Why Kindle Books Aren't Evil (Part 1)

For some reason, a lot of people seem to think that Kindle books (or ebooks in general) aren't 'real' books.

Ebooks replace paper and ink for ones and zeroes. They have no substance, no physical form to speak of. They are like the ghost of a story, all digitized and packed in their hundreds into a cold metal shell. And, because ebooks aren't 'proper' books, it follows that they are a threat to literacy, the book industry, and society in general.

First of all, as a bit of a disclaimer, let me just say that I have always been a big fan of the Kindle. Whenever I want a certain book, I usually buy the Kindle version instead of the print version. Whenever I publish a new book, the Kindle edition comes out before the print edition. So I'm a bit biased when it comes to this question. But biased or not, I think that Kindle lovers have a valid argument to counter the idea that Kindle books are evil.

Let's say I'm talking to my friend Sandy. Let's say that Sandy has just read a certain book -- for example's sake, we'll use the title of my book Super Sporty. Let's say that I have not read Super Sporty, but I have seen the film (there isn't actually a film of Super Sporty -- yet! -- but just pretend). Our conversation might go something like this:

SANDY: So, have you read that book Super Sporty?
ME: No, but I've seen the movie. It was pretty good.
SANDY: Oh, the book's so much better. You really need to read it ASAP!

This is a reasonable conversation. Film versions are often very different to their written counterparts -- I might be missing out on something big by not reading the book as well as watching the movie.

Okay, different scenario. Let's say that I have read Super Sporty, but as a Kindle book. Sandy has read Super Sporty as a printed book. Imagine if our conversation went like this:

SANDY: So, have you read that book Super Sporty?
ME: Yep! I got it on my Kindle last week and I couldn't put it down! It was really good!
SANDY: Oh, you got the Kindle version. Well, you need to read the print book right away. It's SO much better.

What is she on about?! I did read the book -- I read exactly the same words as she did; I got exactly the same story as she did; I had the exact same reading experience almost to a T. The only difference was that to turn the page, she lifted a physical sheet of paper, while I swiped at a screen.

The bottom line is this: It does not matter how you read a book. It doesn't matter whether you read the paperback, or the Kindle edition, or the hardback, or even if you listen to an audiobook. You still get the same story as everyone else who reads it, and you get the same benefit.

If anything, Kindle books and other types of ebook are a benefit to the reading world, because they make reading and books more accessible for everyone.

In part two of this post, I'll look at the rise of the Kindle from an author's perspective, and try to figure out why big publishing seems to be so scared about it. Stay tuned!

EDIT: You can read Part 2 of this post here.

AND IN OTHER NEWS...

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