There was a time, not so long ago, when people were queuing up to bury the printed book.
The rise of e-readers, tablets, and smartphones — along with a growing obsession with convenience and minimalism — made it all too easy to believe that physical books were headed the same way as cassette tapes and Blockbuster cards.
We were told the future was digital.
Paper was passé.
Real books would soon be consigned to nostalgia and charity shops.
Ha!
Because something quietly reassuring has been happening.
Despite the predictions, printed books haven’t died. In fact, they’re very much alive — and selling in greater numbers year on year.
And that’s something we should be celebrating.
Sales of physical books in the UK have grown steadily for the last five years. Independent bookshops — once seen as endangered species — are opening again. Publishers are investing more in design, materials, and packaging.
And readers?
They're rediscovering the simple joy of holding a book, turning its pages, placing a bookmark, and feeling a sense of ownership that no screen can, or will, ever replicate.
Because there’s something about a real book that hits differently.
You remember where you were when you read it. You remember the smell, the weight, the texture. You recall which friend gave it to you, which holiday you packed it for, which line made you stop and think. A real book has presence. It sits on a shelf like a quiet witness to your life — ready to be revisited, passed on, or cherished for years.
And, let’s be honest, nobody ever curled up on the sofa with a good download.
About a year ago, I wrote a blog explaining why so many people often asked if they could buy me a Kindle. The surprise on their faces when I always declined was clear—they said, “But I thought you liked books?” My response was simple and heartfelt: “It’s because I love books I don’t ever want to own a Kindle—and never will.”
This wasn’t about resisting technology but about cherishing the unique experience that only a real book can offer—the feel of the paper, the smell of the pages, the simple joy of turning each leaf. In an age of digital everything, it seems that people are rediscovering what I’ve always known: real books have a magic no screen can replace.
It's a comeback which isn’t just about nostalgia or aesthetics — but also about the way we absorb information. Studies have shown that people retain more when reading from a physical page compared to a screen. There’s less distraction, more engagement, and a greater sense of connection to the words in front of us. In a world that often feels fast, fragmented, and forgettable, a book offers something increasingly rare: focus.
That’s why this resurgence matters.
Real books ask us to slow down. They demand space in our homes and in our heads. They encourage thought, empathy, and reflection — all of which feel in short supply in the age of swipe and scroll.
So, if you’ve found yourself browsing your local bookshop more often, or feeling that familiar sense of excitement when a hardback arrives in the post, you’re not alone. You’re part of a growing movement of people who know that stories aren’t just about the words themselves, but the way we choose to experience them.
The printed book never really went away. But its return to the spotlight? That’s worth raising a glass — or a bookmark — to.
