I’ve had my Kindle for about a year now, and really enjoy reading with it. Lately, however, I’ve found that I’m enjoying reading paper much more. The media is portraying eBooks to be the way of the future, making paper books obsolete in the very near future, but I’m not sure that I completely agree with that. Here’s why:
Since my Kindle is an electronic device, for some reason it distracts me like any other electronic device tends to do. Instead of reading, I begin exploring different features, or trying something new like taking notes or highlighting passages. When reading a paper book, I don’t tend to feel those same distractions pulling me away from reading. I’m able to focus on the task at hand and get some major reading done.
When I’m reading a paper book, I feel more accomplished when I’m continuously turning the pages, and feel my left hand holding more pages than my right. With my Kindle, I simply press a button to “turn” the page, but there’s really no obvious clues as to how far I’ve gotten in the book, other than some page numbers at the bottom of the screen, which I rarely notice. This may seem trivial to some, and indeed it is a bit trivial to me, but it’s something I enjoy about paper books nonetheless.
With all of that being said, the numbers do seem to indeed show that eBooks are making a major entrance into the way people are reading today. Many companies now report selling more eBooks than paper books. People enjoy the convenience of being able to carry many books with a single device.
I think in the end, it really is all personal preference. Even though I may enjoy reading paper books, that doesn’t mean you should or shouldn’t. I’m sure one day I’ll be able to overcome the issues I have with eBooks right now and enjoy them. That day may not come until the last paper books is made though :).
Do you enjoy paper books over eBooks?
[Image via Mike McCune & Luz Bratcher]
Adam Shields says
I think different formats are important. I am a huge kindle fan. I am also a huge audiobook fan and I still read about 1/3 of my books in paper. While I am not a huge “media is the message” person, I do think that different format communicate some different things.
So when I re-read a book (which I try to intentionally re-read about 2 books a month), I get a different format if it is available. If I read in paper first, I try for Audiobook the next time. Or if audio is not available, then kindle format. If I started in audio, then I go to kindle. I have found the audio to print (either kindle or paper) is the biggest difference as you might expect. But there is still a difference between paper and kindle.
It is always hard decide how much is the format and how much is the second (or third…) reading.
Chase Livingston says
Those are some very good points Adam, I’ve never really gotten into audiobooks, I might have to give those a try.
reba says
I thought I would never like eBooks. I love books – the way they feel, the way they smell – everything. But when I got my iPad a several months ago I fell in love with eBooks.
I love iBooks and the way I can highlight and easily search and access passages that I want to remember or go back to. I have not actually read a paper book since getting my iPad.
I also have the kindle and kobo apps on my ipad but iBooks is my favorite. Though I love the Kindle launch screen with the person under the tree and the sun or stars…it makes me happy to see it each time I launch it.
Chase Livingston says
I don’t have an iPad myself, but that does seem like a really enjoyable experience.
Eric Dye says
My daughter LOVES the smell of books.
I’ve considered spraying a Kindle with a can of this: http://smellofbooks.com/
Chase Livingston says
#winning
Kevin J. Farmer says
I think the technology is cool. I like reading on a reader but not on my laptop.
I have only one concern and that has to do with children learning how to read in digital formate. I just did a cursory search for research on learning how to read connected to tactile senses of having a book and did not find any information. I am concerned that as complicated as the brain is there may be a learning connection that has to do with touching the book. I know in the case of children with learning disabilities that there is a tactile connection. Learning Disability Therapy often uses chalk boards verses white boards or paper because there is a connection between the two.
For more information on Learning Disability Therapy: http://www.nild.net/
Adam Shields says
I am not an expert. But I am aware of several electronic reading tools that make it easier for children with disabilities. There is a font (dyslexie) that was developed for people with Dyslexia and it seems to be very effective. Also kids with ADHD or ADD often do better with very large fonts, so with ebook readers they can make the fonts huge and have an easier time reading.
A big negative for ebook reading and children is that kids often need the pictures to help give them visual clues and ebook readers are usually only a single screen and most picture books or early reader books have a picture on one page and text on another and the kids miss out on the visual clues.
My wife is concerned (she is a teacher) about kids viewing ebooks as preferable and that kids will grow to love ebook readers, not the actual act of reading. Although a number of kids we know do not seem to have adapted to that problem.
Chase Livingston says
These are some very interesting points, I hadn’t thought of what effects it might have on children. Thanks for sharing!
Scott says
I was never able to stay focused on reading using an e-reader or other digital reading tool. But, using the the new Nook Simple Touch for two weeks now, I think the problem is that the other tools FEEL like devices. The Nook Simple Touch doesn’t feel like a device at all. In fact, I forget that it’s electronic most of the time. It has no keyboard and all “device-esque” attributes disappear once the focus is on the text. It’s really a wild experience. A little mind bending even.
Adam Shields says
Just wondering what other readers you have used? I tend to feel the same way about any eink device. But I have heard a lot of good things about the new nook. If it had audio for audiobooks, I would probably try it out (or if it were about $40 cheaper.)
Chase Livingston says
I haven’t tried one of those yet Scott, but I’ve heard good things about them. Since writing this article, I’ve actually started using the Kindle app on my iPhone, and enjoy that more than reading on my Kindle, surprisingly.