Here's this week's award for "no duh" headline, appearing on an AP story about e-readers such as the nook and Kindle: "Shift to e-books to hurt bookstores, analysts say."
I'd liken that to a headline that read: "A-bomb may be bad for Hiroshima" or "Model T a challenge to buggy-makers."
Clearly the digital revolution is going to turn the publishing world upside-down, and the result is not going to be pretty. As digital sales continue to increase, bookstores will scramble to re-invent themselves by hosting more events. They won't disappear altogether, just as clothing boutiques have survived the consolidation of department stores and the rise in on-line shopping. But there undoubtedly will be more consolidation among bookstores -- and among the many variations of e-readers.
Buckle up for a bumpy ride!