Too Far?

Books, just like newspapers and magazines are fading fast; a passing trend in the greater scheme of human history. Just as digital journalism is affecting the way people receive their news, online sales of books are affecting the way people purchase their books. The Wall Street Journal article from October 17, 2009 entitled Book Price War Escalates, outlines how Amazon.com and Walmart.com, because of their buying power and large volumes, are able to offer prices on best sellers that are much lower than retail.

Contrary to the digital switch in journalism which creates a more diverse content base, this low-price strategy will encourage buyers to support already-famous authors. This Makes it very hard for "up and coming writers" as the article notes.

Just as the corner newsstand is a thing of the past, the neighborhood book store may be headed towards decreasing sales and profits. "'I'm worried about the major book-selling chains, and I'm concerned about the implications for publishers and the public alike,'said David Young, chief executive of Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group, one of the country's largest book publishers."

We are all aware of the possibility that news will no longer be on paper. We are prepared to handle a world where the only proof of historic events exists on a hard drive in some remote location, but no more printed books? It's like their doing away with man's original form of entertainment. Next they'll come up with a way to tell campfire stories online that will be more cost-effective than doing the real thing, but a computer screen can't replace our heritage.