Peter Osnos recently wrote about the challenges facing Barnes and Noble, which he described as "America's last major book store chain." The chain is closing stores in several major U.S. cities and positioning itself as a player in the digital frontier. Are we seeing the beginning of the end for bookstores? It is hard to imagine a world without them, but it is a possibility. No one knows for certain what the future holds, but perhaps books will become specialty items only sold by colleges or smaller independent businesses who appreciate their tangible value. Or perhaps, as someone in the article suggests, a large-scale intervention or consumer-led revolt is needed. Either way, big changes await the retail marketplace for books.