to to wake up the sleepyhead snoring at the back. We do and always will need books at certain times in our lives. LOL

I can't reply for all of the baby boomers, but for myself, personally, there is a special feeling about going to the library and browsing or looking for books from my list of "to read"'s. My baby sister recently got an "e-reader" and I hold no judgement for that choice - she loves it. I love technology, I hold a degree in computer science, but when it comes to reading a good book(just finished one today, actually) I can't imagine ever resigning my bookmarks.

If ereaders ever replace books I think it will be later rather than sooner. Despite the popularity of ereaders I think books will be with us for a long time to come. I've looked at ereaders and the good quality ereaders are still $100 or more. I, for one, am not going to pay $100 for the ereader and then have to pay for the book to download onto it. I'm also not interested in doing a lot of reading on an electronic screen. Regardless of advances in technology, reading a computer screen, which is what an ereader is essentialy, is harder on the eyes than reading the print in a book or magazine, at least for me anyway. I'm old-fashioned when it comes to reading. I still prefer the feel and even the smell of a book. I get catalogs and magazines in the mail that I could just as easily view online, but I'd rather be able to hold them in my hand. I can see the practical benefit of ereaders but humans make their life choices based on more than just practical reasons and there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that. Hopefully we'll never see an end to printed material.

I do not think books will be a thing of the past because there are still a lot of people who read and love printed books. There is a lot of difference between reading a printed book and a e-book. It is very difficult to read an e-book, but you can read a printed book leisurely. In spite of the internet, the demand for printed books is still there.

Whether printed books are going to become history or not depends on us, on the readers. Be sure that if printed books will also be in demand in the future editors will nor miss this opportunity. I love printed books because they do not get my eyes tired. Editors will have to think there are also older readers that prefer printed books. E-readers are targeted mainly to young people. It's true a printed book costs much more but still a digital book will never compare to a printed book!

Hi Hugsy25, Frankly I don't think printed books will go the way of the dodo as least not in the near future. Although there are many advantages in using ebook readers such as saving the environment, space, cost etc some people would rather read a physical book, turning the pages and relishing the feel, sound and smell of paper. Also if you are of the vain type you would not want to use ebook reader for prolonged periods as that will surely give rise to huge unsightly eyebags! Have a nice day.

Personally, I don't think so. It's right that more people are getting ereaders, they save place and ebooks are cheaper than normal books. I also thought about buying one, it's usefull to read at night or darkness and also if you travel abroad. But, there are still oldern books which are not converted into ebooks and I think that they never will becom converted. Many people like to read traditional books and some prefer to study on printed information. An ereader can't compete with the emotion you feel when you go to a library to buy a book or to a public place to borrow one. And what about the value of an authors sign inside the book?

It is very possible. Land phones are becoming a thing of the past so is post mail. There still are Christmas cards to Valentine cards but it would soon diminish anyhow. How funny to think though that libraries would close and they'd become museums instead where books are just be displayed and not possible to touch.

I suppose someday they might, but I really enjoy reading real books and turning the pages, and dog earring them.

I don't think ebooks will kill the actual physical books. Many people still place great value on books that are actually signed by authors and I know a lot of book loving friends who both love collecting ebooks and real books.

I think e-readers will become very popular especially with the elderly and shut-ins. It opens a whole new world for people who are not mobile. who do not go to libraries or bookstores. However, I do not think the printed word will die. I cannot imagine a world without books. Myself I have over 600 books, this is after I really decluttered my bookshelves. Books are like friends, there is nothing more luxurious than curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea, a fuzzy blanket, and a good book, perhaps with Mozart playing softly in the background. I don't think book lovers will want to give this up. An e-reader does not project the same ambiance but it has a place as well. I also spend a lot of time in my neihbourhood library. It is as crowded as ever. I notice though people use the computers more often than sitting at the tables and reading. It is important though that libraries provide this opportunity to people who are underprivileged, homeless or very poor. This way they can keep up with the general population.So, I would predict books, e-readers and libraries will co-exist for a long time to come.

Hugsy25 I was thinking along the same lines a few days ago. I wondered how many generations it would be before Books were antiques and became collectors items. I too love books and will never part with some, but I won't collect so many either.

I don't think to. There are still other people who would prefer reading printed books that ebooks or pdfs because staying in front of the computer reading for long hours is much more eye straining than reading printed books. Moreover, in academic requirements, some professors would still prefer going to the library to get reference materials.

The question has arisen if books are going to be thing of the past in view of the e-reader and internet have come into use by all and sundries. Before fifteenth century there was no print and people had to depend on handwritten books which were few in number ; so very few people had access to that form of books.I do not wish to go back further when there was no paper and there was skin, stone tablets, earth tablets etc upon which the message and information used to be communicated. Gone are days in the realm of history and we are now concerned if the printing books will continue or not.If one is required to write something again and again has to consult some information in a book, it is always desirable to get it handy nearby as quick service. You may miss the same due to server's error, your pc malfunctioning or no electricity (this is a chronic affair in the developing countries) in the internet.Properly stored books may remain long time and we do not know how long these CDs will remain ok. Repeated reading a book is more convenient than consulting new electronic means.Although internet and e-books have been found to be useful, it is also necessary that printed books will continue for ever.