Real books are making a comeback as the proportion of people buying physical copies rises, as readers mirror the revival of vinyl records
- Retail analysts find books are back as people ‘don’t enjoy reading on devices’
- New figures show the percentage buying e-books and audiobooks has stalled
- Regular readers find they prefer the printed word and the smell of a real book
The death of the book has been greatly exaggerated.
The proportion of people buying something they can touch and flick through is up from 51 per cent last year to 56 per cent this year, according to research.
By contrast the percentage buying e-books (22 per cent) and audiobooks (8 per cent) has stalled, with regular readers finding they prefer the printed word and even the smell of a real book.
![More than three quarters of print book buyers think it is important to support independent bookstores and almost half have used one in the past year, the research found [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/15/01/19714888-7573157-More_than_three_quarters_of_print_book_buyers_think_it_is_import-m-17_1571098986796.jpg)
More than three quarters of print book buyers think it is important to support independent bookstores and almost half have used one in the past year, the research found [File photo]
The figures come from retail analysts Mintel and mirror the situation seen with the revival of vinyl records, with their powerful sleeve images and notes, which people enjoy collecting, displaying and discussing.
A spokesman said: ‘From crisp and new to old and dog-eared, physical books remain, by far, the most popular way of reading books.
‘The top three reasons people buy a book include familiarity with an author, because it was promoted in a shop, and through a recommendation from a family member or friend.’
Mintel said the main reason people are not buying e-books is because they do not enjoy reading on devices, with 45 per cent giving this as a reason.
More than three quarters of print book buyers think it is important to support independent bookstores and almost half have used one in the past year, the research found.
![The proportion of people buying something they can touch and flick through is up from 51 per cent last year to 56 per cent this year, according to research. By contrast the percentage buying e-books (22 per cent) and audiobooks (8 per cent) has stalled [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/15/00/19714884-0-image-a-1_1571094098402.jpg)
The proportion of people buying something they can touch and flick through is up from 51 per cent last year to 56 per cent this year, according to research. By contrast the percentage buying e-books (22 per cent) and audiobooks (8 per cent) has stalled [File photo]