interesting tidbit on BBC website re book sales

Always wondering if buying more translates into reading more. I know I'm susceptible to buying loads of books, which then gathered dust or took up storage space. Just by going digital does not mean that people necessarily read more. I read an article just a few days back that stated that not many new readers are created by eBooks. Instead, former print readers switch to eReaders.
All the best,

Yves

Yves Gorat Stommel said:

Always wondering if buying more translates into reading more. I know I'm susceptible to buying loads of books, which then gathered dust or took up storage space. Just by going digital does not mean that people necessarily read more. I read an article just a few days back that stated that not many new readers are created by eBooks. Instead, former print readers switch to eReaders.
All the best,

Yves

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I can guarantee that I read a lot more with a Kindle than I had for 5 years with children with paper books.
I bet I'm not the only one with children, that likes reading while commuting, that grabs her e-reader while waiting at the doctor's office, etc.

Yves Gorat Stommel said:

Always wondering if buying more translates into reading more. I know I'm susceptible to buying loads of books, which then gathered dust or took up storage space. Just by going digital does not mean that people necessarily read more. I read an article just a few days back that stated that not many new readers are created by eBooks. Instead, former print readers switch to eReaders.
All the best,

Yves

Click to expand...

That sounds about right to me. I think a LOT of books are being purchased that will never be read. We no longer have cluttered homes dissuading us from buying more books. And the prices are in the "impulse buy" territory.

I think the price of ebooks should be heavily discounted from the price of hardback or paperbacks. Physical books have to be printed, stored, shipped, etc. Once a book is in an electronic format and available at online sources, there are no additional costs to the author or publisher. I can't bring myself to pay the same, or sometimes more, for an ebook than I would for a printed book. And that's okay, since I'm finding new authors with low-cost ebooks. I'm also guilty of loading up my Kindle with books it will take me years to read - it's too easy, no extra bookshelves required!

Chris A. Jackson said:

Physical books have to be printed, stored, shipped, etc. Once a book is in an electronic format and available at online sources, there are no additional costs to the author or publisher.

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Yeah, but once you have to pay the author and his agent, and all the people that work at the publisher (and the overhead), marketing costs, etc., it might not cost at little as many people assume. I've seen figures quoted on printing/shipping etc., that are miniscule.

Without knowing the cost of any particular book, I can't say they are over-priced, only that I would not pay that much for it.

Mike

I can also say that for myself, since getting a Kindle a few years back my reading has increased tenfold.  Whereas I used to listen to music on my commute (public transportation), I now exclusively read.  And it comes from the ease of carrying and holding the Kindle vs. paper book (nevermind hardcover!)  It's true of several of my friends.  But the survey didn't question me!