That is a very simplistic view of what it takes for some authors to be able to sell Kindle editions (I used to work in that exact field) --
* their contract with the publisher may give all digital rights to the pub. This is the case surprisingly often. Depending on the publisher's priority or digital strategy, a kindle edition may take forever.
* Royalties may be different fir digital editions, eg the publisher may want to take a much bigger cut since they don't have to pay for printing, distribution, etc. If the author doesn't like that, it can seriously delay or halt digital publication.
* Agreements with other dist. channels may prevent a Kindle edition. File under either 'digital strategy' as above or 'publisher greed/stupidity.'
"The Story of Electronics (working title), due in early 2010, employs the Story of Stuff style to explore the high-tech revolution’s collateral damage—6 billion tons of e-waste and counting, poisoned workers and a public left holding the bill."
Disclaimer: I do not necessarily agree with the statements made by this author or the logic (or lack thereof) used to derive her conclusions that we're all in a giant conspiracy.
The Kindle has been a godsend in my desire to be mobile, but not go without. I expect the iPad, too, to further allow me to enjoy the technical riches out there without causing more than a few watts of transmission waste.
To think that an author who so valiantly argues against "Stuff" would not have their book available in "non-stuff" format is, kind of mind boggling.
Annie Leonard sounded reasonable, not knocking all material things, but rather saying that we should get good use out of what we do have. Also, Colbert himself at the very end of the interview obviously liked either her and/or what she said.