Since I’m someone who reads a lot of books, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the cultural transition from actual books to digital books. For me there are pros and cons to both digital and physical books, and for each book I consider purchasing I always take the time to think about whether or not I want to buy the actual book or the digital version. Sometimes it’s a hard decision!
What I love about digital books is the immediacy of them. Within one minute you can choose, purchase, and download whatever book you want to read. I also love how easy it is to travel with just my iPad, and have infinite amount of books on one thin device. For traveling, it’s hard to beat using a digital reader if you are planning to read more than one book. As much as I try not to look at some sort of screen (computer, phone, iPad, TV) as much as possible, I do like to read digital books on my iPad at night because I can get in my cocoon of warmth and comfort and not have to move a muscle to turn the page, and I can have the light off. Basically I can stay up late and read without bothering my husband by moving, turning the page, making noise, and having the light on.
I think there are certain circumstances for certain books that I prefer to buy digital books for. The minimalist part of me loves that the digital book doesn’t accumulate more “stuff” for me to store.
Even with all of these pros to digital books, I still in many cases, want to buy the actual books (authors everywhere jump for joy). Usually the types of books I buy digitally are quick easy novels that I’m reading for fun, and maybe aren’t the types of books you’d discuss with people or write a review about and ones that you might not ever read again.
But there’s just something about acquiring actual books. Running your fingers through them, folding down the pages, signing them in the front, highlighting or making notes in them (I do this all the time). I don’t mind doing all of these things to most of my books. I don’t want my books to be overly precious as if they’ve never been read before (okay maybe with beautiful coffee table books), but books are meant to be read. Used. Worn a little.
I buy a lot of business and creative books that I read with a highlighter and pen in hand. I make notes, mark them up, and once I’m done reading them, I go back and type up my notes from the book (nerd alert) so I can remember the important parts. I definitely use these books, and prefer the actual version to reference instead of a digital version.
All of this book buying makes me think of the concept of your own personal library and how it tells the story of your life. How much you can learn about a person by taking a look at their bookshelves — which makes me look at my own bookshelves and think — what do my bookshelves say about me? That’s another post entirely.
Isn’t it sort of neat to collect books you’ve read over time, lend out to friends and family (and hopefully get back), and see the evolution of your reading over the years?
As much as I love all things digital and innovative — there are certain things I don’t want to let go of. Owning real books that I proudly display (okay style) on a bookshelf is one of those things. There’s just something a little more special about taking an actual book to the beach. Getting a little sand and water on it, reading it with the ocean breeze, and bringing it back home to set on your bookshelf. Every time you look at that book it will remind you of that ocean breeze. It probably still even faintly smells like salt water.
My grandfather loved books. He was a history buff, just like my brother (who is getting his PhD in History). When my grandfather died, my brother inherited some of his books. My brother told me his favorite thing about those books was how they still smelled like my grandfather’s pipe. You just can’t get that with a digital book. I wish I could smell those books right now.
Tell me — how do you decide whether you are going to buy a digital or an actual book? How do you read & store your books?
Photos via Jenny Komenda Interiors
I always, always read the physical book. I feel like I spend enough time looking at my phone and computer that my eyes just can’t handle any more bright screens. Although I know you won’t have this problem with things like the Kindle reader. I just like the actual book! I’m old school and I usually check out a book from the library first and then if I like it enough and I know I will read it again, I buy it.
I don’t own an iPad, Kindle, or any sort of electronic reading device. It feels like cheating! To me, it’s not the same as having the experience of turning physical pages and there being evidence left behind. There’s something about standing in front of a bookshelf and reaching for a book, loosening up a brand new spine, or flipping through one that’s already marked with wear & tear. Also! …as much as we’re told not to judge a book by its cover, I like having some sort of visual to associate with the book, even if it’s just a color.
i always read actual books. not sure when i’ll make the transition to digital…
I’m in the minority here – I read exclusively on my Kindle. I read 1-2 books a week, and they’re often thick, 1000+ tomes that I hate having to lug around. While I have an iPad mini, I’ll reserve it to read magazines and comic books (a new addiction). But for a great novel, it’s my Kindle all the way.
The only exception I make for printed books are glossy, photography heavy books that are more of a decor item than a physical one.
I go back and forth, and am confident both formats will always have a place in my life. I get almost everything from the library (professional hazard — I’m a librarian, just not the kind you’re thinking of), and about 80% of what I get from the library is digital. OverDrive, the platform libraries use to make ebooks available to their users, has been a game changer for how I read. I don’t have to wait for other people to return their physical book to a brick and mortar library, wait for it to be transferred between libraries, and then manage to get their during business hours. Even when the wait list for the DC Public Libraries system is long, I get the ebook before the print copy every time.
I use both. If I’m getting a book from the library I prefer that on my Kindle then I can take it anywhere…I had to curb my buying habit as I noticed it was getting out of hand. Typically, I buy biz/creative books that I know I will want to write in and refer back to.
The very few books that I buy/read (i am a magazine person…attention span of a gnat), I like the physical copy. My husband is definitely a bibliophile, and he too loves the physical copy, hardbound when possible.
I am actual buy books person! I have tried using my iPad but its just not something I like doing. I tend to highlight and take notes. Later in life I want to have a library in my home.