Books: Electronic or Paper

Some people are purists: paper. It can be hardcover or paperback, they just like their books printed so they can physically hold a book in their hands.

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Some people embrace all technology: if a book or magazine can come on a computer or a tablet, they’d rather look at a screen to read.

I get it. For both of them.

There’s something to be said for disconnecting from things to read a story – disconnecting from life, disconnecting from technology, disconnecting from the world around you – it really helps you get fully invested in the story. Buying a printed book supports the bookstores, which are wonderful institutions that deserve as much support as they can get. Personally, I also like being able to look at shelves full of books; aren’t they pretty? And I’m almost certain there’s a new book smell – sort of like that new car smell that some people enjoy, except, you know, not as toxic.

But there is also something to be said for e-books. The devices don’t weigh as much as, and are usually smaller than, a regular book, so they’re easier to carry with you. They have unlimited capacity, so you can use one device to carry one book or one hundred books (or more!). Sometimes you can find book series sold as bundles, which is cheaper than buying series books individually. And if you finish a book that you enjoyed, you can immediately buy a sequel without driving to the store.

I do a little of both, personally. If an e-book goes on sale, I’m all over it; if a library or bookstore is having a clearance sale, you better believe I’m buying the paper books. If I love the ebook, I may go buy the printed version; if I love the paper book, I will probably download it so I can carry it wherever I go electronically. And sometimes a book is only available in print, or only available on an e-book platform, so I’ll buy the book however I can get it.

That said, I think there are two areas where books on paper are better than e-books: kids and school.

Kid books are awesome; I have a closet full of them for my kids, and they know if they want to read then they can get a book. I figure they spend plenty of time watching tv or playing on their tablets, and they tend to pay better attention when they’re holding a paper book instead of trying to read on a screen. Besides – how would little kids enjoy the sensory books? You know, the ones that have fuzzy parts or scratchy parts or buttons that make noise?

Schools rely on paper books – and have for centuries. Even if text books were available electronically, many school districts would not be financially able to provide updated tablets and e-books to every student. And we’re all familiar with workbooks, right? And who went through college without buying a textbook and then highlighting what was important and making notes in the margins when studying for exams?

So, ultimately, there is no right or wrong option, in my opinion. Personally, I spend a huge amount of time on my Nook tablet and take it everywhere I go; I love that I can carry hundreds of books in something only slightly bulkier than my cell phone. But paper books are not going anywhere, either, and, as long as reading is being done, why should it matter?

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