This is a video book review by Ron Charles, the fiction editor at Washington Post's Book World. He is attempting to be humorous with the review, but states a bigger problem that we have when consuming printed media. We don't seem to have time to read. This correlates with another problem taking place. Big brand book stores are closing in some major locations.
Barnes and Noble is trying to sell it's company and in the mean time is shutting down one its biggest locations in New York.
Barnes & Noble closing UWS store - The book giant will close its four-story superstore on West 66th Street, opposite Lincoln Center, after operating there for 15 years.In San Francisco, they're closing a big Borders bookstore
Letdown: South Beach residents were disappointed by Borders’ announcement that it was closing its bookstore on King Street near AT&T Park.So, are we really reading less? And do we have such short attention spans that we can't even read a book review? Or is it that we just aren't buying books from brick and mortar stores anymore?
SAN FRANCISCO — A chain bookstore anchoring a condominium complex in the center of a revived South Beach is going out of business in October amid neighborhood fears that the space will remain empty too long in the down economy.
I would like to say that this is just a passing phase and the economy will pull around, as will the bookstores, but I think everything has a time and a season. Perhaps over priced bookstores have had their season and it's time for a new one.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if electronic books, such as, Kindle or the Ipad, are the answer. I fear they are like all technology, easily replaced by something newer, faster, reads the book too you, can do your hair, and feed your dog.
I hate to think that we are a society that are too busy to stop and relax with a good book, but we really are heading that way. People have to support their habits by making more money and in order to do so they must make sacrifices, like reading. How else can we live the "American Dream" of the 4000 sq ft home with a 15 car garage and a twenty foot electric white picket fence to protect all of our superfluous garbage.
I believe us as "American Citizens" like to believe that everything nowadays is easier to use technology. For example almost all books have a movie too them and we find it easier than spending the time to read the book is to well watch the movie believing we are getting the whole meaning behind the story.
ReplyDeleteNow about the book stores that are going out of business it could be the economy is struggling or people dont have time to stop at a bookstore and find an interesting book, they are working to stay above the poverty line. Another reason bookstores are going out of business is because ppl find it easier to spend money on the ipad than buying every book that they want to read and they dont have to leave their convienent house or office to find what they are looking for.
Overall the message i am trying to get across is the communication between bookstores and people nowadays is not as it once was we find it easier to find the faster and easier things like the ipad for instance so we are replacing the things that are important with things that are easier to do.
By:Andrew Archuleta
It's no wonder why the bookstores are closing. Everyone is into technology now that you can have all the books you want on one device. People will get anything off of the net, and avoid having to go anywhere to get the latest books. I know everyone is going to say the same thing, but when there is nothing but us left what is the people who depend on this technology going to do?
ReplyDeleteAmanda Cummings
This reminds me of an article I just read for my English class called "Is Google Making us Stupid" by Nicholas Carr of "The Atlantic" (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/). Carr points out the fact that people today seem to be absolutely focused on 'quick' and 'efficient'. If a product is 'efficient' what more is there to ask? Books, however, don't fall into this 'quick' and 'efficient' category. They're, long, wordy, and time consuming. We are so used to getting all the information we seek at the click of a bottom and therefore our minds are loosing the ability to become absorbed in an in-depth book. So, people don't read anymore.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a lot of truth to Carr's article, but I believe that there are other factors affecting the closing of these 'big' book stores as well. Lately new products like the Kindle and the iPad have come out, that replace the book by giving reading a new modern feel to it. Instead of the old fashioned 'turning the page' method- we are now able to experience reading at the click of a button (which is what we all seem to desire). Not only that, but with the Kindle, you have internet access and a 'quick' and 'efficient' way to get new books. Same with the iPad, only you have more than just the internet, you almost have a full on computer. These cool new technologies are putting the old fashioned book out of business.
And, who has time to just sit down and read anymore. People are struggling for money in this economy and the last thing on our minds is spending the little we have on a book that's going to take us weeks to read.
I don't want books to become obsolete, but with the way our society is progressing, they just might.
By: Kelsey Wright
I think that we are definitely not buying books from the "brick and mortar stores." Why spend the extra money on the book if you can get the same one on amazon for a much smaller cost? Yeah you have to wait for it to come in the mail, and shipping is a few extra bucks, but in the long run waiting and paying for shipping is still less then it would be buying it in the store, especially if you buy used books. I do love Barns and Noble and am sad that they are closing down in huge cities, but I do understand why. I love the idea of drinking a cup of coffee while reading a book I might purchase in the store, but I love the idea more of buying a book online going to a cafe down town with the book I own marking it up and not being afraid to spill coffee on it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the idea that our society is too busy to read is crazy. We are a computer based people, we spend hours a day on the computer reading. E- books are growing to be very popular and even more inexpensive than buying a used book from amazon. itunes is helping also by having the most popular books as recorded audio to listen to, or to buy the actual text from the book and have it on your iphone or ipod. We are an information and entertaining seeking people. Just because the means of obtaining such is changing doesn't mean we are not reading anymore.
