When Amazon.com announced its new Kindle, a portable, wireless reading device that comes with access to over 100,000 newspapers, blogs, books and magazines, I was immediately mesmerized. To me, it was the equivalent of the Red Rider BB Gun. You can download almost any book you're looking for in less than a minute. With a new revolutionized screen, it makes it look like you're reading from real paper. There are no monthly service plans, wireless bills, commitments, required computer, cables or wires. Able to hold up to 200 titles, and weighing only 10.3 oz (I've eaten a steak bigger than that!), it is perfect for reading in bed or on the go. I've got my eye on it, hoping that by the time my birthday comes around in October, maybe its initial price of $399 will have come down.

But will something like the Kindle change the future of reading books? There are many advantages to having a Kindle. For me, I really dislike hardback books. They are heavier to hold, and they make my hands tired after reading for a while. They are also larger and don't fit so well in my bag to take with me to read. Hardback books also tend to be more expensive to buy.

It would also be an advantage if they started selling textbooks (they might already offer some; I've never seen a list of books they offer for the Kindle). College students, and high school students alike, carry many books to class which makes backpacks heavy. And it's been proven that the heavy backpacks kids carry around are causing a plethora of neck, spine and back problems. (It's also better for the environment in the fact that they are not using so many trees to create books and other newspapers that are offered on the Kindle.) However, the companies that create college textbooks would be the only ones who I anticipate would not like that. No one would be spending $150-200 per book when they could download it on their Kindle for half or even a quarter of the price.

The downside of electronic reading media would be that there would be a decrease in book manufacturing and printing jobs. If more people downloaded their books and newspapers, then there would be less jobs in the printing, binding and distribution of books, magazines, and newspapers. It might mean that certain publishing or printing companies would stop doing business with Amazon in order to make more money for themselves.

The other downside is that it is a lot easier to completely erase entire texts when it's in electronic form. We still have ancient written accounts carved on primitive paper, but I can't find an e-mail sent to me last week. Electronic media certainly lacks that certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to "wrapping up with a good book." It's cold, unfeeling, unused. There is a certain feeling you get when you pick up a used book that is unlike holding a new one. It's that feeling that "someone else out there knows your story, and it's too good to keep to myself; I am obligated to pass it on in order to touch someone else's life." (Granted, it also could be "this book is over-rated garbage, and I don't want it leaving its rot next to my other books; I might as well give it to some other poor soul who doesn't know any better.") So, where is the future taking us? Even if I bought a Kindle (which is still number one on my dream list), I wouldn't stop going to the bargain book stores to find the literary treasures that await me.

Learn more about this author, Joyce D. Sinclair.
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