In a NYT article:
Today he (Steve Jobs) had a wide range of observations on the industry, including the Amazon Kindle book reader, which he said would go nowhere largely because Americans have stopped reading.
“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore,” he said. “Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.”
why read, if you can look at
why read, if you can look at pictures and listen to the talking heads.
Steve Jobs promotes libraries and reading
“Sixty percent of Americans read more than one book last year; Americans love to read books! But Apple is satisfied with selling our products to non-readers. Illiterates love Apple!”
Isn’t that what (Steve Jobs) “Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year” means? That’s how I read it, anyway.
Downhill skiing
What percentage of adults downhill ski? I would guess that it is less than 60% of the adult population. Should skis not be manufactured because of the percentage? This would be the same argument that Jobs is using against the Kindle.
Steve Jobs: People don’t read anymore.
I was shocked to hear Jobs dismiss reading in his keynote address, especially when I was hoping he’d announce an Apple e-reader. Maybe he still will – he has a habit of denigrating a product then launching his own version a short while later.
reading
I think Mr. Jobs is telling us he does not read very much and believes everyone else does not read either.