11 Ironic and Puzzling E-Books

There are lots of valid reasons why electronic books have been soaring in popularity over the last few years: they’re easier to transport than conventional books, often less expensive, and offer a variety of ways to heighten the reading experience (the ability to record notes, look up words, and so on). However, there are some cases in which a simple good old paper book probably would have made a bit more sense.

1. Living off the Grid
Numerous guides for living off the grid can be had for the popular Kindle or Nook reading devices. And, while some may argue that e-books are ultimately more environmentally friendly since no trees are cut down to create them, I’m sure the irony of a new type of energy dependence isn’t lost on those trying to recharge their e-readers with their own homegrown energy source.

2. The Unabomber Manifesto

When Unabomber Ted Kaczynski penned his 35,000-word manifesto – officially titled Industrial Society and Its Future – it probably wasn’t his aim that it would one day be available in an easily downloadable version for digital consumption. After all, Kaczynski spends most of the essay railing against the “industrial-technological system” and trying to incite a “revolution against technology.”

4. Kindle Guides for the Kindle
How do those people described in the previous example learn the Kindle in the first place? Well, they read a guide to the Kindle, of course. And like the Nook guides, these helpful step-by-step Kindle instruction manuals are also available as Kindle books. The question then is: How do you buy the Kindle version of a Kindle guide, open it, and read it so that you can learn how to buy it, open it and read it? It’s a real modern day chicken or egg scenario.

6. Origami
The e-book version of Origami Kit for Dummies is really appropriately named – considering what actually makes the hardbound version a “kit” and not just a “book” is the fact that it comes complete with “25 sheets of 5x5" origami paper in five fun colours”. They’ve come a long way with digital downloads but somehow I doubt those vibrant paper squares make it to your home – meaning your beautiful paper swans are most likely going to be made out of lined notebook paper.

7. Technophobia
If you suffer from Technophobia – defined as the “abnormal fear of or anxiety about the effects of advanced technology” – and you want to learn more about your condition, you can always download Marc J. Brosnan’s aptly-named book Technophobia right to your Kindle, Nook, iPad, computer or smart phone.

8. The History of the Printing Press
Sit back, relax and enjoy The Story of Gutenberg and the Printing Press via the very technology seeking to make it obsolete.

9. Touch & Feel Books
The Cloth Book Buzzy Bee, Bright Baby Touch & Feel Baby Animals, and Baby Touch & Feel Easter Bunny are among the wonderful books designed to teach toddlers through texture and touch. For some odd reason, they are available in various e-book formats – ensuring that any child that grows up using them will think every animal on Earth feels like glass.

11. The Office 2012 Day-to-Day Calendar
Sure, Michael Scott, Dwight, Jim, Andy and the rest of the team at Dunder Mifflin aren’t real. But if they were, they would surely implore you to go with the trusty, reliable paper version of this calendar.