A study of 1,200 e-reader owners by Marketing and Research Resources Inc. found that 40% said they now read more than they did with print books.The study by Marketing and Research Resources Inc. looked at three devices: the Kindle, the iPad and Sony’s Reader.
You might argue that 40% is not a big deal, but consider that a 2007 study by the National Endowment for the Arts found that about “half of all Americans ages 18 to 24 read no books for pleasure.”
Forrester Research estimates that “11 million Americans are expected to own at least one digital reading gadget by the end of September.”
Thriller author Michael Connelly has the same attitude as my husband:
"There is the advantage of being able to carry multiple things. I travel a lot—believe me, I notice the weight."There’s a lot more to read in this article – including ebooks and libraries, the number of male reader vs female readers of ebooks, and the problem with page numbers in ebooks.
Do you have an eReader? Do you read more?
I don't have an e-reader - I want one but can't afford it just yet. I can't read more than I do. Not possible. I read all the time. I read at least five hundred books a year and lots of magazines, blogs, newspapers, etc...
ReplyDeleteJan Morrison
I wonder if they're actually reading more or if that's their perception though. I actually have a Kindle, a Sony eReader and an iPad and don't really use any of them. I'm going out of town this morning and I have a bag of books packed.
ReplyDeleteI was reading more in the old days, before internet was invented and started to steal my time.
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
I read more now than I ever did and an e-reader would be a blessing. When I can afford it, it will happen but it won't replace my bookshelf of favorites.
ReplyDeleteI have the iPad. It's not causing me to read more though. I still read mostly print books.
ReplyDeleteI have an iPad as well, but it's not affected my reading habits. I still read the same amount of paper books.
ReplyDeleteGood gracious, Jan! Wow. You are amazing.
ReplyDeletebermudaonion, I don't read on my DH's iPad (partly because he always is using it), and now that I'm blogging, I seem to be getting books sent to me. But if I weren't getting books, and I had the money, I'd get an iPad.
Cold As Heaven, I totally hear you.
No, I won't be getting rid of my favorites either, Mary.
Brooke and Alex, that's interesting. Since I don't have an iPad, I don't know for sure, but I think I would use the iPad since it's so easy to download and carry around.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an I-pad yet. But think about this. You carry it with you everywhere you go...and your flight is delayed, or the doctor makes you wait...so what do you do? You download a new book. Yep, I can see how, in addition to lack of weight, ease of procuring good reading material could play into this.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an I-pad yet. But think about this. You carry it with you everywhere you go...and your flight is delayed, or the doctor makes you wait...so what do you do? You download a new book. Yep, I can see how, in addition to lack of weight, ease of procuring good reading material could play into this.
ReplyDeleteI read more online - does that count?
ReplyDeleteWow. 40 % is high! I wonder why this is, aside from a typical 21st century's apparent love affair with digital technology and portable gadgets.
ReplyDeleteIt does make reading easier, though. No light to put over a book, no spine to hold open.
I have a Kindle now and I love it for travelling, for keeping in my purse for waits at offices... I don't think I read any more, but I've always read a LOT so I'm probably not the best judge :)
ReplyDeleteI have two e-readers. Had the e-Bookwise for a number of years and used it primarily to read e-boks for review at ForeWord Magazine. I am getting a Kindle but like Jemi, I'm not sure I will read more than I already do.
ReplyDeleteI think this surge in readers is made up of folks who did not do a lot of reading, but find the convenience of being able to instantly buy a book more appealing than having to "work" to get a book.
Anything that prompts people to read is great, especially children. I own a Kindle and an eBook reader. I much prefer the Kindle although I read more print books than electronic ones.
ReplyDeleteI think the genius of Jeff Bezos was to vertically integrate the ereader with a bookstore so that if you learn of a good book, you can instantly get it, or, if you want something new to read, you can easily browse a bookstore. There were many times BIE (Before iPad Era) that i would hear about a book and make a mental note to stop by a bookstore to look for it, but then forget about it. Now, I have bought several books that i heard reviewed on NPR and two that you reviewed on this blog.
ReplyDeleteI've always read a lot but I do read even more now because of my Kindle. It's right at my elbow and I don't get eye strain. It's easy to balance on a treadmill too. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt works for my DH, who travels a lot, Liza.
ReplyDeleteThat counts, Diane.
Lovable_homebody, I think more young people are embracing the technology - and older people. That's good.
Maryann, I say welcome to those folks!
That's interesting, Jean, that you have to e-readers and still read more print books.
ReplyDeleteKaren, when I need a book, I most often go to the store, too.
I agree with you, Mark. There are a lot of books that I hear about online that I would buy instantly if I had an eReader.
That's great, Laura. I don't have anything on my trainer that I could balance on, but I bet I could get my DH to build something. Then I could take over his iPad!
I don't have a dedicated ereader yet, just my laptop - not an ideal reading platform. I'm sure I will have something by this time next year, hopefully an iPad-like Android device.
ReplyDelete~jon
When you get it, Jon, let us know what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an e-reader, or plans to GET an eReader, but I can certainly see how being able to carry several 'books' in the weight of one paperback would mean some people who don't currently bother might now find it easy enough to do.
ReplyDeleteI think TOO there are the techy folks who had forgotten reading is cool, but now that there is a GADGET involved, they are willing to look at it again... (or so I see it)
Don't have one yet, but Christmas is coming. I intend to gift them to two of my children for sure and maybe ask for one myself.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I thought about asking for one, too, but I'm leaning toward an iPod.
ReplyDeleteHart, that may be true. Some folks are re-discovering books!
Though I don’t own an eReader, I’m happy there's something out there that gets people to read more.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea! I hope it does mean more people will discover reading again.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad got me a Kindle for my birthday this year. I can safely say that having the kindle has expanded my reading options. They offer free books all the time, so I try the books I wouldn't normally read. I'm also reading classics, that I've put off reading, and sometimes, a book isn't one I would want to keep on my shelf. So if I get it for my Kindle, I end up reading different genres of books.
ReplyDeleteI think that e-book readers are wonderful. But I do miss the smell of books.
Perhaps that is my pass to becoming a millionaire. I will make a spray fragrance called Eau de Book. It'll smell like paper and ink with a hint of dust. Okay, I hereby declare a trademark on that.
ReplyDeleteI bought a Nook (the Barnes & Noble ereader) so that I could carry a lot of reading material in one convenient package when I travel. I have since found that it is always with me even when I'm not traveling. Although I think it is no substitute for the experience of reading a real book, the convenience of having the ability to buy a book anywhere you happen to be is undeniable. I also found that getting a daily newspaper delivered automatically on my Nook is an especially nifty feature - particularly when I'm traveling in a rural area where obtaining printed news material is uncertain. (And I no longer have to deal with saving massive amounts of old printed newspapers for recycling!)
ReplyDeleteDo I read more because of it? Well, I've always read a lot, and always read daily, so no, I don't read more now. But I look forward to no longer having to find room for more printed books on my bulging bookshelves, and of course, not having to cart books around on my business trips is a big relief.
Frankly, I'm sceptical about that statistic. Perhaps more people are reading, but I bet that more sales are being made of print books, adn that more books of either format are being read by teh voracious readers than books are being read by "new" readers.
ReplyDelete