When German blacksmith and publisher Johannes Gutenberg introduced movable type printing to Europe in 1439, he started a technological revolution.
His new printing process must have been like the e-book of his day. No doubt there were “technophobes” back then who pined for the artistry of woodblock printing in which an entire page was carved by hand onto a single wood block.
Nonetheless he made it possible, starting with his famous Bible, to easily and cheaply share the written word.
Fast forward to today, and there are signs that continual technological progress, at least when it comes to making books, is not inevitable. People just like the feel, the smell, and the look of a traditionally made book.
In fact, in spite of the convenience of electronic books, people (even young people who have grown up staring into tiny screens) prefer to read their books the traditional way – on paper. A recent study found that 92 percent of college students would choose to read an actual book rather than an electronic one.
And if you watched this entire video, don’t let them call you a technophobe next time you get roped into another debate over e-books. You’re not afraid of technology, you’re just a bibliophile.
