--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (in response to the question: what do you…" description: "\"(in response to the question: what do you think of e-books and Amazon’s Kindle?) Those aren’t books. You can’t hold a computer in your hand like you ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/ray-bradbury-75_amazon_in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you_1645004.jpg" --- # (in response to the question: what do you think of e-books… ![“(in response to the question: what do you think of e-books and Amazon’s Kindle?) Those aren’t books. You can’t hold a computer in your hand like you can a book. A computer does not smell. There are two perfumes to a book. If a book is new, it smells great. If a book is old, it smells even better…” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/ray-bradbury-75_amazon_in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you_1645004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/ray-bradbury-75_amazon_in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you_1645004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/ray-bradbury-75_amazon_in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you_1645004.jpg) > “(in response to the question: what do you think of e-books and Amazon’s Kindle?) Those aren’t books. You can’t hold a computer in your hand like you can a book. A computer does not smell. There are two perfumes to a book. If a book is new, it smells great. If a book is old, it smells even better. It smells like ancient Egypt. A book has got to smell. You have to hold it in your hands and pray to it. You put it in your pocket and you walk with it. And it stays with you forever. But the computer doesn’t do that for you. I’m sorry.” [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical books engage senses and memory in ways digital devices cannot, fostering deeper connection. **In simple terms:** Books smell and feel, creating lasting personal bonds. Key Takeaway Cherish tactile reading experiences. Themes sensory nostalgia memory technology literature Mood sentimental thoughtful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - library visits - gift giving - personal study habits Key Concepts embodiment experience human connection Questions to Reflect On - What sensory aspects of reading matter most to you? - Can digital books ever replicate the emotional weight of a physical copy? A Different Perspective Digital formats offer convenience that may outweigh sensory loss for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazon/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-egypt/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-computer-600512/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-smell-600511/) [Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egypt/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [I m sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-m-sorry/) [Kindles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindles/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Perfume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfume/) [Pockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pockets/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Smell Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell-hold-600513/) [Smells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smells/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [“There are two perfumes to a book. If a book is new, it smells great. If a book is old, it smells even better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-are-two-perfumes-to-a-book-if-a-book-is-new-it-smells-great-if/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [A computer does not smell ... if a book is new, it smells great. If a book is old, it smells even better… And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/a-computer-does-not-smell-if-a-book-is-new-it-smells-great-if-a-book/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [A book has got to smell. You have to hold it in your hands and pray to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/a-book-has-got-to-smell-you-have-to-hold-it-in-your-hands-and-pray-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [A book has got smell. A new book smells great. An old book smells even better. An old book smells like ancient Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/a-book-has-got-smell-a-new-book-smells-great-an-old-book-smells-even/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“But I think that's a good thing, really, because if you did know it would be almost impossible to let go. When you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/but-i-think-that-s-a-good-thing-really-because-if-you-did-know-it/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [One of the wonderful things about the computer is that it allows us to sit at home and either write a book or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/one-of-the-wonderful-things-about-the-computer-is-that-it-allows-us/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I just got a fortune cookie that says "Turn off your computer and read a book" which is odd because I'm WRITING a book...on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/i-just-got-a-fortune-cookie-that-says-turn-off-your-computer-and-read/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [It's very difficult to read a book on your computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-very-difficult-to-read-a-book-on-your-computer/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The book is here to stay. What we're doing is symbolic of the peaceful coexistence of the book and the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vartan-gregorian/the-book-is-here-to-stay-what-we-re-doing-is-symbolic-of-the-peaceful/) [Vartan Gregorian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vartan-gregorian/) > [Does anyone smell roasting meat?' said Razo, 'Oh, wait, it's just Geric's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/does-anyone-smell-roasting-meat-said-razo-oh-wait-it-s-just-geric-s/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Money does not smell of the mire whence it came; it has the glorious scent of what will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catulle-mendes/money-does-not-smell-of-the-mire-whence-it-came-it-has-the-glorious/) [Catulle Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catulle-mendes/) > [Music can be made anywhere, is invisible and does not smell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/music-can-be-made-anywhere-is-invisible-and-does-not-smell/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“What does he smell like?” “Smell