People with Kindles are like robots in another world

[fjtorres]

"Like robots in another world"?
I can cop to that.
eBooks *are* far more immersive than print books so reading on them *does* suck you into the world of the narrative.
And, since I'm not all that sociable, I'd rather stay in there (currently, Russia in the year 1636) than stop and talk to the likes of Kindle haters like him.

He's just mightily afeared of them new-fangled contraptions.

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

He hates ereaders, because they will slowly but surely put him out of business. Must be scary to think about getting into another profession after 25 years.

He can survive.

Get rid of the majority of the book shelves. Stock all that are left with antique or rare books; high end only. Strive for romantic, not dusty. This can be done through attrition.

Fill the much of the remaining floor space with comfortable chairs, end tables, lamps. Bite the bullet and dump all florescents

Hire a barista, or personally learn the art. Dedicate some floor space to that. Gourmet pastries and a wine selection wouldn't hurt either.

The last of the floor space goes to selling nooks, kindles, etc. Don't forget the covers; commercial and local artisan.

Wall space above the shelves is covered--every inch of it--with paintings in oils, watercolors, pastels. A little white price tag hangs discretely from each.

He'll need decent wifi; free but maybe requiring a log-in code (printed on every purchased cup of coffee, good for an hour or more).

[applesauce]

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

He can survive.

Get rid of the majority of the book shelves. Stock all that are left with antique or rare books; high end only. Strive for romantic, not dusty. This can be done through attrition.

Fill the much of the remaining floor space with comfortable chairs, end tables, lamps. Bite the bullet and dump all florescents

Hire a barista, or personally learn the art. Dedicate some floor space to that. Gourmet pastries and a wine selection wouldn't hurt either.

The last of the floor space goes to selling nooks, kindles, etc. Don't forget the covers; commercial and local artisan.

Wall space above the shelves is covered--every inch of it--with paintings in oils, watercolors, pastels. A little white price tag hangs discretely from each.

He'll need decent wifi; free but maybe requiring a log-in code (printed on every purchased cup of coffee, good for an hour or more).

I would spend my time there rather than a coffee shop buy my ebooks and adorable kindle covers hand over fist. I would encourage everybody I know to support it like I do other local businesses that get off their butts and meet the needs of their customers.

applesauce

[Graham]

What's most ridiculous about this is that Hay-on-Wye is full of exactly the sort of bookshops that will survive the advent of the eReader. They're distinctive, each tends to focus on a particular genre, and they're stuffed full of rare and out of print titles.

I have bought vanishingly few print books over the last four years, but 8 of them were bought in one go in a bookshop in Hay while I was at the Festival last year.

Graham

[dwig]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

He hates ereaders, because they will slowly but surely put him out of business. Must be scary to think about getting into another profession after 25 years.

Been there, done that, and it is a bit scary. But if you're reasonably intelligent and don't just stick your head in the ground you'll find something new.

I ran photographic specialty stores for over 20 years. We catered to the skilled photographer and darkroom worker. Advancing automation removed much of the low and middle end of the market, moving it to mail order and discount chains, by eliminating the need for knowledgeable sales staff to educated the purchaser. Eventually the advance of digital was going to kill the darkroom business and we got out before the balance sheet's bottom line turned from black to red.

Its Darwinian evolution at play. When the ecosystem changes only those that can adapt survive. You can't stop the changes in the ecosystem. "Resistance if Futile!" (I heard that line somewhere, where was it? ... )

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

I have a friend who co-owns a local bookstore, and she says the same kind of thing. I think what it boils down to is they know ereaders are hard on their business and resent them. I know there's a way to buy books from Googlebooks and support your idependant bookstore, but I also know that doesn't happen very often. I kind of wish ebooks could be bought by going to any bookstore and scanning a code on a book and then purchasing, and whatever book store you were at would get the sale. But that isn't how they work.

A couple of months ago Google announced that they are terminating their partnership with independent bookstores.

[tecweston]

This makes me wonder how Bernard from "Black Books" would react to someone reading a Kindle in his store.

[rdfry]

Originally Posted by tecweston

This makes me wonder how Bernard from "Black Books" would react to someone reading a Kindle in his store.

Yea that would have made for a great episode too bad the show ended years before the Kindle came out.

[Sydney's Mom]

Since when is reading a social activity? Yes, book clubs and discussion groups are great, but reading is a solitary activity. 50% of reading is the engagement of my immagination, and that is different when everyone.

Sounds like the movie theaters, complaining about video. Or independent video stores, complaining about streaming.

[voracious71]

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

He can survive.

Get rid of the majority of the book shelves. Stock all that are left with antique or rare books; high end only. Strive for romantic, not dusty. This can be done through attrition.

Fill the much of the remaining floor space with comfortable chairs, end tables, lamps. Bite the bullet and dump all florescents

Hire a barista, or personally learn the art. Dedicate some floor space to that. Gourmet pastries and a wine selection wouldn't hurt either.

The last of the floor space goes to selling nooks, kindles, etc. Don't forget the covers; commercial and local artisan.

Wall space above the shelves is covered--every inch of it--with paintings in oils, watercolors, pastels. A little white price tag hangs discretely from each.

He'll need decent wifi; free but maybe requiring a log-in code (printed on every purchased cup of coffee, good for an hour or more).

Nice!! I would go to this bookstore.

[victauria]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Picture this guy in the mid 15th century:

[Chi Cygni]

didn't I just post the same thing as OP, two days ago? eh, never mind

[pisceschick]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Since when is reading a social activity? Yes, book clubs and discussion groups are great, but reading is a solitary activity. 50% of reading is the engagement of my immagination, and that is different when everyone.

This is what I was thinking, as well! I haven't read out in public in years, but my nose in a book was a clear sign I did NOT want to be disturbed!

[pidgeon92]

He'd better ban smartphones as well.

[LovesMacs]

"Kindles are just a phase and they won’t last."

He may be correct, just not in the way he thinks. Ten years from now, the reading market may have moved entirely to LCD screens.

As for books being sociable, they are only as sociable as you want them to be. I don't participate in any book clubs but I regularly discover new books and talk about old ones through friends and colleagues, many of whom have not read a paper book in years.