Print Books vs, eBooks: A Reconsideration

They say that when printing became available to the masses, reading skills rearranged our brains. Reading required ways of thinking and imagining in ways we had never done before. There were new thoughts, ideas, ways of thinking that might be new and exciting. 

That said it must be remembered the Chinese starting printing books using hand carved wooden blocks in the 1100's. The impetus? The need to disseminate Buddhist prayers to the faithful, not unlike Gutenberg's Bible in 1450, several centuries after the east. Least we forget China, invented paper in 105 A.D. while Europe caught up in the 1300's. Most western books used vellum as a base for handwritten books made from animal skins. If paper was used it was, like silk, imported from China.

Some may argue printing was one of the root causes of the Renaissance, the Reformation. the modern world. For the first time Bibles were accessible to all in their own languages and they could finally challenge the Catholic Church and did. New thoughts and ideas could easily be carried. Books were dangerous hence all the book burnings in modern history. In any event thoughts and ideas could now travel widely and be discussed as never before.

A Chinese woodblock print from
the 1100's still usable today.

Growing up in the early '50's public schools taught us how to read using a visual system. You looked at a word and were supposed to "remember" it. That's really not much different than learning Chinese. You must visually know 5,000 unique characters to read competently and stokes don't have sounds either.

I always got good grades in school but my mother and my third grade teacher had a "chat" when mother realized I couldn't read. She was furious. So, in what seemed like years (actually a few weeks) every night after dinner Mom or Dad would sit with me flashing cards with letters and I had to repeat its sound. Then rudimentary words then on to, "See Dick run" and so forth. That summer I read just about all the kids books in the library until I started reading adult books. Mother intervened over some adult book when the librarian felt it had "racy" parts. Mother said so what. He's probably too young to understand them anyway. Ah PEYTON'S PLACE and KING'S ROW.

Books have always been a part of my life and we carried that tradition on with our children. Bath at 8:00, then a story and to bed. We discovered our son taught himself to read at 5 when he told me about several stories he had read of Edgar Allen Poe. I'll never forget the trip to the Getty Museum Gift shop where he found a book on Greek Gods and he wanted to know who they were. So page by page I explained the gods to him. Finally I said, "Son, I'm sorry but I never thought I'd have to remember everything about these gods." The room erupted in laughter and when I turned around about 40 people had gathered round to hear what I had to say.

As I write this there are books everywhere, those I've read and have kept and those waiting their turn. When eBooks like the Kindle and Nook and such came out I wasn't much interested. I like holding a book, finding the marker where I had left off and if necessary underlined something to review later. To be fair though, I sure wish they had these when I was in college ! Those books were heavy.

When I got an iPad Amazon allowed us to download books on Apple devices but I never liked them. Tough to read on the phone and I never mastered book marks and such. I stuck with the real thing mostly because of costs and valuing, as many do, just having them.

Xerox Docutech Printer - invented over 25 years ago

Books, ALL books, have been digitally typeset since 1984. In fact Xerox had a machine that could print a complete book with binding and color cover in under 15 minutes. As a journalism major with a great deal of backroom experience I could never figure out how Apple or Amazon could charge what they do for eBooks. There is: 1 No printing costs of ink and paper, 2. No presses and printing staff to pay or building to maintain, 3. No delivery costs of paper, ink, delivery of printed books. 4. No remainders, the taking back of unsold books. What cost remains is the publishers profit, editor's pay and author's royalty and some marketing expenses.

16 GB Kindle

However I finally gave in on a Black Friday Amazon 16 GB Kindle with a 6" diagonal screen that is about 6" x 4". weighing about 5 ½ oz., less than my iPhone.The amazing part is that it holds from about 3,000 to over 5,700 books depended on the books size. The downside, as with any electronic device is power. They say it can last up to six weeks on a charge IF you read 30 minutes a day. That's like saying you'll get 80 mpg if you only drive 30 mph. My experience so far is about half.

For us old people you can make the screen backlight brighter or dimmer AND increase the type size for these old eyes. As this was the entry level there are five variations ranging from $89.99 to $399.99 with different abilities. If you already have an iPad it can do what any Kindle can do without extra expense. For me though, reading Stephen King's 11.22.1963, an 800+ page behemoth, the Kindle would be easier to read in bed! It's also easier to take along for doctor's visits, if you know what I mean. My "medical bag" is heavy enough without adding the book you'll need when is your appointment is not on time. 

Will I give up printed books? Never. The Kindle may well harbor fiction and lighter fare whereas my printed books will lean towards history and more serious matters. However, that could change if there's a "deal" on any book or it's too big to lug to bed!!!

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