With the rise of new technologies, many things we once adored have gone extinct or near extinction. Things such as Blockbuster stores, CDs, and vinyl records (although they have become more popular again), have become more of an item of nostalgia rather than a typical household item. With much of these things going away, will books go too?
While many things have become obsolete due to technological advancements, it’s highly unlikely that books will. Personal preferences and statistical data on the rise of ebooks vs. printed books show that printed books aren’t going away anytime soon.
Research says that in 2022, 4 physical book copies were sold for every one ebook. This means physical books are still more widely bought and used than ebooks. In 2020, the estimated percentage of people who purchased a printed book in the US was 44.5%, while only 22.7% purchased an ebook.
While data says one thing, several other factors exist, such as the benefits of printed books or ebooks. Ebooks are generally considered better for the environment, but is that true? While making printed books requires energy for paper manufacturing, the initial production of e-readers also has a significant environmental impact.
So, which one is better for the environment? It really depends, and there is no right answer. According to 2023 data from WordsRated, printed book publishing accounts for 32 million trees felled each year in the United States, while Ebooks and E-Readers have cases made with fossil-fuel-derived plastics and minerals in their batteries, which create a large carbon footprint at the manufacturing stage.
Regardless of environmental impact, lots of people have personal connections to printed books that will never be the same as with an ebook. Many find a printed book’s smell, touch, and feel is always better than a digital one. There’s something so personal and intimate about owning a printed book that makes it highly unlikely that they’ll ever go away.
There is a possibility that printed books will become niche, but they won’t disappear altogether. According to the Pew Research Center, 23% of the respondents said that they don’t read books at all, 9% said they only read digital books, and 33% said they read both print and digital. Ebook sales actually grew by 22% in 2020 and have continued to grow.
The data suggests that eBooks are growing in popularity but aren’t replacing printed books altogether. The dual market shows that people enjoy the personal touch that comes with printed books and the convenience of reading eBooks.
As technology progresses, much like it has been, printed books may become an item of nostalgia while eBooks become the norm, but they will not go away entirely.
