What's better? Ereaders or real books?
Debate: SOLVED
For as long as books have existed, people having been judging others about how they read them.
And — SHOCK! HORROR! — the introduction of ereaders has only intensified these arguments.
Well, friends, today I’m holding out an olive branch. I’m not here to dunk on anyone in particular — well, no more than usual — instead, I’m going to solve the physical books vs. ebooks debate for all time.
If I asked you which reading medium you prefer, it’s likely you’ll have a little spiel prepared.
Those who prefer physical books often talk in terms of sensation. You know, the weight of a novel in your hands, the way its pages bend and fold and wrinkle and rustle, the pleasure in soaking up the sweet, vanilla-tinged smell of its pages.
Ereader enthusiasts, on the other hand, tend to hone in on practical concerns. There’s the simplicity of reading on something like a Kindle, the way it offers a perfect viewing experience in almost any conditions or time of day or body position, how you can continue your book on any device you choose, and store an entire library on something smaller than a regular paperback.
The one thing each of these groups have in common is they love looking down on the other.
But my goal is to unite these warring factions, to find something we can all agree upon — and I think I’ve succeeded. How? Because we all know that folks who listen to audiobooks are the worst.
Jokes aside, the impassioned defence of people’s favourite method of reading makes total sense. As humans, we’re innately drawn to dichotomy.
While it’s a deeply complex topic, a key reason for this behaviour is that our brains love patterns and simplicity — and it’s satisfying to be for or against something.
But, as pleasant as this may feel while arguing in the pub, it’s a reductive way to live life. It removes the potential for joy, especially when we’re talking about reading.
So here’s my totally original, unexpected, brain-shatteringly left-field statement: you should read physical AND digital books.
Woah, no need to stand and applaud. It’s okay. It’s fine. Really, you shouldn’t have.
Honestly, I couldn’t imagine my life without either, and if you’re entrenched on one side or the other, I’d beg you to reconsider and try to develop a system that works for your reading habits.
For example, I tend to use physical books for more complex, literary novels, as I find they’re better for my concentration. And I use my ereader and phone for more genre-based or easy-going fiction — something I often read late at night before bed.
This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, simply a rough guide that I find useful to take advantages of the strengths of each medium.
If you’re interested, I go into far greater detail about this topic in a video of mine that was just published:
A plug? You betcha! It’s something I’m proud of and maybe you’ll get a kick out of it too.
Fundamentally though, when it comes to reading, just do what makes you happy. Don’t let assholes dictate how you find enjoyment, but also don’t isolate yourself from a potentially good experience by doubling down on your preferred medium.
There are too many good books and not enough time for that.