THE STORY SO FAR: PART 198

THE BOOK BUSINESS IS BEING TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AT A TRULY ASTONISHING SPEED

IN NOVEMBER 2012, 28 PERCENT OF ALL BOOK PURCHASES IN THE U.S. WERE IN E-BOOK FORMAT—A DRAMATIC RISE FROM SIX PERCENT IN NOVEMBER 2010

When I was first published back in 1991—which doesn’t seem that long ago, as far as I am concerned, but is pre-history to many people—the book chains ruled the earth, and Barnes & Noble dominated the book chains.

Just over two decades later, the second largest book chain, Borders, is gone, and Barnes and Noble is looking sickly. What is more is that e-books—scarcely heard about until Amazon introduced the Kindle in 2007—have seized a truly significant market share.

Let me quote from mediabistro which is, in turn, quoting from Bowkers:

According to a new report from Bowker Market Research, U.S. chain bookstores lost 13 percent of their share of book purchases in 2012.

Overall, chain booksellers saw their share decrease from 32 percent to 19 percent of volume. At the same time, Bowker recorded some dramatic gains in U.S. eReatailers and digital book growth. Check it out:

In the U.S., e-retailers accounted for 44 percent of book purchases by volume in 2012, up from 25 percent in 2010. In the U.K. the rise has been somewhat less dramatic but still significant, up from 25 percent in January-November 2010, to 38 percent in the same period in 2012 … In November 2012, 28 percent of all book purchases in the U.S. were in e-book format — a dramatic rise from six percent in November 2010.

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 191

PTSD—POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER—SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY

Personally, I don’t think PTSD is confined to combat veterans. Instead, it is a cognitive consequence of extreme stress in virtually any situation which has a semi-permanent to permanent effect of significant proportions. It can manifest itself in numerous ways, but essentially it distorts our ability to cope with life in a calm and positive manner. The consequences are severe and span the gamut—everything from flashbacks and nightmares, to marital discord and alcoholism. They can and do wreck lives.

Yes, I know that is not the medical definition, but I am writing more as a concerned layman.

The point about combat, or even a combat environment, is that everyone is affected to a greater or lesser extent because to live in a world of near constant threat is an assault on all one’s fundamental survival instincts. In addition, those who experience actual combat can be—it varies— exposed to situations and events which are truly horrific and life changing.

But here is the thing: Despite the fact that we have been at war since 2001, we don’t seem to be coping with PTSD very well. The sheer number of sufferers is way too large for the resources that have been committed and the Veterans Administration seems to be bogged down in a bureaucratic morass.

I’m prompted to write about this because I recently met a remarkable woman who has been helping PTSD sufferers. She has no medical qualifications, but her empathy and understanding of the core issues are impressive.

This piece is merely a placeholder. I’ll return to this important subject when I am more up to speed.