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Why do we even bother going to bookstores?

For instance, if I want to buy a book I have to walk almost four blocks, and pretty long blocks they are, to After-Words, a two-level shop at 23 E. Illinois St. (www.after-wordschicago.com) that contains 70,000 new and used books. Google Maps tells me that the walk is only .02 miles, but it sure does seem longer.

Still, as tough as I may have it—sometimes it is raining or very hot or snowing — I can barely imagine the difficulties others have getting their hands on a book. Some people even have to get in their cars and drive to a bookstore.

And why?

It is so, so easy to just flip open your iPad or other gizmo and, faster than you can get a burger and fries at McDonald's, have your book delivered to your device.

I have seen people reading these e-books on buses. At least I think they are reading books. They might be playing Candy Crush or Panda Pop or one of those other intellectual diversions. There is an argument to be made, and it's a good one, that a lot of people have started reading much more than they did before because of the ease and convenience of e-readers.

And yet bookstores still exist. read complete Rick Kogan article

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Why do we even bother going to bookstores?

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