With technology increasingly invading every aspect of our lives, it’s becoming easier to understand everything might be run by either computers or machines someday. While this could be good for some aspects of our society, it will impact others, like the publishing industry, negatively.
Older generations, who were dedicated readers growing up, have been pleading with younger generations to read more. But you really must ask yourself, is anyone even reading books these days? I try to reach for a book in the midst of life’s hustles and bustles, a challenge that is compounded by the constant compulsive lure of social media.
Amazon.com’s 2007 launch of the Kindle book reader, revolutionized the book industry and gave us another opportunity to embrace technology for its benefits as opposed to shunning technology because we, as humans, tend to fear change. However, even with the recent rise of e-books, according to Andre Ulrich:
- One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives
- 58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
- 42% of college graduates never read another book.
- 80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
- 70% of US adults have not been in a book store in the last five years.
- 57% of new books are not read to completion.
Despite these statistics, we are here to declare that reading is uber-COOL and is not only not going out of style, but is also inspiring fashion trends. Out of Print “celebrates great stories through fashion.”
Their bags are visually appealing and make a difference. Out of print runs various social entrepreneurial campaigns as well. During February of this year, for every sale of their $18 tote-bag tribute to James Baldwin’s classic Go Tell It On The Mountain, the company donated $5 to the Harlem Stage.
A Clockwork Orange is another one of my favorites, and you can own your very own for only $18.
Reading is like time traveling, allowing your imagination to unwind and run wild. It’s one of the ways in which I balance the often-conflicting demands of my life. So whether you’re reading a hard copy or an electronic version of your favorite book, you may want to consider carrying it around in one of the vintage literary Out of Print tote bags. As Baldwin said, “People wrote books to change the world”, so let’s remember to read those books to expand (our) minds, empower (ourselves) and uplift others.
Love & Light, Cris
