Paperbacks matter even in this Kindle, Twitter age

 E-books and Kindle may be new normal in this I-age, specially among the nerds, the geeks, and the net savvy.

However, the traditional print, with that ruffle of turning the pages, still rules hands down among majority Indians.

According to Tata Literature Live! Survey 2014, four out of five, which is 78 per cent of respondents, still prefer printed books over electronic reading.

The survey, which sought to gauge the evolving landscape of literary reading, amidst technological, social and behavioural impacts, threw up interesting insights into the reading habits of Indians, including Bangaloreans. And mind you, it’s not that traditionalists, habituated on paperbacks and hardbounds, were sticklers to have a tome in hand as they thumb through its contents. 

The preference for physical books permeated even among the generations, age notwithstanding. From among respondents, hyper-connected post-millennials in the age group of less than 20, rank highest, with 81 per cent preferring actual books over digital readers.

It was 79 per cent among those in the age group of 21-30 and 75 per cent among 31-40 and 41-50 age groups,  the lowest being those in age-group of 50 and above with 74 per cent.

While 77 per cent of Bangaloreans preferred the printed word, 80 per cent of Mumbaikars rooted for physical paperbacks, with 79 per cent Delhites, 78 per cent Kolkatans and 76 per cent Chennaites pitching for the books. Given the City’s claim as Silicon Capital, a modest, but a sizeable 23.16 per cent logged for e-books over print with 23.68 per cent of those in Chennai expressing a similar preference.

Likewise, Bangaloreans showed the strongest liking for internet, social media or gaming over reading (37.14 pc), with majority stating a companion who loves travelling (40.33 per cent) over one who reads (39.18 per cent).

The study by Tata Literature Live! conducted during Mumbai LitFest on Indian reading habits, in October 2014, takes a up, close and personal the survey took at the evolving landscape of literary reading amidst technological, social and behavioural impacts.
The research was conducted online, accumulating responses from 1,426 individuals, across the country.