Do Books Still Matter?

Welcome to the 21st century, where many students turn to Google as their main source of information. In fact, some kids wouldn't look anywhere else but the Internet. So what does that mean for nonfiction books? Five years ago, everybody warned that fresh, interactive digital content would eventually replace old-fashioned books. However, last December, "Forbes" magazine came out with a special issue on book publishing confirming that people were reading more, not less. Of course, not all books are worth reading. But a book that conveys an author's judgments and passions--one that makes clear his or her particular vision, that goes beyond simple precis to provide an in-depth analysis and exploration of a subject--offers something very different than a Web site. Books offer a gift that's hard to define, and the experience of reading a good one can last a lifetime. Books, not the Web, are a perfect place for an author's well-honed narrative skills. Books are also carefully crafted to appeal to younger readers, and special attention is given to how art and text fall on each page. There's no way to compare the fine art of bookmaking to designing even the most sophisticated Web site. And as any child will tell you, there's no competition between a book that uses storytelling to capture a reader's heart and a two-dimensional Web site that's intended to hold a viewer's attention for 15 seconds.