browsing books

In addition to reading about the publisher troubles in book returns, I've also read some concerns that retailers have over the demise of the book browser. More and more, they report, people come in for a specific item and go, often double parking right in front of the doors to do so.

This most certainly would account for part of the decline in book buyer. But why aren't people browsing as they used to?

Obviously I can only offer my own insights. As a dedicated book browser, I know my own time in book stores has dropped drastically. In part this is a result of family life and the lack of time to be out just browsing. But in part it is also because I am less likely to be buying books today. And why? Because of the cost, for one.

The cost of a book seems exorbitantly high. The publishing industry is quick to let us know that the price of a book has not kept pace with inflation, but they fail to take in to consideration the price of alternative entertainment. Do I pay $30 for a new book, likely to be read once, and only by myself, or do I pay half that for a movie which is likely to be watched many times, and by more than one person in the house? Okay, the answer is obvious -- buy the damn book. But the reality is....

And if I'm paying the greater price for a book, I'm less likely to take a risk on something new. Do I really want to shell out $25-30 on an author I've never heard of? No. And thus, why spend the time browsing? As I mentioned to my friend Kootch just the other day, there are three, maybe four authors whose books I will buy new, in hardcover, when they come out. And this being the case, why bother browsing?