However true book production began in the Middle Ages, and came to a turning point with the invention of movable type and the printing press by Gutenberg in 1450. There have been many significant technological advances since then, but until the advent of the Internet and electronic commerce, the book industry remained essentially unchanged. Even today, publishers still produce printed books and sell them through bookstores.
Historians believe that books have endured because they are remarkably well engineered.
They are easy to use, generally portable, relatively cost-effective, and they require no instructions or manuals for their use. Paper and ink are known to have superb characteristics for storing and conveying information. Paper provides a reflective surface conducive to reading in a wide variety of light conditions from sitting on your porch in the bright sunlight to laying in bed reading by the dim moonlight. The ink on paper does not flicker or cause eyestrain, which can be a problem with screens. Despite the attractive qualities of printed books, their drawbacks have long been recognized.