Think the Printed Book Is Dead? Think Again.

By Blake Bos – Jul 23, 2013 at 7:11PM

NYSE: BKS

Barnes & Noble

While many a market pundit will have you believe we're seeing the last days of printed text, don't believe everything you hear. Recent data suggests that the old pen and paper aren't going anywhere.

The recent trend in media has been all about the rise of electronic books and the demise of the printed book. While e-books have definitely been growing at a rapid clip year to year -- by 45% in 2012 in America -- this statistic doesn't tell the whole story. What many don't realize is that printed books actually grew revenue in 2012 worldwide by 1.3%.

In the following video, Motley Fool analyst Blake Bos discusses this recent data and its ramifications for companies such as Amazon.com (AMZN 1.31%) and Barnes & Noble, (BKS).

Blake's not the only one arguing against the demise of printed books, either -- be sure to check out The New Yorker's James Surowiecki's recent article, too.

Blake Bos has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Amazon.com. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.