As a 20-something who spends his weekdays typing code and fiddling with databases and internet servers, you’d probably assume I’d be an early adopter of an e-reader like iPad or Kindle. I’m not. I quite like getting something tangible when I pay for it – especially a book – and, one finished, adding it to my bookshelf for future reference or, in the case of fiction, neglect. (But wow, doesn’t it look nice on the shelf?)

The problem is, I can see myself falling into a trap of consumerism. As time goes by, I’m going to need more bookshelves. Then I’m going to need a bigger study. Eventually I’m going to need a bigger house. And, when the times comes to move, it’s much more work with all these extra boxes of books!

Production of these books isn’t exactly environmentally friendly either, with raw materials, printing and world wide distribution all adding up to a pretty large carbon footprint. Furthermore, the selection of titles is quite limited in New Zealand. Mighty Ape lists over five million books, but over 95% of those are not sourced locally. This means the distribution chain for most books is even less efficient than it could be. With no dedicated distributor, we need to import relatively small quantities of books multiple times per week to fill customer orders in a timely manner. Multiply the number of shipments by trucks, planes and courier vans. Oil business continues to boom.

By switching to an e-reader for the majority of my reading, I would solve these problems of house clutter and excessively lining Big Oil’s pockets. I would get books faster and, often, cheaper. Taking more than one book when travelling would become effortless.

But I’m still reluctant to do it.

To me, an extensive library of books is an awe-inspiring thing. I can happily spend hours browsing a large book store without looking for anything in particular. Flipping through a database of titles on a computer, iPad, Kindle, or even a cell phone, just doesn’t seem as entralling.

Physical books are sociable; you don’t mind people being able to see what you’re reading because it may lead to a shared interest. Hell, there’s even a vanity element in that reading a real book gives people you don’t know the impression that you’re doing something intellectual instead of mindlessly staring at yet another computer screen.

I’m scared I’ll lose this stubborn emotional attachment to physical books if I switch to an e-reader. The logical part of my brain thinks I’m crazy.

Much of this same logic applies to music and video games (and soon, movies?), as well. I have dozens upon dozens of console and PC games on disc, but only a few downloaded purchases. I have hundreds of CDs, but less than a handful of albums* bought with iTunes. The CDs are in boxes, and never looked at, but I continue to buy them. Shit!- I bought one today.

OK, so maybe I can drop the physical music infatuation. Maybe, once NZ Internet allows it and premium titles become downloadable, I can switch to virtual game purchases.

But books? I’m still not convinced.

Wait – perhaps I can argue that charging an e-reader’s battery contributes directly to global warming?

* I have never bought a “single” online, believing albums are meant to remain just that. That’s another topic.