This is one of the most common question I’m asked lately. With all the buzz about the exploding 
ebook market, it seems that some authors want to skip the process of putting their books into print.
While this can be a money-saving option, there are still many reasons to publish your book as a physical book. Though the ebook market is growing at an astonishing pace, it still only accounts for part of the reading population. If you publish in ebook format alone, you miss out on part of the reading audience. And the same is true in reverse; if you publish in paperback only, you’re missing potential ebook readers.
A printed book is also a tangible item that you can sell at the back of the room during speaking engagements, send to media, distribute to clients, and autograph (try autographing an ebook!). Publishing your book in print is also personally rewarding. There is a tremendous sense of satisfaction when you see your hard work in book format.
While it’s clear that reader habits are changing, which is demonstrated by the tragedy of our many local brick and mortar bookstores closing, I believe that we’re also changing how we buy books. The focus should be on capturing sales online. And there will always be readers who still prefer printed books–but they will most likely purchase them from an online retailer.
I’m of the mindset that it’s imperative that books be printed. Not for some idealogical “culture will die” dogma, but simply for creating a way to simply maintain the tradition. I’m a vinyl record enthusiast, and have recently loved what the industry did with bundling digital and physical together, in order to cater to both forms of distribution; the Enthusiast and the passive listener. It has done wonders for the resurgence of vinyl. I found an interesting article regarding the age old “book bin finds” and eBooks. Obviously there’s discounted books, but what’s the availability of recycling books throughout the community? i’d love to hear your thoughts.
http://www.north.com/latest/a-trip-to-sxsw-with-a-book-in-my-bag-thinking-ux/
Hi Nate,
I’m all for keeping tradition alive! I predict that used bookstores will get a resurgence in the coming years simply because there are so many of us who still love books and want to hold them, keep them, give them to our family and friends. My son is five and our shelves are bulging with books for him to read. I don’t ever want that to change!
P.S. I still have a bunch of my vinyl records too! : )
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