The Optimism of Skip Picard


I have been meaning to post a link to this article for awhile. Skip Picard, CEO of Ingram Book Company, wrote an optimistic piece about the future of publishing, and books, for The Daily Beast. He makes the worthwhile point that since the high sales of the Kindle and iPad the sales of hardcover books has actually gone up. His view can be summed up as follows:

Finally, Johannes Gutenberg can relax. Long into the future, the printed book will continue to survive because of its portability, durability, and flexibility. Many readers will prefer to read printed books for a variety of reasons that will endure. Though massive print runs will decline, today’s print technology allows a book to be manufactured and delivered within 24 hours of placing an order. I foresee a future when all of the electronic devices will have a button to press when you decide you really want that hardcover or paperback copy mailed to your home. Because no matter how exciting the world of enhanced media books becomes, I suspect there will be some like me who want it both ways. I may love my new iPad, but I still look forward to reading that relic of the past, the good old-fashioned, printed book.

It is nice to find a few sane heads in the publishing world.

Full article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-07-28/the-future-of-books-ceo-ingram-skip-prichard-feels-confident/