A typical phonebook (image from holytaco)
According to a survey reported in this USA Today article, seven out of ten adults rarely ever use a phone book anymore. And why should they? With the Internet connecting computers, smartphones, and Moe the Hobo's tooth fillings, all the information is smack dab in your face. Often, advertisers shove this information in your face before you even want it. Even in a library setting, the only time I use a phone book is when I want to show a patron exactly how I am magically finding the answer.
Was this survey really necessary? I think it almost works as an expose on the phone companies in general. This shows that they are wasting money on a defunct reference material that while 20 years ago was a fixture right below the old rotary dialer was shoved aside the second everyone started sticking those weird flashing light things in their ears. If phone books stopped being published, the only people that would notice would be the companies themselves, as even most libraries have a redundant reverse directory often published by a different company. Viva la revolution! Down with the phone book!
Aside: I know that those weightlifter dudes who tear phone books for Jesus would also notice. But we have better books for them to tear. I am looking at you The Twilight Saga Complete Collection
and A Shore Thing
.
and A Shore Thing.