Straight from HaperStudio press release:

“HarperStudio announced its experiment in e-book pricing and “bundling” of formats. In response to such proponents of “free” as Chris Anderson and Seth Godin, HarperStudio’s e-books will be free to anyone who agrees to review the book on Twitter. These short reviews, which must be 140 characters or less (known as “tweets” in Twitter-lingo), must be sent within two weeks of receiving the free e-book. Furthermore, if a consumer sends more than ten “tweets” about a HarperStudio e-book, that person will receive a free copy of the hardcover, signed by the author. Finally, if the consumer tweets more than fifty times about a HarperStudio book, that person will be taken to lunch by either Seth Godin or Chris Anderson (Seth if the person is on the east coast; Chris if the person is on the west coast).

According to Debbie Stier, SVP and Associate Publisher of HarperStudio, “we’ve been wanting to experiment with free for some time, and having Seth and Chris on board for the free lunch aspect really adds an element of excitement for us.”

Books are changing.  It’s a fact.  And that’s the beauty of the new media.  If you can dream it, you can make it happen.  The technology exists or can be created so any illusion can be realized  That is certainly true for books.  There’s the obvious e-book whether you read it on your computer, your e-reader or your phone, you’re never far away from a good read.  But books are becoming much more than words on a page sandwiched between a front and back cover.  Witness The Amanda Project

When the full website launches in June 2009 it will feature the book, Invisible I, by Melissa Kantor, published by HarperCollins.

According to their website, The Amanda Project is an interactive, collaborative fictional mystery for girls ages 13 & up, told across a variety of different media including an 8-book series, a website that features games, writing, art & social networking, and a related series of blogs, satellite sites, music, and merchandise.

Books are changing.  Now the reader has the opportunity to go beyond the pages and get as involved as they wish.  I know we’ll be seeing many more interactive book projects as the months roll by – and I’m certain they’ll be as popular as many celebrity websites are now.

With millions of people buying e-readers and down loading books at a moments notice, why bother to take a trip to the local bookstore or book chain?

I’m an e-reader but I also happen to be one of those people who will take time out of her busy schedule to go to a bookstore and browse. I like that feeling of wonderment when browsing through the stacks. For that matter I love my library and the excitement and heady sensation that overcome me in the presence of so many books.

Buying books on line is simple, quick, and I can do it any time of the day or night. There are also hundreds of on-line outlets for me to choose from.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s yet another alternative, and that’s book rentals. Bookswim is a new online book rental site seemingly modeled after Netflix. There are various monthly subscription rates including the unlimited book rental plan starting at $9.95. The books are sent directly to your home and you can hold on to them as long as you like with the option to buy if you decide one of the books is a keeper. The shipping is free and there are no late fees

As you can see, there are many ways to obtain a book outside of the ‘traditional’ get in your car, drive to the bookstore, browse the shelves and make a purchase. I don’t have a crystal ball – but with technological advances happening every second it begs the question – Will book stores go the way of newspapers? In this age of uber technology is it necessary to have a brick and mortar book store?