Actually the message is deeper really. Just imagine, if you will, a world devoid of books. In fact devoid of any printed material. What would it look like?

Would it be a world where only with power and batteries you can learn, so we cannot learn away from it very long, or would it be we offload learning onto the nebulous internet of the future. Expecting it to be there always. If that happens what will we lose?

For, in the great scheme of things, something written on stone, paper or parchment can last 1000's of years. But the virtual bits and bytes that go into all of the creative output on the internet can disappear at the flick of a switch.

What does that mean for society ? If parts of our culture can just be erased on a political whim or social fad, how will the historians look back from the future when it is possible to fake pictures, audio, videos or documents that are all stored virtually in the digital realm?

Yes I read books. I cherish books. I love books. And throwing away a book is like abandoning a child. It guts me.

Yes I do have ebooks too specifically copies of real books if I can, but that is no substitute to the written page and the immediacy of being able pick up and put down a book with no accessories needed.