Lamenting the loss of books

Written by Caroline Shavel
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 23:00

As 2010 gave way to yet another new year, I found myself wondering what the future will bring rather than reminiscing on the highlights of the past year. While stumbling around aimlessly on the Internet, I came across an article entitled, “20 Things That Will Be Obsolete in 20 Years.” Some of the items listed were not so surprising, such as VHS or CD players. Others like Justin Bieber hit a less serious note. But what struck me as most disturbing was the discussion on the increasing obscurity of books and newspapers.

As a teenager, I often find myself grouped into the technology generation. My parents say that I’m too caught up in surfing the Internet and watching pointless reality television, but I’d argue that despite my adoption of some of today’s modern conveniences, I still remain sentimental for all that has been lost. Almost 18 years since my birth, the world looks like an entirely new place. Terms such as “iPod,” “Blackberry,” and “Google” have become commonplace. Blu-ray discs have replaced DVDs, which replaced VHS, and iPods have replaced Walkmen, which replaced record players. And while today’s modern technology has made information more accessible, entertainment more riveting and life in general more comfortable, it does have its pitfalls.

Just this past week, Amazon reported selling more eBooks than regular books for the first time ever. This shift may be attributed to a number of things such as the recent holiday, but nevertheless I find this announcement troubling. The release of eBook readers like the Kindle, iPad and Nook has completely changed the market for book buying. These devices definitely have their pros — they save trees that otherwise would have been used to make books, they are easily portable and they sell books at lower prices. But despite all these benefits, there is something to be said for holding the actual book in your hands. The sense of accomplishment I feel after finishing a thick book is entirely erased by the streamline eBook readers. In addition, studies have shown that reading from a screen does not allow the reader’s brain to become as engaged, which results in a shallower, less focused understanding of the text.

Another equally relevant problem is the critical condition of newspapers everywhere. Now that people have almost constant access to the Internet or cable news sources, they are not as willing to spend the money and time necessary to obtain news from newspapers. Newspapers across the country face the serious threat of discontinuation. Even some of the most prestigious papers in the country, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, have witnessed significant drops in circulation percentages.

The decline of newspapers and books provides insight into not only the growing advancements of technology, but into the changing habits and mindsets of people across the country. People want their information, and they want it fast. No longer can they stand to check a book out from the library or wait for the newspaper boy to drop off their morning paper. A recent article I read equated today’s Polaroid cameras and record players to tomorrow’s books. Sadly, that may not be too far from the truth.

Caroline Shavel is a senior at Greenwich High School.