The Revenge of Analog

This post is from a podcast at "The Art of Manliness".

Here is some info on the podcast:

My guest tracks that rebellion in his book, The Revenge of Analog. Today on the show, David Sax and I talk about why we’re seeing a return to analog products like vinyl records, hardcopy books, and pen and paper — and it’s not because of nostalgia. David goes into detail about the sudden revival of vinyl and turntables and why it’s more than just some hipster fad, why hardcopy book sales are going up while ebook sales are declining, and why writing with pen and paper unleashes creativity compared to typing or writing on a screen. He then gets into how the internet is counterintuitively driving this upsurge of interest in tangible products and the benefits we get psychologically, culturally, and economically by living in an analog world.

Why is it that when everything is being digitized and we can carry thousands of pictures on our phones, as well as complete music libraries and even libraries of books with us at all times that vinyl records and paper books are making a comeback?

Some of the reasons are that humans are tactile creatures...we like touching stuff. And we like displaying our stuff. It's much more impressive to point to our vinyl collection or our shelves of books than it is to say "I have 5,000 songs on my iPad". And having books or records on display makes it easier for a guest to start a conversation about a book or record that catches their eye. Or even with a stranger at the airport or train station who has a book sitting next to them. It's not quite the same if you stare at someone's screen on their phone or tablet and tell them "I really like that book, too"!

And it's easier to loan out or giveaway stuff when you can just pick it up and hand it to someone!

Show Highlights

• When it was that David noticed “real” stuff was making a comeback
• Why “the old thing is rendered obsolete by the new thing” isn’t quite accurate
• What is it that’s fueling the “revenge of the analog”?
• How people are “maturing” with their technology use and finding ways to balance their tech use with tangible items
• The irony of the internet helping drive the revenge of the analog
• The vinyl comeback and its example of the larger analog phenomenon
• Why people enjoy tangible things in spite of its seeming inconvenience
• The emotional connection people have to objects you can heft in your hands
• How tangible items make socializing easier and more pleasant
• Why paper books didn’t die, in spite of that prediction many years ago
• The surprising percentage of books sold that are ebooks
• Why humans like sensory feedback
• Brett’s tin foil hat reason for enjoying tangible goods
• Are we really moving beyond an “ownership” society?
• Why folks are still drawn to pen and paper
• The value of writing (and drawing!) things down
• How architecture has suffered in the digital age
• The importance of embracing imperfection
• Why men enjoy “stuff” and collecting things

This is also why paper greeting cards are so much better than e-cards. People will rarely print out an e-card and hang it on their refrigerator or put it on their mantle or desk. A real greeting card is something that can be touched, displayed and shared easily...there is no cumbersome phone or tablet to get in the way.

And if you haven't downloaded the SendOutCards app, go ahead and do so. It's free and if you're not already a SendOutCards customer or distributor the first three cards that you send are on me!

Interesting days

Today - Manatee Appreciation Day, Lemon Chiffon Cake Day, Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day and Smoke and Mirrors Day

Tomorrow - Pencil Day, Doctors' Day and Take A Walk In The Park Day

Next Wednesday - Deep Dish Pizza Day, Day Of Hope, Caramel Day, Go For Broke Day, Read A Road Map Day and Star Trek First Contact Day

April 29 - World Wish Day, Zipper Day, Go Birding Day, Save The Frogs Day, World Veterinary Day, International Astronomy Day, International Dance Day and Sense Of Smell Day