In Defense of E-Books
Sat, Jul 5, 2008
Image via WikipediaAuthor Nick Hornby posted an entry on his blog this week enumerating the reasons that eBooks are doomed. Hornby is an acclaimed author, and has written several successful novels that have been adapted to films (Fever Pitch, Figh Fidelity and About a Boy).
Comparing books to music, Hornby gives the following concerns about the viability of eBooks:
1) Book readers like books, whereas music fans never had much affection for CDs;
2) People don’t buy many books. Seven per person per year;
3) The advantages of the liad and the Kindle - that you can take vast numbers of books away with you - are of no interest to the average book-buyer;
4) Book-lovers are always late adapters, and generally suspicious of new technology.
Nick is missing some of the subtle and game changing aspects of eBooks. There are lots of reasons that eBooks make sense for both readers and publishers, and Hornby, as an author, is in the group that should be most excited about this new platform.
1) Hornby’s reasoning, that the average reader only buys 7 books a year, doesn’t account for the fact that owning an eBook reader increase the number of books readers buy. The Amazon Kindle allows readers to sample the first 30 pages or so of the books that it sells. This means, when I hear about an interesting book I can start reading it without risking time or money. If after 30 pages it has kept my interest, I buy a copy. This option makes me more likely to try new authors and sample books I might never have purchased. Ebooks are also less expensive than traditional books, which according to supply and demand, should cause more copies to be sold. The lower cost of books, combined with easy access and less risk when buying, will increase the number of books people buy, which is a reason that eBooks will succeed, not fail.
2) One thing that as a reader I hate, but as an author Hornby should love, is that ebooks typically can’t be resold, traded or given to a friend. Arguably, this should put more money in author and publisher pockets. One would think this would cause authors and publishers to embrace the format with more enthusiasm.
3) As an author, Hornby should see that the most interesting thing about eBooks, is how ebooks will democratize publishing. Ebook’s as a medium will allow authors to do an end-run around traditional book publishers and other barriers between them and readers. Successful authors should be able to make deals directly with Amazon and other eBook resellers, meaning more money for authors and lower prices for readers. Unknown authors will be able to control the publishing of their own works. This should terrify traditional print publishing companies, but for readers, it means more choices and hopefully, less expensive books.
Perhaps I am not a typical reader. I love both reading and technology. I may be out of touch with what interests the average reader, but I have experience with both electronic and traditional books. I would be interested to see Hornby try an Amazon Kindel for a month, and revisit his original post.
Check out Nick Hornby’s post and read his position for yourself. I don’t agree with the conclusions, but it is well written and an interesting read.
Technorati Tags: ebooks, e-books, Nick Hornby, Kindle,
July 6th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I’d love to see these books readable on the iPhone. More people would buy e-books if they did not have to buy the Kindle. Here’s more about this on my blog:
http://www.joeranft.com/2008/07/1-app-id-like-to-see-in-apple-iphone.html
Joe Ranfts last blog post..1 App I’d Like to See in the Apple iPhone App Store - A Kindle KIller