Paul's Place for Writing

Even though the book-publishing industry may be dying, I would like to publish a book, a little book please, about the sayings of Jesus.  I cherish the sayings of the Master, Jesus, because they are pregnant with meaning, meaning which is relevant to every age.  This has been a hope and dream of mine for years, decades.  I’m now in 2009 an old man, but I still can read and write.  MLK wrote a letter from a Birningham jail explaining to fellow pastors "why we can’t wait" for civil rights and equality.  Well I think the world can easily wait for my book, because the sayings of Jesus are available for most people to read and ponder and practice in their lives, if they so choose.  They sparkle in the gospels like the stars in the sky at dusk.        

Many people, including intellectuals, also including common readers with little experience of the internet, lament the incursion of the internet into the world of books, in that the computer and  related technology, as these take up more time in people’s lives today, seem to be detracting from the popular pastime  of reading  books.  Reading  books, not e-books, but actual books made from paper, seems to be declining among the population, certainly among younger people.  Is this true?  What are the facts?  What are the statistics?

This phenomenon prompts a question about the typical role and function of books in communicating ideas, emotions, trends, stories,  etc.  in society at large.  Is the publishing industry going extinct?