Paper still prevails over e-books, according to new study

NEW YORK – Adult readers in the U.S. still strongly favour paper over e-books, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

Around 65 per cent of those surveyed had read a paperback or hardcover over the past year, compared to 28 per cent who had read an e-book, Pew reported Thursday. Around 40 per cent only read print books, while just 6 per centfavour e-books exclusively. Fourteen per cent said they had listened to an audio book, up two percentage points from 2015, but the same as in 2014.

E-book sales surged after Amazon.com introduced its Kindle reader in 2007. But they began levelling off a few years ago and have even declined for some major publishers. Those who do read e-books prefer a tablet computer (15 per cent) or cellphone (13 per cent) rather than a dedicated device such as the Kindle (8 per cent).

Overall, 73 per cent of Americans 18 and older read a book over the past year, up one percentage point from 2015 but below the 79 per cent recorded for 2011. Women were more likely to have read a book (77 per cent) than men (68 per cent).

The Pew report is based on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,520 American adults, conducted March 7-April 4.