YEARS back when the personal computers first came out and you could read and purchase an e-book on line, there was a notion that hard cover books as we knew them then would soon be finished.
The ease of buying or just reading your favourite cookbook or novel was over, and in a few years the shelves would be empty.
However, it seems that whoever promulgated that theory was not quite in tune with what many readers thought.
In days gone by many seniors will remember the salesman calling with encyclopedias to sell and I think every family bought some of these books to give us information on subjects we were interested in.
Gradually with the advent of the computer and the ease of information gained, it’s been an inspiration and a huge source of knowledge to know that any question can be answered by Google.
This knowledge is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and in a blink.
Some of my previous columns mentioned that one can literally find out anything in word or video.
Whatever you want to know or watch is at your fingertips from travelling around the world by video, or watching an operation or calculating what a certain amount of money is worth in Yen or dollars or even an ailment that affects you.
There are many answers, but today my thoughts are on the printed word.
People, famous for other things are suddenly writing their memoirs or fiction stories and footballers are even writing books for kids.
It seems that anyone can be an author these days, with modern technology helping you along. Many seniors as well as those younger read the printed word as a means of escape to another world, a world where you are safe where you can pause the story at any time.
A means of putting your feet in another man’s shoes and dreaming of faraway places.
Maybe thinking you are ‘Jack Reacher’ in the Lee Child books, making things right, or reading the ‘Sister series’ and getting involved with family situations.
Just to find a comfortable chair, feet up and a good reading position with a strong light and a few hours to spare and lose yourself in the printed word.
It’s not that long ago that in some countries certain books were banned and people could be put to death if caught reading them.
How lucky are we, we have the choice of the hard covered printed word or the E book to choose from.
I was reminded recently about my love of books when a friend came over, and remarked about my bookshelves, “So, you’re a reader?”
We take many things for granted these days, not intentionally though. Sometimes we don’t realise how fortunate we are.
