“我们这一代人，终究没能守住纸质书”

Core Viewpoint - The decline of traditional reading habits is evident, with digital media consumption overshadowing book reading, leading to a cultural shift in how knowledge and entertainment are perceived and consumed [1][10][11]. Publishing Industry Trends - In the U.S., academic book print runs have drastically decreased from 800-1000 copies to around 200, indicating a significant decline in traditional publishing [2][5]. - The global digital reading penetration reached 58% by 2023, with the Z generation (post-95) spending an average of 6.2 hours daily on screen reading, while paper book consumption has dropped by 31% [5][6]. - In China, the average adult spends only 24 minutes daily reading paper books compared to 108 minutes on mobile browsing, highlighting a stark contrast in reading habits [5][6]. Market Challenges - The publishing industry is facing a crisis, with major publishers reporting a 20-30% decline in sales year-over-year, and initial print runs for new books dropping significantly [6][7][8]. - The market for bestsellers has shrunk, with very few titles selling over 100,000 copies, and even selling over 10,000 copies is considered a success [7][8]. Cultural Implications - The shift towards digital media and the decline of deep reading are reshaping cultural consumption, with traditional books becoming akin to luxury items rather than essential knowledge sources [9][10]. - The concept of authorship is evolving, with the rise of self-publishing and AI-generated content challenging the traditional publishing model [12][13]. Future Outlook - The publishing industry is undergoing a transformation towards "digital integration," focusing on multi-media products and IP development, indicating a potential decline in the relevance of traditional print books [8][10]. - There is a call for systemic solutions to promote reading habits and protect the publishing industry, emphasizing the importance of reading as a fundamental aspect of cultural survival [13][14].