Is Nielsen pulling a leg?
Nielsen released figures from 2016, which revealed book sale. There was a steady increase in America and the British Isles while it went down in other parts of the world. It had less to do with the rise of e-books than the popularity of some authors and/or certain titles.
Before you imagine a Fahrenheit 451 scenario, think about the Nielsen's numbers carefully. It doesn't suggest that the US is becoming a nation of bibliophiles, even rivaling Great Britain. On the other hand, there won't be any surprise at all. (Most leading authors in English literature come from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.) There are five things to deduce from last year's book sale:
Young-adult fiction is more popular than ever. J.K. Rowling must receive the Nobel Prize if this will be the criterion for such a distinction. Harry Potter prompted tens of millions of readers to own the seven-book series, even if the paperback copies would turn yellow after several years. The prequels and spin-offs would benefit Hollywood, as Warner Bros. could be certain of profiting millions from the next franchise. This would be beside the point, though. The same legion of fans would read the series again, if not go to the bookstore (and buy a new copy of the series if they don't see the old ones in good condition).
Your iPad can't store all your favorite titles. It would be so convenient to have all your favorite novels (and/or short stories) in Kindle, if not your iPad. However, this could be wishful thinking for the fans of the Fantasy genre. (Philip Pullman won't entertain the idea.) Some might point out that most, if not all, copies of the well-known novels in the English literature can be found after a few minutes of Google search. This may turn out to be a wild-goose chase, if not an urban legend. It turns out that the works of a certain author are printed in publications (like the New Yorker). And they turn out to be a news writer's retrospective of that author (or an erudite review).
Here's a certain truth. The decrease in book sales in other countries may have something to do with the lack of bookstores that sell popular books of the English literature. Classics (like "Oliver Twist") would be an exception.
Preservation of books turns out to be a costly endeavor. Humidity plays a part. Many book lovers couldn't afford space unless they don't mind not moving around much. If book lovers prefer hardbound copies, then there's a possibility that they would get tired of cleaning and arranging it. They may neglect it sooner or later. The Internet will be a lifeline.
Social media has a hand on it. There's a thing called shameless plugging, and many authors won't hesitate to resort to it. After all, authorities won't burn any copy of titles which are a chapter or two long. If you're thinking of a book fair, then there's no doubt about where you're coming from.
