The Bible says, "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end" (Ecclesiastes 12:12). This is a very true statement.
As a publisher, I see the need to adapt to the changing environment, particularly when it comes to the "ebook revolution." However, I am happy to report that the reports of the death of the printed book are greatly exaggerated. Nearly half of all readers (avid book-buyers) report that they refuse to go paperless. (From "Book Business" magazine, March/April 2012.)
Going into a bookshop to browse is one of life's most pleasurable experiences, at least for me. The peace of that environment is wonderful and the freedom to pick up a book and look through it helps me to know if I should purchase it. It has been said that reading a book is a relationship between the reader, the book, and the author, and I think there is great validity in this statement.
We need Christian bookshops, in particular, and I am sorry to see so many of them struggling today due to a variety of factors. A Christian bookshop is a center of life and ministry in the community. I have so many fond memories of times in Christian bookstores, where the atmosphere is free, loving, and helpful. I think people feel safe in a Christian bookshop, and they know that the people who work there will help them in any way they can.
Regarding eBook readers, several users have reported that they experience "screen fatigue" and they find that opening a printed book gives them a diversion from their constant exposure to computer screens and other monitors.
Approximately 300,000 new books are published annually in the world. It is estimated that 60,000 of these are published in the United States every year. These statistics refer to printed books, not eBooks.
Nonetheless, most publishers are finding it necessary to scale down the size of their print runs, to be more selective about what books they accept for publication, and to seek new avenues for their publications, including ebooks, books on demand, and other options.
As Americans, freedom of the press is a constitutional guarantee. It is a wonderful right and a privilege that people in many nations do not enjoy, particularly with regard to Christian books. The first book that was printed by a moveable-type press (at least in the Western World) was the Holy Bible (in 1455). This publication was the beginning of the Reformation and Christian publishing.
More than 500 years later, the Bible continues to be the world's best-selling book, and I'm happy to report that there will be no end to the making of many books.