like?” I scrunched up my face. “You know, he looks like he’d smell good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/what-does-he-smell-like-smell-like-i-scrunched-up-my-face-you-know-he/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“I’m completely library educated. I’ve never been to college. I went down to the library when I was in grade school in Waukegan, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-m-completely-library-educated-i-ve-never-been-to-college-i-went/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I am a librarian. I discovered me in the library. I went to find me in the library. Before I fell in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-am-a-librarian-i-discovered-me-in-the-library-i-went-to-find-me-in/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by Ray Bradbury > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More Amazon quotes > [“If Amazon’s dream of a world without gatekeepers becomes reality, then the company itself will become a powerful gatekeeper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/if-amazon-s-dream-of-a-world-without-gatekeepers-becomes-reality-then/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [“There was little science to Amazon’s earliest distribution methods. The company held no inventory itself at first. When a customer bought a book, Amazon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/there-was-little-science-to-amazon-s-earliest-distribution-methods/) [Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/) > [I don't know anything about Amazon's culture; I've never worked there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-conrad/i-don-t-know-anything-about-amazon-s-culture-i-ve-never-worked-there/) [Parker Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-conrad/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [“Jeff Bezos is famous for his “2 Pizza Rule” at Amazon: no meeting is to take place if the number of participants is too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-rogers/jeff-bezos-is-famous-for-his-2-pizza-rule-at-amazon-no-meeting-is-to/) [David L Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-rogers/) > [“The first week after the official launch, they took $12,000 in orders and shipped $846 worth of books, according to Eric Dillon, one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/the-first-week-after-the-official-launch-they-took-12-000-in-orders/) [Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/) > [“ Programs has a temporary results leading to nothingness, and the Gospel the brings the result of Eternal life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommie-scott/programs-has-a-temporary-results-leading-to-nothingness-and-the/) [Tommie Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommie-scott/) > [The digital revolution is forever. They put importance on that option as well. With Amazon, you're getting the best of both worlds, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-digital-revolution-is-forever-they-put-importance-on-that-option/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead; ask about the scale of their dreams -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of-2/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) > [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Wonder Woman isn't even American; she's an Amazon princess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/wonder-woman-isn-t-even-american-she-s-an-amazon-princess/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [Alternative services would mean that there would be services available to compete with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Skype, etc., and they would be run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko-hypponen/alternative-services-would-mean-that-there-would-be-services/) [Mikko Hypponen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko-hypponen/) > [“I'd disagree with the characterisations of him as competitive (which I think was just misinterpretation of his ambition) or secretive (which I think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brandt/i-d-disagree-with-the-characterisations-of-him-as-competitive-which-i/) [Richard Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brandt/) > [We got latched together and I was hoping you could separate us? (Amanda) They were made by your stepfather. Any chance you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/we-got-latched-together-and-i-was-hoping-you-could-separate-us-amanda/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I don't like Amazon (wearing my author hat, not my customer hat).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-don-t-like-amazon-wearing-my-author-hat-not-my-customer-hat/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) [Browse all 434 Amazon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "(in response to the question: what do you think of e-books and Amazon’s Kindle?) Those aren’t books. You can’t hold a computer in your hand like you can a book. A computer does not smell. There are two perfumes to a book. If a book is new, it smells great. If a book is old, it smells even better. It smells like ancient Egypt. A book has got to smell. You have to hold it in your hands and pray to it. You put it in your pocket and you walk with it. And it stays with you forever. But the computer doesn’t do that for you. I’m sorry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ray Bradbury" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you-think-of-e-books-and-amazon-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amazon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you-think-of-e-books-and-amazon-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/ray-bradbury-75_amazon_in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you_1645004.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/ray-bradbury-75_amazon_in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you_1645004.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/ray-bradbury-75_amazon_in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you_1645004.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“(in response to the question: what do you think of e-books and Amazon’s Kindle?) Those aren’t books. You…” — Ray Bradbury", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ray Bradbury", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "(in response to the question: what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you-think-of-e-books-and-amazon-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/in-response-to-the-question-what-do-you-think-of-e-books-and-amazon-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```