You may be familiar with the term ‘eBook’ and its definition; a digital book that can be read on an e-reader. Well, what is an e-book exactly?
Simply put, an e-book is any digital book that can be read and stored on a digital device. While there are many different types of e-books, these can all be traced back to one thing: digital publications that were originally written for the general public and which can be accessed and read online.
This means that everything from classic novels to non-fiction to textbooks can be found in electronic form and can be read and stored on a device. Moreover, because they are digital, e-books are more portable and can be read on a wide range of devices. Finally, e-books don’t require much storage space, so they are ideal for people who have limited room for bookshelves.
The Rise in Popularity
Thanks to the rise of e-readers and tablets, interest in e-books has increased dramatically. According to a survey conducted by the International Data Corporation (IDC), 66% of adults in the United States have read an e-book. Moreover, 55% of respondents said they would consider purchasing an e-book reader, while 44% said they would buy an e-book instead of a paperback (Pew Research Center).
This is in contrast to the 35% who said they would buy a hardback, or 20%, who said they would buy a cassette tape (Pew Research Center).
The dramatic rise of e-books can be attributed to a number of factors. Firstly, traditional book publishing companies have pivoted to e-books, seeing the potential in digital publication for a more efficient model. Secondly, the reading public has adopted e-books, with 74% of respondents saying they would read an e-book rather than a paperback (Pew Research Center). Thirdly, e-books are more portable and can be accessed anywhere, which makes them ideal for busy people with limited reading time.
Types of E-books
It’s important to understand the different types of e-books. As previously stated, an e-book is any digital book that can be read and stored on a digital device. However, not all e-books are created equal. To truly grasp the concept of e-books, you must first understand a bit about various formats and how they store information.
The most common type of e-book is the kind that is sold in retail stores and online book shops. This is called a ‘closed-form e-book’ because it is only available for purchase and can’t be modified or shared by the reader. Examples of closed-form e-books include The New York Times Bestseller List, which is published by Times Books and is available only on Amazon.com; and St. Martin’s Press hardcover and paperback books, which are only sold in physical book stores.
In contrast, ‘open-form’ or ‘transparent’ e-books are freely available to the public. The advantage of open-form e-books is that they can be accessed and modified by the reader. This means that they are ideal for readers who want to write their own notes in the margins, highlight important points, or make additional notes. Popular open-form e-book platforms include Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK.
The Future of E-books
Thanks to developments in the world of AI and big data, the future of e-books seems optimistic. Using advanced algorithms, today’s e-book readers can access and analyze vast amounts of information quickly and accurately. This leads to an expedited learning experience for the reader and an efficiency increase for the publisher.
Moreover, the IDC survey mentioned earlier suggests that 70% of respondents would prefer to read e-books rather than print books. This is due to a number of factors including the portability of e-books and the fact that they don’t consume as much space as printed books. In terms of future trends, the IDC survey also notes that people are moving toward “multi-device reading” and “personalization.” What this means in practice is that people want to read books on the devices and platforms that they use regularly, and they want customized reading experiences based on their interests and previous purchases.
In recent years, e-book publishing has greatly benefited from technological advancements, with more people reading and liking what they read digitally. However, as e-books become more popular, traditional book publishing continues to evolve as well.