Reading
has changed over the years. The book
itself now comes in a digital form. But whether you hold a Kindle or a
hardcover book in your hands, the act of reading and the context of reading
books is way different today than in generations past.
Let’s
examine some of the differences:
1. Lighting
People
used to read books by day, outdoors and indoors, and some read by candlelight or
a fireplace. Now people can read
anywhere, anytime.
2. Competing Content
A
century ago books didn’t compete with too many other sources of
information. Now you have an explosion
of content from newspapers, magazines, Internet (podcasts, blogs, YouTube, Twitter,
Facebook, etc.) and other forms of media.
3. Other Books
One
hundred years ago saw the release of only a handful of books each year. People read the same books back then. Now there are three to four thousand books
released every single day – plus millions of volumes in backlist to choose
from.
4. Knowledge of Readers
In 1915
citizens were undereducated and certainly they didn’t know then what our
society knows today. More people today
know more things and bring something to the books they read compared to back then.
5. Privacy
Back
then homes were smaller and families were bigger. Finding a place to read in privacy and quiet
was harder back then. That could
influence what people read.
6. Censorship, Bans & Mores
Even a
century ago there were tighter restrictions imposed by local governments,
school boards, stores, and parents as to what books would get circulated. Now you can order books from around the world
and bypass the censors or traditional societal controls.
7. Glasses, Surgeries &
Contact Lenses
People
had trouble reading without proper eye wear.
Some of it was financial and some of it stemmed from peer pressure
against wearing nerdy glasses, but people back then did not always get the
eye wear they needed. Today it’s not an
issue. Kids wear glasses, teens contact
lenses and seniors get eye surgery. More people read for more
years today.
8. Review Sources & Books
Discussed
People
get so much info about books today from reviewers, online comments, and book
clubs. Back then people relied on
neighbors, friends, clergy, and teachers to tell them what to read.
9. White Male Writers
Books
today are written by gays, blacks, Latinos, women, and every minority
imaginable. Back then you mainly heard
the voice of the white man. Diversity in
books will continue.
10. Cost
& Availability of Books
Based on
inflation, books today are dirt cheap, especially e-books. Libraries make books available for free. Amazon sells books 24-7 around the
world. Barnes & Noble is in every
major city. People can get the books
they want, quickly and easily. One
hundred years ago saw limited book choices and availability.
Clearly,
many factors influence today’s reading experience and new ones will develop in
the coming years. Science may uncover a
way for humans to “download” a book to their brains, bypassing what we
consider to be reading. Who knows? For now, enjoy a good book and appreciate how
book reading today is something that’s easier and more available to more people
than ever before.
DON’T MISS: ALL NEW RESOURCE OF THE YEAR
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Brian Feinblum’s views,
opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his
employer. You can follow him
on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels
more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2015
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