Books have been around for as long as mankind could speak, from the mysterious shores of Treasure Island to the theme-filled courtrooms of To Kill a Mockingbird. But many believe that thanks to modern technology and culture, books are becoming obsolete. It’s time to prove otherwise, and show that books aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’re evolving. The intricate platform for imagination and storytelling is going through immense changes that will evolve book reading as we know it, so let’s dive in.

Books are Still Constantly Read

Regardless of what you may have heard, books are still being read by millions daily, even with all of our modern technology. The Pew Research Center compared percentages of Americans who still read print books to those who read online e-books, and it was significantly larger. That’s not all; particular books like comics and mangas are read constantly by millions every day, and are two of the world’s most popular forms of reading. Mangas usually come in multiple-book series that are based on different animes, and they have amassed a huge fanbase. In terms of popularity, the same can be said for comics, with millions of fascinated readers enjoying superhero comics and comedic extravaganzas on a daily basis. As for print books, we surveyed thirty people about books and if they still actively read them, and of the thirty, only 8 said they did not read books actively. The other 22 people said that they did. It’s clear that books of all forms are still being read and enjoyed, and their popularity has not decreased at all. In addition, a huge amount of people in general wish to be authors, with millions intrigued by the art of writing stories. In 2013 alone, Pollsters reported that over 80% of Americans want to be authors, further proving that books aren’t going anywhere.

Books are Going Cyber

While millions of individuals still read print books on a daily basis, another book form has evolved reading for the better: online books. E-books are books that are read online rather than on print, and it has become arguably more popular than the latter. Apps like Audible give users access to thousands of books to listen to and read. These are called audiobooks, and they are insanely popular nowadays, with many people enjoying listening to books rather than reading them. Business Insider, referring to the Wall Street Journal, stated that “audiobook sales in the US and Canada increased by 21% in 2015 and this year’s [2016] sales so far indicate further growth”. And that’s just the beginning. Kindles are electronic tablets specifically made for book reading, and they are extremely popular. Amazon is a leader in this market, with their Amazon Kindles scoring massive sales every year. Forbes estimated that in 2013, “the sales of Kindle devices stood at roughly 20 million”. This is an immense amount, and they are still one of the hottest electronics on the market. Furthermore, authors usually type up their stories now rather than handwrite them. This makes it easier to edit, proofread, remove errors, and publish their stories. This huge online book market is evidence of books evolving, not depleting.

Books aren’t going anywhere, thanks to new, intriguing forms like mangas and comics, high print book popularity, and a successful online market for reading. Overall, books are actually becoming more popular than ever, and they will continue to evolve and remain a landmark of our culture and society. So next time you pick up the latest edition of your favorite comic, remember how lucky we are to have this sacred medium with us at all times.