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Originally Posted by Bob Russell
The Washington Times is reporting that "The publishing industry enjoyed a strong year in 2005, with increases in both revenue and the number of books sold. But projections for long-term growth remain limited because people increasingly don't read, according to a study released yesterday."
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Unfortunately, this has little to do with eBooks.
The reason that people increasingly don't read is (as Jorgen implied) is because the amount of junk on the bookshelves is increasing. It only takes buying a few duds (after listening to the unrealistic hype about the book) to make someone avoid the bookstore.
The publishing industry, as a whole, is falling into the same trap as the RIAA and MPAA - they think that they can tell the public what it like. They've stopped listening to what the public says and they publish what THEY (not everyone else) likes.
This is compounded by the exorbitant length of copyrights. Even if someone does come up with something interesting, it may not be published for fear of someone suing over a perceived copyright violation.
However, I do see eBooks as something that will help increase people's interests in books - mainly though places like Project Gutenberg of Blackmask - that produce electronic versions of books that have (finally) fallen in to the Public Domain.
I can't tell you the pleasure that I have had reading "classics" that I didn't read (or wouldn't read) as a kid. Thinks like most of Jack London, Tarzan and more.