Do You Think Books Will Become A Part Of The Past?

United States
November 12, 2009 5:31pm CST
I do, with all the new technology being put into ebooks, and electronic readers. I think books will become a thing of the past, rather quickly actually. I know I have personally looked at them. I am not ready to buy one yet, but as my kids get older, and need expensive school books, I might invest in one. I home school, and text books get very expensive as they get older. What do you think about books becoming extinct?
3 people like this
19 responses
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
13 Nov 09
I hope not. I still prefer to read the hard copy, I actually don't like reading e-books. Whenever I want to relax I grab a book from my bookshelf and read and I do this lying down on the bed or on a couch. I don't think this comfort will be possible when reading from the internet. Besides, there are times when the internet connection is poor, and it takes really long for a page to load - I don't think I'll enjoy the story if I have to go through a lot of waiting to finish a chapter.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
13 Nov 09
I don't like reading e-books too; especially if there are pages and pages..
@giegrace (213)
• Philippines
15 Nov 09
No matter how far advance technology may become, I believe books won't become a thing of the past. Hard copies of books have more advantages than their electronic counterparts. They just tend to be more expensive since they are using up more resources (e.g, paper and ink). However, electronic readers are also expensive. Besides, if they broken or needs fixing, you won't be able to access your soft copies (ebooks)unlike hard copies of books which are readily accessible.
@wahmivy (776)
• Philippines
13 Nov 09
Not if I have any say in it, lol. There will always be people like me. While I don't mind the presence of ebooks and electronic readers, I still prefer good, old, traditional books with printed pages you flip through. I'm not familiar with the economics that go into this, but I'd be heartbroken if books became extinct.
@punkincat (214)
• United States
14 Nov 09
No, I think they will make a comeback. With so many people out of work or taking pay cuts, they might give up the phone or computer. I know several people who had to drop the internet and go back to books and older entertainment.
• Malta
13 Nov 09
Definitely, they have already been. Except newspapers and magazines.
• United Arab Emirates
13 Nov 09
Ooh, I hope not. There will be war among hi-techies and bookstores. I still like the smell of book paper when I flick the pages. I love collecting beautiful and rare bookmarks, without books where should I use them.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
13 Nov 09
I don't think they will, as there are to many People that like to read in comfort like myself I read at Night in bed also I would not be able to afford ebooks and I am sure there are many more that would not be able to I also believe that a lot of People would not be happy about it at all
@jwfarrimond (4473)
13 Nov 09
No I don't think that books are going to become a thing of the past now or ever. The reason being that you can read a book anywhere without needing anything other than the ability to read do do so. No need for expensive electronic devices that need batteries to run them. There are millions of people in the world who who can't afford to buy or to run such equipment, but they can easily access paper books and use them to learn.
@oasis_9 (831)
• Philippines
13 Nov 09
I hope not... Although the creation of e-books made me continue to read or listen to my favorite story while at work but i do still find time to read a good book. Reading a hard copy books made reading more authentic i guess...
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
13 Nov 09
This is a very good discussion. I've always thought about this; and as I've answered on another friend's box, I don't like to read pages of e-books. But if it's for an article; 2 pages or so, I am able to read them. And in fact, I read them all the time on AC. It's a good site, really and it's something like reading from the newspaper or something, LOL. I won't say that books will become so unpopular with time, but it is a traditional way of reading. Nowadays, more people are reading online and getting their online news and whatnot. But I will get back to books from time to time. Especially magazines..
• Philippines
13 Nov 09
Well, if you think of it as it is, then yes, paper books will soon be part of history, but there are e-books available in the internet too.
• India
13 Nov 09
no not really
• United States
13 Nov 09
No I don't think they will become extinct we have to many varieties to not have books Unless the schools go towards ebooks all the time yet I don't see that happening.
• India
13 Nov 09
I dont think so. Books can never be a think of the past. Frankly speaking, i can read from electronic mediums like my laptop or pda but can't realy study it without the feel of paper. but thats ofcourse my own point of view. but i will earnestly request god that books are never a thing of the past.
@rmuxagirl (7548)
• United States
13 Nov 09
I am really hoping that books do not become a thing of the past. But at the same time there are people like me who cannot spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen and I love to read books, so I will spend hours upon hours reading a book and I cant read them on a computer.
@Jennlk84 (4206)
• United States
13 Nov 09
honestly, i don't think books would ever go out of style or stop being published. First of all, I think the writers would lose out on a lot of money. From what I know digital copies are cheaper. Plus, there are just way too many people out there that enjoy sitting down with a good BOOK. And what about libraries?? I know I will always read books. I don't even like the idea of the kindle, let alone buy it!
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
12 Nov 09
OMG I hope never. I understand what you are saying but that would be horrible. I love sitting down and opening a hardcover book. I don't want to read a book electronically. I don't even like the audio books. I want to read the book nice and cozy on my couch or in my bed.
@rg0205 (2636)
• Hong Kong
13 Nov 09
No, I don't think so. Not everyone can afford ebook readers, much less the electricity or batteries that come with it. So, no, I dont think it'll become a thing of the past and I don't want books to become a thing of the past. I love books and I enjoy reading an actually hard cover or paperback print.
• Canada
13 Nov 09
This would be one of my personal fears - books becoming obsolete. I shudder at the thought. Though I do think newspapers are unfortunately on their way out, slowly but surely, I have my doubts that books will be on it's way out too. I think there will always be a market for books - at least, I sincerely hope so.