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SALT LAKE CITY — The constant flow of progression is inevitable and unstoppable. Efficient flow leaves behind that which is no longer useful and carries forward that which is timeless and valuable.
Currently riding that wave of change is the publishing world and the future of printed books. As technology moves forward at flash-flood pace, parents must carefully balance the integration of technology into their family's day-to-day life while preserving the immensely valuable tradition of the printed word.
Value in the written word
The invention of the printing press, around 1440 A.D. in Europe, literally changed the world. When thoughts and ideas could be recorded on paper and easily distributed to the masses, suddenly the human race became a collective society. Philosopher Francis Bacon wrote that typographical printing "changed the whole face and state of things throughout the world."
"Books and other forms of printed information have taken on an almost supernatural quality. To hold a book in one's hand is to hold every big idea and every tiny thought."
Books create, shape and drive the happenings of the human race. Think of all the major events and movements in our histories that have been propelled forward because of printed ideas: the Bible and Christianity; "The Republic" by Plato, the most influential text on philosophy and politics; "The Rights of Man" by Thomas Paine, the inspiration for democracy around the world; "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriett Beecher Stowe, which helped change the view on slavery; and even "Mein Kampf" by Adolf Hitler.
Novels like "Moby Dick," "A Christmas Carol" and the Harry Potter series have also had tremendous influence on our world.
Due to the power of words, books and other forms of printed information have taken on an almost supernatural quality. To hold a book in one's hand is to hold every big idea and every tiny thought. There is something elemental, even magical in the printed word. Books are a tangible testament to our progression as a society and as a race. Something very dear and extraordinarily necessary will be lost if books are no longer printed but instead only presented as bits of memory and code flashing on a screen.
E-readers are all the rage these days — streamlined efficiency at the fingertips. Amazon, now the world's largest retailer, sells more e-books than printed books.
Rise of the e-reader
E-readers like Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook are the favorite new gifts to give and receive. These devices offer readers a vast array of benefits: compact size, large library of material in one place, the speed of digital downloads and more.
Although these features are convenient, there is a negligible difference in cost between e-books and printed books. And when choosing an e-reader, there is the initial purchase price near or above $100. So as our society strives for convenience and the "next-best tech," moving away from printed books, are we leaving behind that which is better and more valuable?
"E-readers are certainly valuable and have a place in our homes ... but they should never completely replace printed books."
In Ray Bradbury's novel, "Fahrenheit 451," society has been so swept up in technology's wake that books have been outlawed and firefighters are tasked with burning every book they find. Instead of reading, people spend all their time plopped in front of large interactive TV screens. The only way that literature survives is through an underground movement of people who have memorized passages from books. Bradbury's perfectly crafted story is a poignant reminder that a balance must be found when using and integrating technology into our lives. It is also a call of preservation for the sanctity of printed books.
Sociologists from the University of Nevada recently completed a 20-year study in which they explored the relationship between owning books and intelligence. Specifically, how the number of books in a home affects a child's success in school and life pursuits.
The study showed that "the difference between being raised in a bookless home compared to being raised in a home with a 500-book library has as great an effect on the level of education a child will attain as having parents who are barely literate (three years of education) compared to having parents who have a university education (15 or 16 years of education). Both factors, having a 500-book library or having university-educated parents, propel a child 3.2 years further in education on average. But having as few as 20 books in the home will likely have a positive impact." [CLICK HERE to read the full article on this study].
Every home should be full of books. Not only does a home full of books create a cozy environment that cradles learning and reading, but it is also conducive for success. The University of Nevada study also said, "The researchers were struck by the strong effect having books in the home had on children's educational attainment even above and beyond such factors as education level of the parents, the country's GDP, the father's occupation or the political system of the country."
It is important to note that the researchers were not looking at e-books. These are real, physical, printed books. Books that sit on the shelves, that curious little hands can pull down and open. These are books sitting on mom and dad's nightstands. Books stacked on the mantel. Books bulging out of the library bag. Millions of words, read or waiting to be read. Thousands of possibilities tucked within the walls of a home. A recipe for success.
Anna Quindlen, in a New York Times article, wrote, "I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."
E-readers are certainly valuable and have a place in our homes — anything that promotes reading is a worthy possession — but they should never completely replace printed books. The impact of books is far greater in their printed form and should not be sacrificed for convenience. Parents should value the books that sit on their shelves and strive to add to their collections whenever possible. Not only do they benefit themselves with the books they own and read, but they create a nurturing environment for their children that will have positive, life-long effects. And if our children learn to value printed books above technology, then the preservation of books will be carried on through the next generation and then hopefully the next and the next ....
Next week: A father's priceless role in reading
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Teri Harman writes and reads from home amid the chaos of three young children.
For more book reviews and book fun, visit her blog at book-matters.blogspot.com
