Books are .epubs, .mp3s, and .mp4s, too
Summary
The Vergecast host discusses the current state of reading culture with literary content creator Morgan Book, exploring how BookTok communities keep books alive despite declining traditional reading habits. They debate whether audiobooks and digital formats count as reading, the appeal of romance novels, and the balance between offline reading and online content creation. The episode also includes a detailed review of Amazon's new, more expensive Kindle lineup, highlighting the improved hardware and long-term value of e-readers.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Charles Schwab and Deepgram
Intro: Ina Garten and Jennifer Garner
The decline of reading and introducing Morgan
Morgan's reading history and BookTok origins
Transition from cake decorating to book content
Defining the BookTok community structure
Why romance novels resonate with readers
Fantasy tropes and living a thousand lives
Books as a bright spot in declining reading stats
Physical books as a screen-free escape
Balancing offline reading with online content
Managing the temptation to check your phone
Jokes about scrolling vs reading and third spaces
Book clubs and author events as solutions
Defining what counts as reading today
Audiobooks count as reading: the debate
Sponsor: AWS AI
Sponsor: Firefox
Sponsor: Upwork
Adaptations and capturing the book's feeling
Drive Me Mad: from book idea to series
Collaborating with romance author Allie Rosen
Romance tropes in Drive Me Mad
Tension between book-based and other content
Is making non-book content a betrayal?
Practical advice for building a reading habit
Creating a cozy reading environment
Reading devices: Kindle, Kobo, and physical books
How many books to read at once
Getting out of a reading rut
Finding books beyond BookTok recommendations
Foolproof book recommendations for beginners
The comfort of predictable story beats
Rereading favorites and spicy romance
Overcoming resistance to e-readers
Does reading on a phone count?
Sponsor: Verizon
Sponsor: Tiger Sisters Podcast
Sponsor: Tiger Sisters Live Event
Review of the new Kindle lineup
Amazon's recent hardware announcements
Paperwhite vs Colorsoft: which to buy
Longevity and reliability of e-readers
The tactile experience of the new Paperwhite
Is the price increase worth it?
Call for listener feedback on e-readers
Outro and The Verge subscription
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