Generally I prefer to read physical books, though I have started to read more book on my Kindle. Below I am going to list reasons why physical books are better than e-books and then a list of reasons of why e-books are better than physical books.
The Positives of Physical Books
- Turning a page-The feeling one gets when turning a page with the anticipation of what I am going to read on the next page. Moreover, it does feel natural not to read a book without the physical action of turning a page. Some books are called page turners for a reason.
- Displaying Books- The major advantage of physical books is that you are able to display your book collection on a bookshelf for all to see. It is easy to store 1000 books on an e-reader, but nobody can see the books you own. Displaying the books you own is a way of letting a visitor to your house know something about yourself.
- The smell of old books- Many readers, myself included, love the smell of old books. For me the smell of an old book gives it character, because the book may have been read and enjoy by many readers before myself gives me the sense of the power of a good book. E-books are digital products which lack the same character and history of a second-hand physical book.
- Visiting a bookshop- Despite the age of the internet I do still like to visit my local bookshop to browse and buy new books. One picks up a book that catches my eye, reads the blurb, and may decide to buy the book straight away. Also, the staff in bookshops are often book lovers themselves and may recommend books similar to the book you are purchasing.
The Positives of E-books
- The ability to carry more books at once- Choosing how many books to pack for a holiday can be a pain, especially if you have limited room in your suitcase. An e-reader enables you to take more than enough books with you on your holiday, and if you can access WiFi on holiday you can also purchase more e-books as well.
- Access to books not stocked in a bookstore- In the age of the internet book bloggers and booktubers are recommending books which may not be available at bookshops in your country. However, thanks to e-book stores such as the kindle store and the kobo store, one is able to purchase a book recommended by somebody in America relatively easily.
- Free e-books- Many e-books, such as classics, are available to download for free. If you feel guilty about not having read books by Charles Dickens or Jane Austin and you are low on money, you are able to download these e-books for free. Most book lovers want to read as many books as possible, and free classics downloaded from the internet is a simple way to increase your collection of books.
- Saving trees- E-books requires no paper. Therefore, in the long run if more people were to switch to e-readers, it would decrease the demand for paper and may save trees. Of course, e-readers are not totally environmentally friendly because they require electricity, which is generated by the burning of fossil fuels.
Thanks for reading, feel free to let me know your preference in the comments and I hop to have a review of the Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman up by the end of the month.
