How Reading Has Changed

[Catlady]

From the Washington Post: 11 trends that changed the way we read this decade

[Luffy]

Thanks for sharing. Most entries don't mean a lick to me. E.g. indie businesses's financial health, but the article was overall nice to read.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Luffy

Thanks for sharing. Most entries don't mean a lick to me.

Indeed. As one who can't recall when he last entered a bookstore (they don't sell ebooks) and who would have to be paid A LOT to listen to an audiobook, or read a Tv/film tie-in, the article headline, "11 trends that changed the way we read" (e.a) reminded me of an initialism I learned within weeks of first going online in the 90s - TINW "There Is No We"

[j.p.s]

I'm used to being out of step, but was surprised that not a single one applied to me.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I'm used to being out of step, but was surprised that not a single one applied to me.

The first three items especially directly affected me. I used to have a Borders and a BN in easy walking distance; now I don't have any local bookstores at all and I miss browsing. Audiobooks became my go-to for reading. And I devour the "girl" thrillers (though I'd categorize them as domestic suspense) by female authors.

[Tarana]

I was listening to audiobooks in the 80s. They were very expensive and the only unabridged ones were mostly by Stephen King (OK by me). That led to a lending service originally intended for truckers, but which gradually spread out. Then came Audible, of which I've been a member since 2008.

I primarily read/listen to scifi and fantasy and mystery, so 'girl' thrillers aren't realliy in my realm. As I can't read paper books, the only time I go into B&N is to buy a cross stitch or quilting magazine that I'm keen for.

[issybird]

The only one that applies to me is audiobooks, which I started listening to in 2014. The rest don't register: still have a B&N (although I rarely visit bookstores or libraries now when I used to haunt them), don't watch television versions of novels, indifferent to the "feud" between publishers and libraries, no interest in girly thrillers or political books, etc.

[crich70]

Point 11 is just getting started. I wonder how it'll turn out in the end.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

I'm used to being out of step, but was surprised that not a single one applied to me.

I'm not terribly surprised that none of the trends apply to me. They seem to be oriented towards authors who compete for the reader's wine money than beer money. As a long time SF&F reader (i.e. started reading SF&F in the early 70's), I'm use to not fitting in with the literary society types.

I started listening to audiobooks way back when audiobooks were on CD's rather than streaming and there were audiobook rental stores.

I also have never seen mini-series such as Game of Thrones, The Handmaid's Tale or Outland and have no particular desire to. I've never bought a book that was printed on demand, read 50 shades of grey (i.e. mommy porn), read political children's book or graphic novels. Just not my thing.

[Apache]

This sounds like me if yo change change the start to the '60s and audiobooks to cassette.
Apache

[SteveEisenberg]

The real #1:

No daily newspaper in most homes.

[binaryhermit]

I will say ebooks and the rise of PoD has somewhat weakened the old gatekeepers that are what now is the Big 5 publishers.
And enabled the new gatekeeper that is Amazon

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

The real #1:

No daily newspaper in most homes.

Very, very good point. My father very rarely read books, but he read the paper every day. He had a newspaper subscription until the day he died. I delivered papers for a couple of years when I was a kid. I had two different paper routes. I would say that on the streets that I delivered papers, somewhere from 2/3rds to 3/4ths received the evening paper. There was also a morning paper, so it's likely that the vast majority of houses on those routes got some sort of paper.

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

The real #1:

No daily newspaper in most homes.

Yes. Although my parents never read a book, they read the paper every day. With fewer daily newspapers, and the rise of audiobooks, I bet the number of people who never read anything longer than an email is huge.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Yes. Although my parents never read a book, they read the paper every day. With fewer daily newspapers, and the rise of audiobooks, I bet the number of people who never read anything longer than an email is huge.

Quite likely. The other trend with regards to news is the increase of news/opinion oriented podcast. I would not be shocked it podcast become the future media for news. I've heard mention of a number of reporters who use to write for major publications starting up newsletters and podcast.