Article: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2013/07/29/130729ta_talk_surowiecki
In this article, the author talks about Barnes & Noble, the only major bookseller left, in an age during which e-books are on the rise and seem likely to replace printed books. Because I like to visit a B. & N. store every few weeks to read magazines, this article caught my attention even though it is concerned with printed books rather than magazines. After B. & N.'s Nook division lost almost $500 million last year and the C.E.O. of B. & N. was resigning, it looked like the company was going to close down like Borders, another major bookseller, did two years ago. However, even though sales fell last year, B. & N.'s profits actually rose, and the author gives a few reasons why and then suggests ways the company can improve in order to stay in business. Despite the advantages of e-books, physical books have an appeal that e-books lack. Also, the growth in e-book sales slowed down last year and many people who use e-books still use physical books. The author concludes the article by mentioning that physical books are not outdated, and that B. & N. just needs to make sure it is not, either.
Although in my free time I read primarily magazines and newspapers rather than actual books (which I usually read for school) and strongly support technology, I agree with the author that physical books have a unique quality that is absent in e-books. Also, even though I rarely buy anything from B. & N., I find B. & N. to be highly valuable, and I want the company to stay alive because it provides a convenient place to read both books and up-to-date magazines. Therefore, I am glad to hear that B. & N. still has a chance to survive.
The article was interesting to read because I am enthusiastic about technology, and at the same time I like to visit a B. & N. store periodically, as I said before. Overall, the author clearly explained why e-books are unlikely to completely replace physical books and ways that B. & N. could stay in business. I was particularly surprised to hear that a staggering percentage (ninety-seven) of e-book users still read printed books and that such a low percentage (three) use exclusively e-books. I was also fascinated by the study showing that people comprehend less when using e-books rather than physical books. However, in my opinion, the cartoons did not contribute much to the article. They did not really help me visualize or understand the whole situation.
Overall, I think your post was very informative. You do a good job of mixing summary with your own thoughts and commentary. I like how you use your personal experience to guide your thoughts. The article you chose was also really interesting. To make your post better, you could also mention the article's structure along with your thoughts on the actual subject.
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