The Decline of Literature

[SmokeAndMirrors]

Brava! Well done. Great perspective. If you are representative of the new journalism I believe the 4th Estate might just revive itself. Whenever you write, I read. Your perspectives are often thought provoking, even when I agree. That's talent.

You have one hell of a sexy brain and the Muse seems to like you too.

I'm not sure whether liking this post makes me an asshole, but I can't very well just ignore it either, can I?

Quit making my blush, ya old dog. :mrgreen:

 

[Einzige]

.the unwashed masses

Someone actually used this phrase unironically.

 

[specklebang]

I have a Kindle Keyboard and I'm thinking about the Paperwhite. If I wasn't so cheap I'd already have one.

I rarely buy books anymore unless they're my favorite authors. I buy hundreds of e-books and I love that I don't need to reshuffle my library shelves when I get a new book.

I've read that people are actually reading more because of the e-readers and tablets.

Never would you catch me without something to read. I have books stashed in the car, in my briefcase, everywhere. Reading is one of life's great pleasures. My parents were big readers, my dad still is. My brothers and my wife read a lot as well.

When I got my first Kindle, my wife bought it for me, I knew I was going to hate it. I felt as if I was committing an eternal sin. I became used to the Kindle. I still read hardbacks and paperbacks. There's just this intimacy you have with a good book in print form. For several years I have been a Kindle fan.

Just this Christmas my wife gave me a Kindle Paperwhite. Again, I was skeptical. But, I wanted it because it promised to do almost exactly what you say you want. In my experience it does. I knew I was going to keep it after the first week. Silly as it sounds, I haven't yet been able to give up my Kindle 2, but I rarely use it now. The Paperwhite is much better on the eyes and I can and do easily adjust the lighting, which is in and of itself rather unique. Kindle Paperwhite is more like reading the printed page than anything I've seen.

 

[Risky Thicket]

I have a Kindle Keyboard and I'm thinking about the Paperwhite. If I wasn't so cheap I'd already have one.

Believe me, it took me a while thinking about a Paperwhite. I researched it, looked at one in the store and thought about it some more. I mean, you can get a Kindle Fire for the same money. Why pay that for an e-reader? My eyes ain't what they used to be. I'm like you in that I buy hundreds of e-books. Reading is one of the true great pleasures in life. E-books make so many more books accessible.

In the end it was the clarity of the e-ink and the screen illumination (not backlit, I can remember the word for the technology) and the contrast. Literally, a sight for sore eyes. I haven't regretted the move to Paperwhite since day one. No glare and very quick light adjustment when you need that.

I rarely buy books anymore unless they're my favorite authors. I buy hundreds of e-books and I love that I don't need to reshuffle my library shelves when I get a new book.

I've read that people are actually reading more because of the e-readers and tablets.

That would be great if e-readers are encouraging people to read more. I still buy hardbound books on occasion, but I'm solid into e-books.

 

[Van Basten]

Eh? People will still read, just the books will be read on their computer, kindle, whatever they decide to use. I fail to see how we could ever stop reading due to printed books going out of style, it's just a change in the medium. The only thing in danger is printed works, that's about it. We went from scrolls and such to properly bound books, this is just the next step in the evolution of reading and so on per se. Take that as you will. Though I prefer a physical book, myself.

E-books are far more convenient, might I add.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

Project Gutenberg - free ebooks

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

Golden age fallacy.

Most things are crap, but it's always been like that. Yes, even in publishing. You should see the horrible garbage that made it into penny pulps, or almost any paperback series from the 60s and 70s. My dad collects old books. I used to help him sell them when I was younger. I've seen some absolutely trashy old literature.

Same goes for music. It's always been mostly garbage.

The reason it doesn't seem like that to you is because now, for things that came out in a bygone era, the crap has already been weeded through and thrown away. So all you got was the good stuff.

But stuff that's coming out now? No one's weeded through it yet, so the gold is all mixed in with the crap.

Publishers have always printed 90% crap, because 90% of readers enjoy reading crap. This is why I, personally, find the idea that we need to fight online self-publishing to "protect literature" to be laughable in the extreme. Publishers are the biggest crap peddlers of all, and always have been.

Just wanted to say fantastic post