Chapter Ten..

5. Why do you think the availability of television and cable hasn't substantially decreased the number of new book titles available each year? What do books offer that television doesn't?

I’m not surprised that neither TV nor cable has substantially decreased the number of books produced. There are a number of people in the United States who read books on a daily basis during their free time to keep this industry growing exponentially. Books have a lot more to offer than television. For one, they’re in hard copy and they’re guaranteed to last a lifetime as long as they are taken care of. Secondly, books have a wider variety than television. Television rarely has anything on that is worth watching. With books, you will find something that catches your attention whether it be a mystery, romance, or horror novel. With a library card, books can be provided whenever you want them; whereas, television only plays certain things each day.

6. Would you read a book on an iPod or a kindle? Why or why not?

I’m really not sure if I would read a book on an iPod or a kindle. I probably wouldn’t enjoy reading a book that way. I’m a “touchy-feely” kind of person so more than likely, I would prefer a hardcopy of a book rather than having a virtual copy. The hardcopy is something that you can keep for a lifetime; whereas, you aren’t guaranteed forever with a virtual copy. Unfortunately however, I do believe that that’s where the book industry is headed because of our technological advancements. Everyone seems to be turning to the idea of the kindle rather than having their own personal copy of a book. I believe that this will be the only way to read a book within the next fifteen years.