Sales of physical books rise, e-books fall

If you think good old-fashioned books are a relic of the past, think again. Sales of physical books are actually up, according to the Association of American Publishers.

In the first 9 months of 2016, paperback sales rose 6.5 percent and hardcover sales increased by 2 percent. Meanwhile, e-book sales dropped by more than 16 percent.

Bookseller Tom Dewitt of Shakespeare and Co. bookstore on the Upper East Side says business has been brisk. He says a lot of readers actually like holding a book in their hands.

Sixty-five percent of Americans said they read a physical book last year whereas only 28 percent read an e-book, according to the Pew Research Center.

While a lot of people say they just prefer the feel of a real book and being able to slowly turn pages as opposed to clicking or swiping, others say they turn to print as a form of digital detox. Then there is the visual appeal of physical books and their often art-like covers. The hashtag #bookstagram has been growing in popularity, making showing off what you're reading cool.

But while e-books may be losing their luster, they're not exactly dead. Digital reads still generate more than $1 billion a year.