Books

“Books will soon go the way of the dinosaurs” do you agree' We are living in a world where information and materials are simply compiled in a small handy electronic device, and with one single touch-no flipping of pages- all resources appear on the screen. We, who enjoy the conveniences of scientific age, have adapted to living in a more profound society and become more efficient in the pursuit of information. Some would say, therefore, paper back or hard copy books will be soon gone in history, however I m of the firm belief that electronic books have too severe limitations for them to override the printed book, and that it would be risky to attempt to do so. In modern times, scientists the world over have recognized the increasing probability of electromagnetic waves overwhelming global electronic systems. It is hardly an unexpected occurrence: solar storms have been a common phenomenon observed for centuries. What is uncommon, however, is the increasing frequency at which such storms occur, there is a real fear-aggravated, in no small measure, by Hollywood blockbusters-that a massive solar system is overdue, and likely to hi in December 2012. A world that is unprepared for such a catastrophe would quickly find itself floundering in a nightmare of dead machines and rampened panic. Any information that is stored in electronic form, needless to say, would at best be inaccessible, and at worst be irretrievably erased. The printed word, in effect, would be the only remaining source of human knowledge that can be transmitted from one generation to another. Books, other than having the usual function of preserving knowledge, also has the wonderful ability to provide comfort an solace to many in times of emotional need, too often, in the rat race ,that has become the highly competitive society of today, we find ourselves ignoring over inherent need for emotional development, focusing instead on the necessity of earning a living, books written by those who have overcome adversities in life are valuable sources of inspiration to those who find life meaningless, and who find the future bleak and devoid of promise. By reading accounts of such experiences, we invariably acquire that mental and emotional resilience that is so crucial for us in facing the challenges ahead, that can be no better friend, or companion, than a book. It is always there for you, and it never judges you or casts aspersions on your character. Perhaps the best testament to the ability of books to last indefinitely is the fact that modern electronic reading devices like the apple I pad, the Amazon kindle, the Samsung galaxy tab and so on have duplicated the reading experience that one gets from books. Pages are turned simply at the gesture of a finger, and reading a novel on electronic device feels, by and large, like reading a printed book. Ironically, the vary devices that were intended to replace books have done more to preserve them than any other measure in recent times. More people are now enjoying the pleasures of reading books, whether in printed form or otherwise, and this can only lead to the increasing popularity of books in virtually all aspects of our lives, books, indeed, will last for ages to come, and it is certainly comforting to know that electronics will not rule our lives completely.