I do prefer reading physical books, but I almost exclusively read on my ereader because of easy availability of whatever I want, and it doesn’t take up tons of space like books do.
Yeah pretty much my thinking as well. Almost all my physical books are in a box in a wardrobe cause I have nowhere else to put them. It’s a sad state to end in for a piece of literature, isn’t it?
Give them away! I have a bunch of books on my shelf, my friend asked me, “how many of those have you even read?” And I said, probably around half of them. He scoffed. As if I were just buying books…for the look? I dunno. But all of my previously read books get “loaned out” and never return. Which is fine! Plenty of people have lent me books that I never returned. It’s the circle of life.
My whole family has tried getting me on e-readers because I’ve always been the reader of the family, but…I read a few books on it and then never used it again. It was fine, but I love my physical books. When I was traveling overseas for a few years, I had like six books in my bag. Which, yeah, maybe an e-reader would’ve been smarter at that point, but every single book I was reading I gave to someone to enjoy when I finished. And people gave me books when I finished mine! It’s such a great system. I also love shopping for used books…that part may be a bit of an addiction lol
Actually, it’s a great suggestion. However that small box I’m left with is that post-donation elite group, the ones that have sentimental value. I haven’t bought physical books in years, I borrow at the library. I don’t read fiction nearly as much as I used to, sadly… Teenage me, who read anywhere from 1-3 novels a week, would be ashamed.
Edit: Now that I think of it, I do have some books that are loaners and others I’ve loaned and never saw again. My copy of The Hobbit was my godfather’s when he was in university.
If you have an ereader with an eink screen… it’s a no-brainer. Digital books are soooo good.
- virtually no weight
- virtually no space
- waaaaay cheaper
- your local library has probably a way bigger and more accessible catalogue of ebooks than physical ones
- tap and hold a word and get an automatic definition/translation
- adjust text size or font
- dark mode, if you into that (in some models)
- Text-to-speech (in some models)
- highlight text and write notes without f-ing up pages
- literally translate entire phrases or look particular information from Wikipedia or similar with a simple gesture.
- backup all of those and do crazy stuff like an automatic daily email to yourself with cool notes you took months/years ago.
Physical books nowadays are like vynil music… it’s for the artwork and having a physical “certificate” of something you love. Like… if I discover a book I really enjoy, I’ll probably buy a physical version so I can, you know, have it there on the shelf, like you have family pics or something.
I dunno about the vinyl parallel. I’m a physical book reader myself—I’ve tried an ebook, I read a few books on there. But it didn’t hold me the way books know how to. Just right.
Not to mention, I’m trying everything I can to realistically separate myself from the “internet of things.” I use the internet, but I try to achieve as private of an experience as I can manage. I’m wary of cameras these days. I never used social media. I cover any camera pointed at me that I can…my point is, a book doesn’t know I’m reading it or how long I’ve read it. Buying used books, no one knows who I am, how long I’ve spent reading, WHAT I’m reading, etc.
I can’t say the same about these e-readers. I don’t need ANOTHER device I’m constantly worried is stealing every single metric it can possibly gather about me.
Just got a kobo libra 2 a couple of weeks ago and I’m loving it. You forgot to mention the dictionary native to most e-readers too!
I’ve been eying up this one. Have you used other ereaders before? Have you got anything to compare it to?
I hear that having a screen that isn’t flush with the touch surface really improves the word clarity. I’m not really enjoying my paperwhite 5 because it’s has a weird blurred effect on the screen because it’s flush
This was my first e-reader, but I played around with my mom’s Paperwhite 5 for a bit before deciding against it. The UI on the paperwhite is better but you don’t really interact with it much for it to be a big problem. I also patched mine using calibre to add some features that aren’t present on the stock UI. I’m not sure about the particulars with the display but text and images are fairly crisp. All in all, I’m pretty happy with it
Compared to my kindle, I hate real books. No worries about lighting. Page always flat. Lighter. Never lose what page you’re on. Less space and hundreds of books can be kept right there. Still looks like real paper. Font and size to your own preference.
There’s really no downside at all for me. I never cared how a book “smelled”. That’s for sure.
- The <1% of books I love: physical
- The >99% of everything else: digital
I think e-ink readers are incredible. My eyes feel like they’re reading a normal book, but it’s got a backlight, doesn’t take up a bunch of physical space I don’t have, and it’s a lot easier to read using only one hand at a time (even turning pages).
For entertainment, eBooks. Makes reading in bed so much more comfortable.
For non fiction, audio books. I listen to that stuff on the road while I am receptive.
For non fiction that I need to reference here and there, paper books.
Not for every kind of book, I’d say but digital… 8.5 times out of 10. E-ink screens are amazing and just as good as paper, but having your books also available on your phone, and thus always in your pocket, is transformative. So, digital on a platform that syncs between devices.
Digital works really well for me. My phone can carry an effectively infinite number of books. I can try before I buy with Google Play. I can grab library books with Libby.
For my kids, reading on paper is perfect. Nice big text. They can put their finger on the page. When reading long books, they see their progress as they work their way through.
Physical without a doubt
I know traditionally the dream fantasy of book readers has been to own an expansive physical library, with shelf after shelf full of book spines, but I just could never get into it. I’m a data hoarder, not an object hoarder! All my books are digital, mandatory in plaintext DRM-free format, sorted and backed up. I find joy in the knowledge that everything I have ever read is instantly grep’able, ageless, and can fit in my pocket (on a thumbdrive) wherever I go.
I do prefer to read on e-ink as well, because the device is lighter than any book, guaranteed to fit in my pocket, can hold multiple books, and gives me control over font size. The only downside is when the battery gets old it needs more frequent recharging. A paper book will not refuse to work for lack of power!
I think I overall prefer digital, but on e-ink devices mostly.
I like that they don’t take up space, I can download them quickly and not have to go to the bookstore or order it online and wait for it to be delivered. Also I can sync it on multiple devices and read on my kindle when I really want to have a good reading experience but if I forget it or am waiting for the bus or something, just pull up the kindle app on my phone and everything is synced.
On the other hand, growing up with a lot of books I kinda miss the feel and smell of physical books. Also I feel like they are a bit more… “permanent”.
Digital, but specifically on an e-ink device. I can’t stand trying to read an ebook on an LCD/LED display
I prefered physical books for the texture of the pages and the smell of the paper. And my eyes become quickly tired on a screen.
However, I probably read more on screen, btw text messages, social media and articles… I also read comics : super shorts onse, or webtoon that are beautifully designed for a digital reading experience, unlike many digital novel.And OP, you forget about audiobooks.
Depends. Digital is usually best for me since I can read on my phone pretty much anytime anywhere.
That said, some books feel like they work best in your hand, like The Book of Disquiet, which has so many notes at the end and I haven’t found a comfortable enough way to skip back on forth without having to scroll through a lot to get to where I was, or House of Leaves, which is more like a fun hands-on puzzle to play with.
House of Leaves is a wild experience in the new(ish) full-color print.
I never did finish it because it’s such an endeavor. You really have to commit to it.
Non fiction: Physical all the way Fiction: Whilst I like physical books I rarely make myself time to read them so I mostly consume them in audiobook format.
I’ve never really got on well with ebooks, I had a cheap kindle about 8 years ago and I think I maybe read about 3 or 4 books on it - in fact I think it was Hugh Howey’s Silo series and nothing else.
