I think that, in the next decade or so, paper books will, by and large, be replaced by digital E-books and E-magazines.  This is true for a number of reasons.  They are cheaper, environmentally friendly and lastly, are trendy.  This very short essay will expound on these three points.  I hope that it will persuade the reader to agree to the truth of this assertion, but also encourage that person to embrace the future and bring about the revolution even quicker.
Books need to be published, produced and shipped, requiring many handlers between what is created by the individual writer and then consumed by the reader.  There is a great deal of effort and cost in this process and a simple novel or childrens book can cost over $10.00.  Only a small proportion goes to the writer of the book and the cost of production is born by the reader - if he or she can afford the book.  E-books and Magazines cost almost nothing.
The production of paper books and magazines causes, directly and indirectly, much damage to the environment and depletes scarce resources like our forests and fossil fuels.  Pulp to make paper decimates our forests, and the chemicals used to make paper pollute and damage our rivers and skies.  Those same forests are -- or were -- the homes of animals that, in many cases, are on now on the endangered species list.  Indeed, many species have already met their doom and all because we need to read a book.  Further, the production process for making magazines, at least the way it stands now, uses coated paper that is environmentally unfriendly. The transportation of the product to retail outlets is major factor in the cost to the consumer, but it also costs the environment.  Fuels for large trucks and trains are a source of pollution.  As scarce resources are depleted, the environment also suffers.  Books and magazines do not last forever either, and when they need to be disposed of, they again pollute our lands and oceans with the chemicals they were created with.  E-books do not harm the environment and they do not deplete resources in short supply.
I would be remiss if I did not also cover the Cool factor when broaching this topic. People like to try new things and we live in the digital age.  Grandparents and grandchildren use IPods and iPads.  Everyone enjoys having the coolest, trendiest, state of the art gadget.   We can communicate instantly with others on the other side of the world verbally and in writing.  Why should it be any different when a writer wants to communicate his thoughts and ideas in that format?  Many are publishing their works by themselves and at little cost.  People can now read e-books borrowed from the local library via their computer.  They can read their favorite author at their leisure and be cool at the same time.
We are entering the age of e-books and e-magazines.  Reading e-books is cheaper, environmentally friendly, and its cool too; three good reasons to take the plunge and become an e-book or e-magazine reader.  At least, that is my opinion, and besides, I just bought an e-book reader; I have to justify it somehow.