Jimenez 1
Jennifer Jimenez
Professor Elkins
WRI 10
October 24, 2013
Into the Electronic Millennium
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Marcus Tullius Cicero,
Roman philosopher and author, once stated this very significant quote when explaining the immense importance books play in our lives. Similarly, Sven Birkerts, author of the article Into the Electronic Millennium , intends to prove the differences experienced when interacting with a book in print versus one found on online networks.
First, as the author begins the article with a short story, we are able to understand his position. He is an individual who truly appreciates books and wishes to understand the difference in experiences between print and electronic books. He claims, “The order of print is linear, and bound to logic by the imperatives of syntax. It requires the active engagement of the reader, for reading is fundamentally an act of translation… The print engagement is, further, private” (5). In other words, author Sven Birkerts, intends to explain that the connection between the reader and the writer goes beyond any limits.
When a reader is able to physically hold the book and flip the page the connection becomes unbreakable. It is also able to offer a private feel when you are able to speak and understand the author of the book as you connect on a one on one basis.
Author Birkerts also explains the opposite side of the spectrum, as he believes it.
He claims that there is a difference in the connection between a reader and an electronic order. He explains, “The electronic order is in most ways the opposite. Information and

Jimenez 2 content do not simply move from one private space to another, but they travel along a network. Engagement is intrinsically public, taking place within a circuit of larger connectedness” (6). Meaning, the piece of reading that one may acquire through the
Internet automatically eliminates the feel of privacy print is able to offer. Birkerts aims to explain that information that travels through an electronic network is shared amongst many users, which ultimately removes the connection the reader would have with the author. That is to say there is a loss of connection. Personally, I agree with author
Birkerts simply because I too feel that there is a strong connection built with the author when holding the book physically. I also believe that this connection is lost and the respect is gone when there is no longer a conversation happening between the writer and the reader.
Finally, author Birkerts talks about an existing transition from print to electronic media. He better explains it by stating that, as of today, we are experiencing an overlap between the two. Basically, despite the uprising use of the electronic order it is still not above the request for that of prints. Though, that is personally very hard to believe. I strongly believe that whether we are still in the overlap stage or not, we are going down that path and it will happen sooner than later. Printed books, in my opinion, are extremely significant in our lives. Paul Sweeney says it best, “You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” I strongly believe it is based on the idea of flipping through the pages and creating a connection with the author. Once that is accomplished, you will assure to have a great book in front of you.