Did you know that Amazon.com is selling more Kindle books than hardcover books? Say what? Uh-huh. That amazes this NON (never will) Kindle user.
Over the past three months for every 100 hardcover books Amazon.com has sold, they've sold 143 Kindle books. Over the past month for every 100 hardcover books sold, Amazon.com has sold 180 Kindle books. They sold 3x as many Kindle books in the first half of 2010 as in the first half of 2009. This includes hardcover books where there is no Kindle edition, but this is still simply amazing.
Five authors- Charlaine Harris, Stieg Larsson, Stephenie Meyer, James Patterson, and Nora Roberts have each sold more than 500,000 Kindle books. Say what? Uh-huh. Okay, now I'm really amazed.
E-book sales grew 207 per cent year-to-date through May. Kindle book sales exceeded that.
Am I the only one that finds these numbers incredible?
I like to feel the book, smell it. But lots of folks love the convenience of a Kindle. These numbers prove that.
So this really is a business isn't it? :)
I love my Kindle! Convenience . . . if I want a book, I have it in about a minute. Woo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteNow, I still love the feel/smell of books. I still buy hardbacks every now and then. But . . . limited shelf space, less weight, and so on make me love my Kindle just as much.
S
Crazy numbers. I am a book holding lover too. Insane! :O)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is amazing. Which is why we have to bend and shape with technology rather than against it. I do rather love my print books. I think most people still do love print books. BUT-think of what could be accomplished with Kindle in the education system? You know all that required reading of the classics?? They are free on the Kindle. They can be shared. They will be 'preserved' in that way. Every student wouldn't have to keep track of someone else's tattered copy of the book. OR... well, there is just a lot that could be good. I used to be the one that was very ANTI-KINDLE or Nook or whatever. But I'm learning that if I want to keep writing and make it in the commercial world, I'll have to support the e-book e-reader revolution as well as my print books.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to know there is another nonkindler out there. :) Where would I write all my thoughts and underline all those great quotes if I didn't have a "real" book in front of me? Oh, and I love walking down the isles in the library and taking stacks and stacks home.
ReplyDeleteCrazy. I much prefer an actual hard copy in my hands though.
ReplyDeleteI also prefer a hard copy. I just can't seem to get into the whole Kindle thing.
ReplyDeleteThat surprises me too. I'm like you; I like to hold the book. But then, we're such an instant society, why does that surprise us? Downloads are faster than waiting for a book to come regular delivery. :P
ReplyDeleteHave a happy and blessed weekend,
Karen
I don't have an e-reader, but if I do get one, I'll get an iPad so I can do other stuff with it too.
ReplyDeleteI like to hold the book in my hands too.
Technology at its finest!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a business, and I love it! Getting good Kindle royalties and saving trees!!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
patti
Wow. I had no idea it had grown in popularity like that. I knew they were selling, but...wow!
ReplyDeleteI'll never own a Kindle either!
ReplyDeleteThat's hardcover sales - how does it compare to ALL book sales?
And I bet they're glad they created an app for the iPad, too.
Oh, I think it's price. Hardcover books are expensive! I never buy them. Now paperbacks on the other hand...
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I love the feel of a book in my hand, but at the same time I'm all for people reading whatever way suits them.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the numbers are for paperbacks.
Those statistics make me kind of sad. I would mourn the loss of handling a book's pages or hugging a book tight as I got on the train. I'm trying to imagine a world where my grandkids may actually look at a hardcover book like it's as antiquated as an old victrola.
ReplyDeleteOk, part of me is all about the mighty dollar as a single parent. Quite frankly, I can't afford the Kindle. But also, I just love the idea of the LIBRARY....ya know, not actually BUYING the book (unless it's something I'm "studying" & taking far too many notes), but the premise of borrowing it. But, if I COULD, I'd do the Kindle in a heartbeat probably. And then again....man, the "smell" of books. Mmmmm.....
ReplyDeleteE-books are going to be a huge part of publishing in the future. They've revolutionised publishing as an industry and will continue to do so. I can't wait to get an e-reader. There are still some books I'd like to read on paper (more serious books that need more than one reading to fuly appreciate) But for commercial fiction, I think ebooks are the future. (and the future is now). A prosaic reason for loving the idea of ebooks is that storage space for books is a major problem in my house - ebooks will allow me to keep many more books than I used to.
ReplyDeleteJudy
Robyn.. E-books are the future of Publishing. I am hoping to get an e-reader.
ReplyDeleteBut, my first choice would be to read on paper. I love the feel of paper, the glossy front and back covers.
This is really interesting. With so many digital gadgets, I think teens are going to make these sales larger as they grow into adulthood and rely more on Kindles than books.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this will actually cause the value of a paperback to go up?
I love "real" books! There's just something about the feel of the paper, turning the pages, even the smell of a new book :) I have Kindle for PC but I've only read one book so far and I had to slug through it. Give me a book in my hand any day! I know many argue the convenience of the electronic books but I don't have a problem carrying a book with me. I usually carry one everywhere I go! By the way, Coan loves "real" books, too :)
ReplyDeleteI think you need both. A lot of people are using e-books as the try before they buy approach - kind of like renting a movie before buying the DVD. Others use it as their one and only purchase. I like e-books but I also love the feel of paper books. Both manage to give you a great story and both have advantages and disadvantages. Everyone will make their own decisions about which form of which book to buy.
ReplyDeleteI love my Kindle! I still have the first edition too and would love the newest, slimmest one.
ReplyDeleteI still buy print books too but I usually go with the Kindle version.
No way! I'm kind of shocked. I'm not a kindle user but can see the appeal when traveling.
ReplyDeleteBanned complain !! Complaining only causes life and mind become more severe. Enjoy the rhythm of the problems faced. No matter ga life, not a problem not learn, so enjoy it :)
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