The future of printed books in the digital age

THE FUTURE OF PRINTED BOOKS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Name of Author
Institutional Affiliation
Date of Submission
1
When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, it revolutionized the way printed
words and information could be shared for the entire world to see. However, centuries later, the
method of dispensing words and information that Guttenberg cultivated is no longer the best and
most efficient way to pass information from one person to another and reach the largest
audience. In a world full of web pages, kindles, and e-readers, the future of printed books is very
much in question.
Obviously, printed books of all kinds and all sizes are still around. We still have them in
our homes; they are still handed out to schoolchildren; and bookstores everywhere remain in
business. However, there is no denying that printed books have become increasingly obsolete
1
.
After all, do we read the books on our bookshelves at home, or do we just admire them every
time we look up from our kindle? Do kids in grade school go searching through the index of a
textbook anymore? Do they click a mouse a few times to get to a web page that can give them
the information they need? Do people really go to bookstores to pick up the latest paperback? Do
they go to bookstores for the free Wi-Fi, international coffee, and moderately priced pastries
while the books in the store go un-purchased? The reason printed media became great when it
first came is the same reason it is now threatened: something better and more efficient for telling
stories and dispensing information has come along
2
.
The matter is not so much that books will disappear; the matter is that they just will not
be used anymore. Printed books will never be rounded up by the authorities and burned, but they
could continue to be under-utilized in favor of electronic versions of the same books, meaning
that fewer printed versions of books will be purchased, and therefore, fewer will be produced and
1
. Cope, Bill. The Future of the Book in the Digital Age (Oxford: Chandos, 2006), 49.
2
. Schmidt, Eric, and Jared Cohen. The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People,
Nations and Business (London: John Murray, 2013), 22.
2
put into circulation. Over time, if fewer and fewer books are actually printed, in theory, there is
the possibility that they will become so obscure that it will be like they do not exist in our
society.
3
That extreme scenario is both unlikely and more than a century from being a possibility.
Nonetheless, it does speak to the drastic change that is continuing to take place between printed
books and digital books.
The challenge for printed books is to find a way to remain relevant for future generations.
There is certainly going to be a niche for printed books, no matter how prevalent electronic
books become. However, they have to find that niche and convince a sizeable portion of the
society that there is reason for them to be utilized in tandem with their electronic counterparts. If
not, printed books will soon be put on the endangered species list, and could be slowly but surely
removed from our society in the years to come, making the future of printed media as a
prominent part of our society, uncertain at best.
3
. Thompson, John B. Books in the Digital Age: The Transformation of Academic and Higher
Education Publishing In Britain and the United States (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2011), 34.
3
Bibliography
Cope, Bill. The Future of the Book in the Digital Age. Oxford: Chandos, 2006.
Schmidt, Eric, and Jared Cohen. The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations,
and Business. London: John Murray, 2013.
Thompson, John B. Books in the Digital Age: The Transformation of Academic and Higher
Education Publishing in Britain and the United State. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2011.

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

-+
550 words

Our customers say

Customer Avatar
Jeff Curtis
USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Customer Avatar
Ian McGregor
UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Customer Avatar
Shannon Williams
Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."

  • 5-paragraph Essay
  • Admission Essay
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Argumentative Essay
  • Article Review
  • Assignment
  • Biography
  • Book/Movie Review
  • Business Plan
  • Case Study
  • Cause and Effect Essay
  • Classification Essay
  • Comparison Essay
  • Coursework
  • Creative Writing
  • Critical Thinking/Review
  • Deductive Essay
  • Definition Essay
  • Essay (Any Type)
  • Exploratory Essay
  • Expository Essay
  • Informal Essay
  • Literature Essay
  • Multiple Choice Question
  • Narrative Essay
  • Personal Essay
  • Persuasive Essay
  • Powerpoint Presentation
  • Reflective Writing
  • Research Essay
  • Response Essay
  • Scholarship Essay
  • Term Paper
We use cookies to provide you with the best possible experience. By using this website you are accepting the use of cookies mentioned in our Privacy Policy.