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Cookery books will be no more, says Pack

18.03.08

Some areas of publishing will change "beyond recognition" over the next decade thanks to digital technology, Scott Pack told Sky News, adding that "in 10 years' time we won't have cookery books any more".

Speaking to the news channel ahead of a debate on publishing in the digital era at The London Word Festival last week, Pack explained: "The big difference between books and the digital revolution in the music industry is that in music it was all about making your entire record or CD collection portable. But it doesn't work like that with books. You don't want to read James Joyce on the train, Maeve Binchy while you're walking and John Grisham at your desk."

Regarding cookery books, he predicted: "We'll have a flip-down screen by the cooker and we'll type in fish and 500 recipes will come up. And not only will the recipe be there, but I'll watch Delia or Jamie dice the carrots. We're almost there now with the technology."

Similarly, he thinks dictionaries, alongside reference books generally and printed travel guides will disappear altogether, as all the information they carry - and more - will be at our fingertips on our phones.

On the advent of the Kindle, Pack added: "Reading things electronically is a dissatisfying experience. And I don't think that will ever completely be cracked by technology."

So when we walk into our local branch of W H Smith's and Waterstone's in 10 years, will we see the same number of books on display, asked Sky News.

"I reckon 80% of today's level of books will still be there," he replied. "Fewer books will be published as a whole, because the strike rate [for successful books] is going down and I think there'll be some form of digital electronic media.

"But what I cannot see is someone walking in with their e-reader or whatever, plugging it into the Smith's console and downloading the latest John Grisham. I can see a few people doing that...but I just can't see the majority of people doing that."

Sky News

Scott Pack digital Home Kindle

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By Richard

I agree with the majority of Pack's opinion but I really feel that the digital reader (Kindle for instance) will certainly impact the high street bookstores in a big way. Dictionaries and factual information book sales have already gone into decline due to the advent of the Internet. I for one would buy most of my future books digitally IF they were ALL available for my particular device. I have always hated the idea that the books I have finished now sit on my shelves gathering dust and taking up space. The HUGE hardbacks on sale now are a utter waste of trees and paper (are they getting bigger or is it me?), they are made big so that you feel you are buying something substantial but in reality it is an obscene drain on the environment. E-books are kinder, quicker and cheaper to produce. They take up no storage and they can be bought in an instant. I think that the main obstacle will be that publishers don't like the implications. They can see that the digital method of supplying books will hit their profits very hard and will be keen to suppressed development. In the same way as the electric car has been beaten back for decades because petrol is still making those at the top very very rich. It just won't be possible to justify £20 for a 30 second download as opposed to a brick-thick hardback. However, in ten years time the bookstores WILL be slimmed down noticeably.

18 Mar 08 09:34

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By judi

Maybe it is not Scott who should be interviewed about such things as no matter how forward thinking he is he will be seeing things through the eyes of a 40 something who grew up in an education system that was book based. perhaps the real opinions that matter are those of my nephews aged 7 and 10 who spend most of their time watching stuff, listening to stuff , doing stuff on electronic devises. The 10 year old when doing homework (on the pc) would never go and find somehting out from a book, it is straight to the internet for him. He is already also downloading music and his main request for a birthday present was not an hmv voucher but one form itunes.

18 Mar 08 11:33

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By Scott Pack

30-something, if you please!

18 Mar 08 21:07

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By Martin

My 3 grandchildren aged 9 and twins of 7 were found buried in books the other day and did not want to be disturbed. But if they prefer e-readers in the future that is fine by me. Reading is what matters most and research shows that this is on the increase. Re. cookbooks, Clive Sinclair predicted the death of these in the '70s..

26 Mar 08 14:56

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