Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
For the book lovers among us, a few consoling data points I've stumbled across in the wake of Borders' demise.
Item: Publishing Gives Hints of Revival, Data Show
BookStats, a comprehensive survey conducted by two major trade groups that was released early Tuesday, revealed that in 2010 publishers generated net revenue of $27.9 billion, a 5.6 percent increase over 2008. Publishers sold 2.57 billion books in all formats in 2010, a 4.1 percent increase since 2008.
“We’re seeing a resurgence, and we’re seeing it across all markets — trade, academic, professional,” said Tina Jordan, the vice president of the Association of American Publishers. “In each category we’re seeing growth. The printed word is alive and well whether it takes a paper delivery or digital delivery.”
Item: Despite Disheartening Trends in the Business, Local Literary Bookstores Survive and Thrive
When stores with national reputations, such as Cody's in Berkeley, Calif., went down in 2006, an era seemed to be very near the end. Independent bookstores appeared to be doomed, particularly those with a literary focus like the Brazos, the River Oaks and the Blue Willow, in West Houston.
But we're glad to celebrate the survival of those three literary locals. Surprisingly, the economic downtown has been good for them and for independent bookstores in general. A spokeswoman for the American Booksellers Association recently said that the association has seen a spike in membership over the last two years, after more than 10 years of steady decline.
The Brazos, River Oaks and Blue Willow all report that sales have increased, in some cases substantially, in recent years.
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Comments :
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
From your mouth to God's ears.
Jun '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Book publishing is only dead if people start limiting the number of books they buy to just the number they actually read.
Jul '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Dead Trees: Borders?! We Don't Need No Stinkin' Borders!
Edited on Aug 10, 2011 at 6:39pmJul '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Now that I think about it:
Citizens Demand 'Close Borders!' Borders Close.
Edited on Aug 10, 2011 at 6:56pmJul '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Go digital! I'm in the process of converting a lot of my library to Kindle versions. The shelf space savings alone make me very happy.
May '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
How do people decorate their apartments without books? And if it's not one you want to keep, there is a thriving used book market. That place is always packed.
I think that we, being tech-savvy web conversationalists/blog consumers, tend to overestimate the impact of Kindle, and assume people get their news from the internet, etc. Whereas Kindle is only especially useful if you
When most people take trips, they bring two or three paperbacks. Besides, reading something longform on a computer screen is super-annoying.
Aug '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
A major contributing cause to Borders' death?
Central Planning. That's right...Central Planning.
http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2008/09/15/that-borders-thing/
When a corporation structures its business like the Soviet Union, they are likely to fail.
May '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
I do hope you're right. I don't read enough to really have standing to complain, but I find the whole eBook thing uncompelling, and a little creepy. When I read a book, feeling A BOOK is part of the experience. And yes, having it around during and afterward is part of the pleasure.
Jul '11
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
The "book" might be healthy, but I think that the codex is on its way out as far as new production is concerned. Apart from specialty publishers producing luxury goods (Folio Society, Easton Press, etc.) I think we'll see the end of the printed book within a decade, probably less. It simply will not be profitable to produce them as e-readers and tablets take a larger share of the market.
I was for several years an independent bookseller (used and out of print scholarly and art books) and I've watched that end of the business closely since I left it in '06. It's very healthy overall--even if not in some markets--and I expect that it will be with us for a very long time. Anthony Powell titled one of his books "Books Do Furnish A Room" and there will always be people who insist (as I do) on paper and boards in the hands and walls lined with bookshelves.
Aug '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
I think those who favor e-texts to books in all things have no real concept how powerful a medium books are. They are immensely utilitarian. I read most paperbacks in e-format, but when it comes to coursework or scholarly work nothing really compares with a pile of books strewn about the work space. They are a highly efficient medium.
Aug '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Kennedy Smith: . . .Whereas Kindle is only especially useful if you
3. Use an exercycle, treadmill or eliptical,
4. Read while you're waiting on a Kindle app, a la TR.
And it's easier on the eyes than a computer screen. All in all, a great invention.
Apr '11
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Kindles are a boon for the book selling industry, especially for the aged reader who can have their reading lives extended by years if not decades.
Jan '11
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
I heard this on the way home from work and was heartened.
http://www.theworld.org/2011/08/marines-in-afghanistan-escape-in-a-good-book/
Dec '10
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Put me in the Kindle fan camp. According to Kennedy, the prerequisites are 1 - you have to travel a lot, and 2 - while traveling you need to truck around a whole library. I DO travel a lot. I don't NEED to truck around a whole library, but I tend to look at reading time like a meal - I read in courses. I like to switch from book to book (some time with the Bible, switch to a history tome, some Grisham or Clancy novel (or some other similar brain candy), maybe throw in a current affairs volume. Taking along 2-3 paperbacks has never been an option - with my laptop, the transformer and all of life's other necessities in my computer bag (man purse), I'm not inclined to weigh it down even more.
I also love it at home - beached on the couch and reading away. My wife is much happier seeing my Kindle laying on the coffee table as opposed to the 3 or 4 books, the last couple of issues of NR and other flotsam and jetsam. Happy wife, happy life.
Edited on Aug 11, 2011 at 6:24amRe: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Nathaniel Wright: A major contributing cause to Borders' death?
Central Planning. That's right...Central Planning.
http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2008/09/15/that-borders-thing/
When a corporation structures its business like the Soviet Union, they are likely to fail. · Aug 10 at 8:41pm
Oh no! This link doesn't work. And I'm not sure I'll buy the argument hook, line, and sinker until I see some persuasive logic...
Feb '11
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
This thread rekindles (pardon the pun) previous book vs kindle discussions here. I am firmly in the real book camp. My wife's Kindle is rigorously banned from my presence. Real, old fashioned independent book and used book stores and comfortable studies lined with overflowing shelves are one of life's great pleasures.
Apr '11
Re: Borders May Be Dead, But Books Aren't
Paper books will become more of a niche/high-end product, and mass-market publications will go digital. As a Luddite-sympathizer, this used to bother me but I am slowly coming to terms with it (although I'm not interested-yet!-in owning an e-reader). I work in a public library, and as you can imagine the e-book debate is looms large for us library folks..
In 1997 when the first e-readers were just coming out, my rock-ribbed-Luddite mother bet me $100 that paper books would effectively disappear within the next 50 years. I scoffed at the idea and took the bet. I emailed her recently to concede, 36 years early.
Edited on Aug 12, 2011 at 6:36pm