BusinessWeek: Significant increase in e-book sales in 2007

rhadin · 03-19-2008, 08:02 PM

According to this week's print edition of Business Week (March 24, 2008), e-book sales increased 59% in 2007 over 2006 based on wholesale U.S. revenues of trade book publishers. That's a significant increase, particularly when compared to the less-than-stellar increase (actually a slight decline) in p-book sales.

Also of interest are these statistics from the same page: Americans ages 20-34 spend on average 10 minutes a day reading for pleasure. Those 35-44 spend about 13 minutes; 45-54 spend about 19 minutes; 55-64 spend about 32 minutes; and 65-74 spend about 46 minutes.

zelda_pinwheel · 03-19-2008, 08:27 PM

the increase in sales is encouraging. maybe content will start to follow.

as for the decrease in minutes of reading per day, i wonder if it's more because the older generations were brought up with the idea of recreational reading (in which case the decline is alarming), or because students / working people have less free time for *anything* than retired people (in which case again the increase is encouraging...). i know in my case, work gets in the way of a *lot* of things i would rather do...

TommyCooper · 03-19-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

the increase in sales is encouraging. maybe content will start to follow.

as for the decrease in minutes of reading per day, i wonder if it's more because the older generations were brought up with the idea of recreational reading (in which case the decline is alarming), or because students / working people have less free time for *anything* than retired people (in which case again the increase is encouraging...). i know in my case, work gets in the way of a *lot* of things i would rather do...

zelda, you will find as you get older and you need to wear a bib to soak-up that unintentioned saliva dribbling from your mouth [ not yours personally you understand

], that the only physical activity you can indulge in is...reading. This simply involves ensuring that the eyelids are prised open and that the eyeballs have some residual movement. I assure you it has nothing to do with ideas or habits, simply age and the availability of time.

zelda_pinwheel · 03-19-2008, 11:23 PM

what an apt yet witty reply, old chap ! have some karma...

(hey, shouldn't you be asleep by now ? i should... in fact, i'm going *right* *now*)

TommyCooper · 03-19-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

what an apt yet witty reply, old chap ! have some karma...

(hey, shouldn't you be asleep by now ? i should... in fact, i'm going *right* *now*)

zelda, yes I should..and I am, very shortly...and just to annoy you...here's some stuff for you also. And.....less of the 'old chap' you saucy young minx.

Tommy

Steve Jordan · 03-20-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

Also of interest are these statistics from the same page: Americans ages 20-34 spend on average 10 minutes a day reading for pleasure. Those 35-44 spend about 13 minutes; 45-54 spend about 19 minutes; 55-64 spend about 32 minutes; and 65-74 spend about 46 minutes.

I'm not 50 yet, and I get in 2-3 hours reading a day!

(But I really should exercise more.)

Alisa · 03-20-2008, 05:41 PM

So by "reading for pleasure" are they counting online reading? I probably spend more than 13 minutes here most days, plus I have other news sites, blogs and forums that I read on pretty much a daily basis before we even start counting time I spend with paper media or my Kindle.

Justy · 03-20-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I'm not 50 yet, and I get in 2-3 hours reading a day!

(But I really should exercise more.)

I get in about that much reading for pleasure a day too... in my case I'm giving up sleep as well as exercise... but one has to have priorities

DaleDe · 03-20-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

So by "reading for pleasure" are they counting online reading? I probably spend more than 13 minutes here most days, plus I have other news sites, blogs and forums that I read on pretty much a daily basis before we even start counting time I spend with paper media or my Kindle.

Glad you still consider reading on this site "pleasure reading".

Donnageddon · 03-20-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I'm not 50 yet, and I get in 2-3 hours reading a day!

(But I really should exercise more.)

You should spend more time writing. I finished the The Onuissance Cells and The First Expedition (and I want more of this world). And I am a just about finished with Berserker (the Kestral Voyages), and I know I am gonna want more of that.

So forget the exercise, and put the fingers to the keyboard, Mr. Jordan!

Steve Jordan · 03-20-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

You should spend more time writing. I finished the The Onuissance Cells and The First Expedition (and I want more of this world). And I am a just about finished with Berserker (the Kestral Voyages), and I know I am gonna want more of that.

So forget the exercise, and put the fingers to the keyboard, Mr. Jordan!

Doin' that too, doin' that too.

cassle · 03-26-2008, 08:46 AM

Who'll need an exercise if u've taken it with your eyes, fingers, and thougts?

Quote:

So forget the exercise, and put the fingers to the keyboard, Mr. Jordan!

I'm agree with you.. (lol)

pruss · 03-26-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

Also of interest are these statistics from the same page: Americans ages 20-34 spend on average 10 minutes a day reading for pleasure. Those 35-44 spend about 13 minutes; 45-54 spend about 19 minutes; 55-64 spend about 32 minutes; and 65-74 spend about 46 minutes.

I find these statistics, as worded here, unbelievable. Surely Americans ages 20-34 spend much more than 10 minutes a day reading for pleasure--for instance, reading blogs, websites, online newspapers, emails, etc. Or does this specifically mean reading books?

Steve Jordan · 03-26-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pruss

I find these statistics, as worded here, unbelievable. Surely Americans ages 20-34 spend much more than 10 minutes a day reading for pleasure--for instance, reading blogs, websites, online newspapers, emails, etc. Or does this specifically mean reading books?

I suspect that this just means there is a huge range between some pleasure readers (like me, 2-3 hours a day) and others ("Pfft! I never read, man!"), and the guys like you and me are seriously outnumbered, which brings the average numbers down pretty low.

03-19-2008, 08:02 PM	#1
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 1,059 Karma: 5442 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Sony PRS-505	BusinessWeek: Significant increase in e-book sales in 2007 According to this week's print edition of Business Week (March 24, 2008), e-book sales increased 59% in 2007 over 2006 based on wholesale U.S. revenues of trade book publishers. That's a significant increase, particularly when compared to the less-than-stellar increase (actually a slight decline) in p-book sales. Also of interest are these statistics from the same page: Americans ages 20-34 spend on average 10 minutes a day reading for pleasure. Those 35-44 spend about 13 minutes; 45-54 spend about 19 minutes; 55-64 spend about 32 minutes; and 65-74 spend about 46 minutes. __________________ Richard H. Adin www.wordsnSync.com bringing editing into the 21st century www.freelance-editorial-services.com when only the best will do www.americaneditor.wordpress.com musings about books and editing

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03-19-2008, 08:27 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel WWHALD Posts: 24,577 Karma: 102009 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: ebookwise 1150	the increase in sales is encouraging. maybe content will start to follow. as for the decrease in minutes of reading per day, i wonder if it's more because the older generations were brought up with the idea of recreational reading (in which case the decline is alarming), or because students / working people have less free time for anything than retired people (in which case again the increase is encouraging...). i know in my case, work gets in the way of a lot of things i would rather do...

03-19-2008, 11:23 PM	#4
zelda_pinwheel WWHALD Posts: 24,577 Karma: 102009 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: ebookwise 1150	what an apt yet witty reply, old chap ! have some karma... (hey, shouldn't you be asleep by now ? i should... in fact, i'm going right now)

03-20-2008, 05:41 PM	#7
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,070 Karma: 5661 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Skindle 1.2	So by "reading for pleasure" are they counting online reading? I probably spend more than 13 minutes here most days, plus I have other news sites, blogs and forums that I read on pretty much a daily basis before we even start counting time I spend with paper media or my Kindle.