Books are simplified to appeal to the level of a public discourse reduced to sound bites. Their overall length, and the length of individual chapters, is severely shortened. And they must appeal to impulse, so that any theme or concept that cannot be unpacked in less than 25 seconds is suspect. In sum, it is no accident that nearly half of today's trade paperback bestsellers are cartoons. But all is not grim.
Adaptability marks the history of American media.
The advent of television, for example, caused many to think radio was on the verge of extinction. After all, television took radio's dramas and, adding the visual element, did them one better. Books, too, have been adapting. But I wonder if we in the publishing industry have in the process lost sight of their distinctives. Books simply cannot match the immediate, visual appeal of television.