The Printed Word

Scott Esposito interviewed Allan Kornblum, the publisher at Coffee House Books, a few weeks ago:

Keep in mind that clay tablets lasted 3,000 years, papyrus scrolls lasted two thousand years, the handwritten rectangular book we recognize today continued for about a thousand years, and letterpress printing lasted 500 years. All of a sudden we've had desktop book design, the internet, and the ebook, all in the last twenty-five years. Writers, publishers, and readers have had to swallow these major changes as if we were all at a fast food restaurant, so it's not surprising that we're all suffering a bit of indigestion.

(hat tip: Booksquare)