So much is happening in the world of books. The transition to digital is in full swing. How we actually read books is changing. Most of this is good, because the old ways are not going to go away. The end result will be more options – in how we read, what we’ll have access to, how we’ll find things. But there are aspects to the change that are not so cut and dry — conflicting interests and a hazy long-term view make it difficult to fully understand exactly what it will mean not just right now, but in the future, for the various parties involved – writers, publishers, and readers. The Google Book Settlement is an example of this. It is definitely something everyone should understand — I thought this article posted at io9 by Annalee Newitz did a great job of exploring some of the major issues on the table with regard to the settlement — 5 Ways The Google Book Settlement Will Change The Future of Reading.