Overview of Books are .epubs, .mp3s, and .mp4s, too
This Vergecast episode asks whether reading still has a future in a screen-heavy world, then makes the case that books are not dying so much as evolving across formats: physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, and even screen-adjacent adaptations. David Pierce talks with BookTok creator and podcast host Morgan Book about why reading still matters, what counts as “reading” now, why romance and romantasy dominate online book culture, and how creators balance offline reading with online content-making. The episode also closes with a quick hands-on take on Amazon’s new Kindle lineup.
Main Themes and Discussion
Is reading actually in decline?
- David frames the conversation around widespread concern that people are reading less and spending more time on phones, TV, and other distractions.
- Morgan pushes back on the doom-and-gloom framing: book reading may be changing, but it is still alive, especially within online reader communities.
BookTok as a reading ecosystem
- Morgan describes BookTok as a broad online community of readers rather than a single uniform space.
- It includes:
- genre-specific readers
- book recommendation accounts
- reading vlogs
- authors promoting their own work
- communities built around book clubs and shared reads
- BookTok’s power comes from its pockets of niche interest while still feeling like one larger culture.
Why romance and romantasy resonate
- Morgan argues romance has become more visible and socially accepted, after once feeling “taboo” to admit you read it.
- Key reasons romance works so well:
- it offers emotional safety and a guaranteed happy ending
- it can explore difficult themes without becoming bleak
- it provides comfort and predictability in an uncertain world
- Romantasy is especially effective because it:
- introduces readers to fantasy without overwhelming them
- often uses accessible, intro-friendly worldbuilding
- lets readers “live a thousand different lives,” as the running book-genre theme goes
Why books still matter as a format
- Morgan says part of the appeal is that books let people step away from screens.
- Physical books offer:
- no notifications
- no interruptions
- a more focused, immersive experience
- Books are also treated as objects people love to collect and display, not just consume.
What Counts as Reading?
Morgan’s definition
- Her broad definition: reading is “anything where you are consuming words.”
- That includes:
- physical books
- ebooks
- magazines
- comic books
- audiobooks
- She strongly argues that audiobooks count as reading because the listener is still consuming the same words and story.
Why this matters
- The episode makes the point that gatekeeping the definition of reading is unhelpful if the broader goal is getting people to engage with books at all.
- The conversation lands firmly on: if you consumed the book, it counts.
Reading Habits and Practical Advice
How Morgan fits reading into a busy life
- She reads everywhere and often uses small pockets of time, especially if she’s early to appointments.
- Her tools include:
- Kindle
- Kobo
- phone
- laptop
- physical books
- For focused reading sessions, she recommends:
- putting the phone in another room
- setting specific reading time on the calendar
- using instrumental or cinematic soundtracks for atmosphere
Tips for getting out of a reading rut
- Put the phone away and out of sight.
- Choose a book you are actually likely to enjoy, rather than following hype.
- Start with something shorter instead of jumping into a massive novel.
- Re-read a favorite book to rebuild the reading habit.
- Use libraries and apps like Libby to experiment without buying books first.
Favorite slump-busters mentioned
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
- The Wedding People
- Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult
- Heartless by Elsie Silver
Adaptations and Cross-Media Storytelling
What makes a successful adaptation
- Morgan says an adaptation does not need to reproduce every line from the book.
- What matters is whether it captures the feeling of the book:
- the chemistry
- the emotional tone
- the romance dynamic
- the overall reader experience
The “Drive Me Mad” example
- Morgan discusses a romance vertical series built from an author’s original ideas rather than a preexisting book.
- It still worked because it leaned into romance tropes readers love:
- road trip romance
- forced proximity
- secret identity
- one-bed trope
- The point: strong romance storytelling can translate beyond books while still feeling book-like in spirit.
Kindle and E-Reader Takeaways
Morgan’s view
- BookTok is broadly supportive of e-readers, especially among people who already own them.
- The bigger debate is usually Kindle vs. Kobo, not whether e-readers are legitimate.
David’s quick Kindle verdict
- Amazon’s new Kindle lineup is much nicer in build quality and screen quality than earlier models.
- But they are also significantly more expensive.
- His take:
- Best overall: Paperwhite
- Solid budget option: base Kindle
- Most niche: Colorsoft, especially for comics and graphic novels
- He emphasizes that e-readers are long-lasting devices, so the higher upfront cost can make sense if you keep them for years.
Key Takeaways
- Reading is not dead; it is changing form and finding new online communities.
- BookTok has helped normalize reading again, especially romance and romantasy.
- Audiobooks should count as reading.
- One of the biggest barriers to reading is phone distraction, not lack of interest.
- The best way back into reading is to make it easy, short, and personally enjoyable.
- E-readers remain a strong option for people who want a dedicated reading device, even if they cost more than they used to.
Notable Closing Point
- David ends by jokingly declaring that he does not want emails arguing that audiobooks don’t count as reading.
- The episode’s larger message is clear: the book world is adapting, and the medium still has plenty of life left in it.