Nick Hornby has written a guest post on The Penguin Blog. Nick Hornby doesn't think e-books will take off.
His first point is one that's often heard: "
Book readers like books (...) For readers, a wall lined with books is as attractive as any art we could afford to put up there." Right. I still think this isn't (entirely) true. While there are definitely some books I want in paper format, there are plenty of books I am more than happy to read only in digital format. Similar to the fact that I used to get a lot of books from the library and some books I really wanted to own and bought for myself. Obviously, I don't agree with Hornby on this one.
Here's another one I really don't agree with: "
Book-lovers are always late adaptors, and generally suspicious of new technology." Need I even address this?
I also noticed this point: "
But – and this is the most depressing reason – the truth is that people don’t like reading books much anyway (...)". I suppose that's true, and I agree with Hornby here: it is depressing indeed.
Anyway, have a read
here, as he's got a few more arguments too.