Books are fairly portable, when you carry them one at a time. I can see the point of an e-reader for multiple copies however. Years ago being pocket sized was a regularly advertised virtue and the scores of Everyman and little hardback Oxford World Classics, like this one, that pass through my hands each year are testament to their continued popularity. I do still get the odd book search requests for "any edition so long as it will go in a pocket" usually from older gentlemen, younger ones I guess are all kindled-up.
Anyway, are pocket books fighting back? Hodder and Stoughton have flipped the text through 90 degrees and with thin pages and hardback covers come up with these little portable flip books. What do you think?
I wonder whether the comments in the video were unsolicited, or indeed if the people featured are actors working from a script? I recall the flipbook format being discussed in an edition of the Guardian Books Podcast earlier this year. As I remember, there was a mixed reaction from members of the general public who were surveyed, whilst the expert panellists were distinctly negative. No one really knows which formats will win out and which will disappear without trace. I'm sure Sony thought minidiscs were going to be the future of mobile music, and look what happened to them.
Posted by: David Nolan (dsc73277) | December 06, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Great idea. I want to take more books on holiday but I absolutely do not want an e-reader. This could be the answer!
Posted by: Barbara | December 07, 2011 at 10:39 AM
No no no these are so silly! Have you seen them in the shops! No no no...my thumbs hurt just looking at them. Just stick to what we know I say.
Posted by: Lucy | December 12, 2011 at 08:16 PM
This looks like an interesting concept. At least it's an ACTUAL book, not one of those e-dreadfuls.
I wonder if they'll catch on? Especially here in this country. And what happens when it's an especially wordy book?
Kidos to the publishing house for trying something new.
Posted by: Yvette | December 16, 2011 at 08:04 PM
If it's sells books, great. I'm all for it. But honestly, books are already portable, you can already take them on holiday, and you can still get them in sizes that will fit in your pocket if you stick to genre fiction.
Posted by: CBJames | December 31, 2011 at 03:59 PM