Will we be able to read our eBooks in 100 years? Really? I have a few physical books that are 100 years old. Much of our world will become unretrievable-like the wooden houses, music, and knowledge of our ancient predecessors. I have a sneaking feeling that like lost languages and manuscripts, most digital information will be lost to random glitches and changing formats. I also have a funny feeling that, like much of our world that is disappearing onto servers and clouds, eBooks will become ephemeral. A little bit of beauty is added to one’s life-something that can’t be measured in terms of pure information. There is pleasure in reading a well designed book. “ Books, when well made and beautifully designed, are lovely to hold and behold.
Last week, again via email, he announced the launch of his enhanced eBook, but mainly waxed poetic about paper books: “The physical book is truly a lovely object-the McSweeney’s folks are known for this-so if you like to touch things, this is your best option. I am trying (but failing) to embrace eBooks, so my first reaction was: A music book by David Byrne might be one of those books that works better in digital format.Īnd yet, Byrne, who is definitely not a luddite after spending forty-years experimenting with music and technology, seems to be partial to the paper version. What I can talk about–and what Byrne is keen on talking about–is the format of the book: It’s available in all formats - paper, eBook, enhanced eBook (embedded with audio snippets), and audio. I can’t comment on the subject matter, as I haven’t read it yet, but it is getting great reviews. So, I couldn’t wait to talk about his recently released book “ How Music Works“. He could recite a pizza menu while blowing bubbles and standing on his head (he may have already done that!), and I would get chills up and down my spine.īyrne is a visionary artist, academic, writer, photographer, singer and musician (of Talking Heads fame). What will be lost and what have we gained in this process?”įull disclosure: I LOVE David Byrne. It’s sad to watch bookstores disappear as more and more folks buy their books online or read eBooks and rarely visit a bookstore.
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