By: Jessica Braun
I would say that people are not making the time to sit down and read like we use to. It is all about bigger and better. Watching a movie instead of reading a novel.
ReplyDeleteNanette Johnson
It is a good example that we can see how the Internet and digital technologies are transforming the existing model of communication and information business. Here, we can see the different process of information (products) production, distribution, and consumption. This posting is about book industry, but we are also witnessing the same thing taking place in traditional media, in particular newspaper industry.
ReplyDeleteSo it is time to figure out a new business model of news and information industry, based on the challenges, but also opportunities caused by the Internet and digital technology.
I don't like the thought of bookstores having to close. Personally, I would much rather go to a bookstore and buy a book than join in on the newest technological fad like Kindle. I'm sure the reason that bookstores are having to close is that people just aren't reading hardcopy books like before, they are getting replaced with other digital, on-demand options. We have witnessed a similar situation with the video industry. Hollywood, Blockbuster and other smaller businesses have closed down around the I.F. and I'm assuming Pocatello area, all being replaced by Netflix and Redbox. Books will always have a place in society, so I hope people will recognize the importance of supporting bookstores nationwide and return back to the traditional way of reading books.
ReplyDeleteChantelle Summers
I think the number of sentence poeple read is increasing rhather than old time. Because, people touch the many sentences through the blog, facebook,and so on.The capacity of electronic media is more bigger than printed media. People can send more infomation than printed media.So,I don't think people don't read the sentense more than old years.People just leave from "paper" but read more sentence by using electronic media. Certainly, this change affects a serious damage to book store. However, I think book store should change with world change. There are many sucucess example which increase the benefit by using electronic media in the business,like Kindle, i-Pad, and so on. I think the business style of the two bookstore don't much to the period. In my personal opinion, I like to read books that I don't want to hear current serious situation of bookstore and publish office. These offices should think solution and survive this serious period.
ReplyDeleteBy Fumiya Hashizume
I don't think people are reading less, I think people are just finding alternative methods of obtaining reading material. Prime example, the iPad. You could read anything you want on the device, perhaps even more than you could get from a bookstore. Also there's websites like Amazon to consider.
ReplyDeletePlus, people have other mediums to find reading material, like libraries. With so much free, limitless information and access to it, I bet people are more inclined to use their time reading lots of different things, rather than commiting to buy one book at a time.
Elise Erlandson
Unfortunatley it is the evolution of big business spurrned on by the economy.
ReplyDeletePersonally I will not buy into the reading of books via a device like the Kindle. I do not totally trust electronic devices and would much rather have the actual physical book in my hands. If I drop it,I can keep reading. if I drop the Kindle...are all my books gone? If I cannot recharge my Kindle, then what? Books have stood the test of time, dont require electricity, and can be taken anywhere at anytime.
It is very unfortunate that businesses close, especially businesses such at Barnes and Noble and Borders, but business people are in it for the money, and to fill a niche. If there is not enough money in it for them,or the niche is being filled more efficiently by another business, they dont care about how it affects anyone. Business is all about the dollar, and how they can line their pockets with as many dead presidents as possible before they bail.
I really feel like the reason that people arent shopping at stores like Barnes and Noble has more to do with the fact that shopping online, (Amazon, Ebay, Half.com, etc) has the lowest prices available. I rarely buy a book at a book store because I hate paying book store prices, If I do decide to buy from a book store, I usually opt for used book stores to save some cash. Stores like Barnes and Noble or Borders are always my last resort.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who loves to read and loves killing an afternoon at a bookstore, I find the trend a little troubling. However, there are so many new types of media available that I have to admit that as much as I love owning shelves and shelves full of books, I also love the immediacy, convenience and content of their online counterparts. Costs are a factor, yes, but so is lifestyle. If an entire generation grows up with almost exclusive access to less expensive online books, blogs, etc, perhaps the appeal of those dusty, clunky dead trees is lost on them. It's just like the demise of the CD/record store...why go to the trouble of heading out across town to a place where you can peer at the package of a product you are interested in to mull over buying it when you can stay home in your bunny slippers and find out online immediately?
ReplyDelete