Kindle–Wave of the Future
Oh me of so little faith. I simply did not think people would read e-books en masse. It seemed like a reckless gamble by Amazon. But perhaps that’s why Jeff Bezos is a multibillionaire, and not me! He bet big that people would order more books than ever, if they had an electronic gadget with which to access them. The effect has been dramatic.
People buy more books than ever. What more, both Amazon and the author make more money per unit, because shipping costs are saved. My newest book–Skywalker-Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail— has been on Kindle less than two months. Already it sells double what the physical copy does.
This, incidentally, is great news for hikers. We sometimes become intellectually starved on long-hikes. Now, a person can carry their Kindle–which appears to weigh less than most books–and have constant access to whatever they want to read.
Unlike cell phones and computers–which are a threat to the long-distance hiking experience–the Kindle has the potential to add to the richness of the experience.
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