One of the things I did during yesterday’s holiday was to take time out from getting a whole bunch of stuff done to sit down and read a good book away from the computer. Now, with as much talk I make about the wonders of technology, how computers and electronic devices have come a long way, and how they make things more convenient, me talking about a physical, traditional activity like reading an actual book might seem a little….well, off.
The thing is, today’s post is a bit of a pick-me-up for those people who get a little sad sometimes about how the geek chic tech these days is removing the more old-school things that people used to do as geeks prior to the explosion of the Internet and information age. While some of these people are not Luddite by any means, and freely utilize the technology that is given to them, there’s nevertheless a thought about how the simple things are either obsolete or done in different, more modern ways. Reading a good book, whether it is a sword and sorcery masterpiece or a science fiction adventure, doesn’t appear to be as high on the list for geeks these days as updating their Twitter feed, reading online forums, or of course, updating online blogs. There are some who go so far to say that brick and mortar bookstores might eventually go the way of the dodo, that real books, with the advancement of devices like the Kindle, Nook, and other such e-readers, have their days numbered.
I hope folks who think this way can feel a little better after reading this – ironic as it is that the very mechanic of reading electronic text is the vehicle for doing so – because frankly, I think real books aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The reasons for this are many. One is the fact that the experience of reading a book is in and of itself, something that serves as a viable form of escapism from the advancements that technology have brought us. I read actual books rather than e-books because of the fact that it requires me to turn pages, read physical media I can hold, and most of all, gets me away from the tech that is no doubt a necessary part of my life and work. There isn’t really a substitute for taking a good book, going someplace quiet or relaxing, and turning the pages wondering what might happen next. And the actual activity of reading is, I would say, a little easier for immersing yourself in a story than having to scroll down text or click links to other places.
Another reason is that there are still activities regarding books which require some kind of traditional, physical action. Meeting authors is one of these. A couple of recent favorite authors of mine which I’ve been turned onto include Jim Butcher (Dresden Files series) and Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn and Wheel of Time series). I saw Sanderson at a signing and the way he read his own text, answered questions, and interacted with fans – there’s no real substitute for that, and that’s not even counting signing the actual books themselves. Book clubs still are alive and well for the same reason – while there are more modern ways of interaction these days, sitting together and reading is still a bit of geek old-school socialization that isn’t easily substituted with tech. Besides, as with any of these activities, the side benefit of meeting people, getting to know about their interests, and connecting with them is something that is still potentially free of modern methods of communication.
Really, though, it all boils down to the fact that real books are going to be around for a long time to come due to their long-standing tradition as a form of media. Print itself is ingrained into our society, and has been for, well, longer than we’ve been around, certainly. Because we take it for granted and because there are people out there who prefer such activity to reading online, it’s just not going to be so easily replaced. Personally, the act of opening a brand new book or closing one that I’ve lovingly worn down from reading is something that I’m not going to quit doing any time soon, and neither should any of you.
