Back to books

Through work I discovered that book lovers need not be hanging around libraries like nerds in order to get a dose of a good read. Add in a bunch of devices, a steady Internet connection and a host of website proprietors who dispense literature for free, I'm one happy reader on the go.

If you too love books and you already own an e-reader, tablet, smartphone (a semismart phone will do too) or any form of device that can support e-books, do share with me what you know about e-books, e-readers, e-book websites, titles you love, better e-book formats, great e-books app, new trends and everything else connected so that we all can continue what we love to do the most, which is to read.

Though I first discovered e-books years ago, I didn't have time to truly explore this particular digital phenomenon. But lately with Kindle and iPad becoming so popular and the term e-reader being included once again as a standard specification, I believe it is time we reserve the trees for something more important and help build the e-book wave once more.


The benefits are clear:
1. No more lugging around thick books across schools, libraries, countries. Hurrah for mobility!
2. You help conserve the environment, reduce tree cutting for paper, reduce your carbon footprint. Go green!
3. Make full use an important functionality of your e-reader device, which you've paid for anyway. Kaching!
(So the cheerleader chant goes, "No lugging, no logging, get kaching!")


Noted that for the book industry there are several dilemmas:
1. Printing companies will hate our guts for encouraging e-books over the generally 20-30% more expensive hard covers and paperback copies.
- But what's wrong with pricing the physical copies and e-copy the same? That's the worse they can do, given that these days they release the cheaper e-book version of a title only after getting the profit from the hardcovers and paperbacks versions, but as a reader if I really want to read it, I'll buy it.
2. Bookstores may have to change their strategy. If everyone buys only e-books who's gonna come into their stores?
- But what's wrong with trading in shelves for servers? Brick and mortar for online? And won't they be able to save money when they don't have to rent such big building to house all those books anyway?

And some stupid points to go over:
1. Will my eyesight gets bad from staring too long at the screens? I'm already tied behind my computer 8 hours a day and the kids spend at least 4 hours in front of the TV and 2 more hours in front of the Wii.
- Of course, if you stare at those screens like zombies! You get woozy even if you do the same with paper-based books. Do some eye exercise. Take a break. Blink! Capishe?
2. I know there are many e-book titles given out for free. Won't I have to spend a lot of money on the e-reader? As if anyone's gonna give me one for free?
- What, no one love you enough to buy you  a present? Give yourself more credit! No one? Really? Well, work hard. No such thing as a free lunch. And when you buy an e-reader, consider it as an investment. Imagine the wealth of knowledge you'll be able to acquire. And find one that is cheap. If you can afford it, get one with Internet connection, so you don't have to do all those files transferring and the device also gives you more functionality.


So there you go, ladies and gentlemen. If I haven't convinced you into sharing my sentiment on e-books, come visit this blog whenever you can. In time, I hope you will.