THE FUTURE OF THE BOOK

The Future of the Book – Analysis of Finkelstein and McCleery

·         Technology –The World Wide Web is the cure all, allows quick retrieval of text, audio, visual and fast moving pictures; Paul Duguid supersession & liberation is the idea that new tech replaces (displaces) & erases the old.

·         Industry organization – The Walt Disney Company is a good example of a global media giant, it dominates in everything from books, media networks, theme parks, studios, retail stores, etc.

·         Readership – Unfortunately, the western world doesn’t get around much to leisure reading anymore. The authors make a strong statement when they say “the critical issue is no longer illiteracy but aliteracy: those who can read but will not read books.”

·         The State’s role – Could or should the state be  involved in driving the direction of change for books? Perhaps the state could subsidize books like it does corn in agriculture.  This may be a way for the State to make sure that “books continue to be available to readers even if they are not financially viable to produce and sell.”