Therefore,
Why digital book does not:
For the holidays, what books to slide in your suitcases? Moreover, And in what form? However, Generally. Furthermore, summer visitors must arbitrate between their reading appetite and their fear of excessive size, or the excess of luggage in the event of a plane trip. Furthermore, Unless you take an imposing library in the form of digital books to devour on reader. Similarly, laptop, tablet or even on smartphone.
Optimal solution? Consequently, You have to look more closely. For example, In reality. Therefore, according to data from the National Edition Union (SNE), published at the end of June, the digital book does not frankly arouse the enthusiasm of readers. Consequently, In 2024, it represents only 10.1 % of the total turnover of the sector, an unchanged proportion compared to the previous year.
The digital books published in France brought in 278.6 million euros, a why digital book does not drop of 1.6 % compared to 2023, while total sales are also downwards.
If professional and university works are often bought in this virtual form (46.1 % of the total market, slightly increased by one year) as well as textbooks (12.1 %, slightly decreased), the pixelated literature seduces only 6.2 % of the readership in 2024 (very slightly increased compared to the 6 % of 2023), while other works and investigations barely 1 %.
Half of the editorial market in the United States – Why digital book does not
Nothing to do with reading habits in the United States. Therefore, where the digital book, who has entered the customs for two decades, won half the editorial market, including in literature. Furthermore, Nor with the situation prevailing on the other side of the Channel, where it represents some 40 % of the total.
In France. For example, contrary to what speeches suggested “Enchanted” or “Alarmists” From the why digital book does not beginning of this century, indicates Cécile Rabot, sociologist of reading practices in Paris-Nanterre, “The digital revolution announced in the edition did not take place ».
According to the last biannual barometer on the French. Furthermore, the reading published by the National Book Center (CNL), regular reading in digital format (at least five books read) concerns 15 % of readers, excluding professional readings and books read to children. Meanwhile, Either a significant increase over ten years since in 2015. However, there were only 9 % to have downloaded (legally) more than five books in the year.
Generally. the screen does not exclude paper: in 2024, among readers of more than five books in the year, all formats combined (63 % of French people), only 1 % of technophiles have made the exclusive choice of digital book, when more than 20 % navigate between printed pages and virtual files.
According to the why digital book does not barometer established last year by SOFIA (collective management organization). the SNE and the Société des Gens de Lettres (SGDL), the occasional reading of digital books concerns some 22 % of the population aged 15 and over: 11.7 million French have read at least one book in this format in the last twelve months.
In a society marked by the omnipresence of screens, the modesty of this progression can surprise. Although the questioned people highlight the practicality of the digital book. its maneuverability during the holidays, they show strong reluctance to use. How to explain the ” Difficult and unequal conversion of readers and readers », In the words of Emmanuelle Guittet?
The sociologist of culture. leisure focuses on literature, very representative knowing that three quarters of the books read are novels. She shows that “The public of the book present. in comparison with the audiences of other media, a particular why digital book does not attachment to the object », That is to say in the paper book. It holds. she writes, to “The sacralization of a practice (reading literature, editor’s note) reflecting on its support (and vice versa)”.
Why digital book does not
The book’s reinsurance function
Thus. during around thirty semi-structured interviews (conducted within a sample of more than 400 people who have read at least one book in the year), Emmanuelle Guittet highlights two brakes against the virtual.
Long before the appearance of readers, Pierre Bourdieu saw in the book an “objectified cultural capital”. The reader cannot fulfill this reinsurance function
On the one hand. the respondents share a ” Sensory attachment to paper reading “, Evoking the rustling of pages, smell, contact, materiality and even the uniqueness of the Lu copy. On the other hand. they testify to the ” need to own and why digital book does not expose books In a library, often located in the reception room.
This motivation seems all the more important since the practice of reading is not anchored in childhood. in family socialization, but that it has been the subject of a subsequent acquisition, efforts and personal choices. In this case, the interested parties are due to “Make a reader visible”.
This confirms Bourdieu’s analysis: long before the readers appear. the author of La Distinction (1979) saw in the book a “Objective cultural capital”. Neither the reader nor the tablet can fulfill this reinsurance function.
An unanswered price
In addition, the price of digital book does not appear so attractive. In Anglo-Saxon countries. the price of the virtual file, fixed by distributors, can reach half or a third of that of the paper book, which encourages readership to turn to this format.
It is not the same in France. where since 2011, the why digital book does not LANG law on the single price of the book has been extended to digital format. The objective: to prevent competition by prices to the detriment of editorial diversity. As with the paper book, it is the publisher who fixes his for each title.
To prevent digital technology from phagocyte paper. so to avoid competing with themselves, publishers take care not to apply a price too low. As a result, downloadable files cost around two thirds of the price set for the paper book.
If the publishers find their account there. this is not the case for the authors, tells us Patrice Locmant, Managing Director of the SGDL: “Their rights on sales of paper copies are around 8 % to 10 %, but falls around 4 % for the digital version”. As for readers, they do not seem to judge the decisive discount.
Escape
However, the disaffection of the French towards why digital book does not pixelated literature is not total, far from it. The increase in digital literature publishing (+8.5 % in value in 2024 compared to the previous year) is “Pulled by romance. science fiction and the detective novel”note the SNE. Genres particularly appreciated by young people, at least with regard to romance and science fiction.
28 % of 15-34 year olds read at least five digital books during the past year
Precisely. among the 15-34 year olds, more than a quarter practice digital reading regularly (excluding school or professional works): 28 % of this age group have read at least five digital books during the past year according to the CNL barometer. Does this explain this?
“The less the genre is legitimate. as is the case for the sentimental novel, Note Emmanuelle Guittetthe easier it would be to read digital ”the phenomenon of sacralization why digital book does not of the cultural object not playing.
In addition. the sociologist indicates, this format ” released “ Readers and readers of the possibly condescending look of the bookseller, other customers, and that of passers -by in public space. Nothing like the anonymity of a tablet to hide popular literature!
Further reading: “Operation does not go there”, editions here and there need you! – Lampertheim. 2025 ecological children’s book Prize, the illustrator and author of BD Ariane Pinel at the media library – Beach reading (3/6): “This night that gave me the day” by Frédéric Perrot – Virginie Grimaldi: her 3 best novels to read this summer – Polar: Marc Voltenauer and Lausanne relaunch the Prix du Polar Romand.
