Why do we still like printed books?
T he advent of modern technology like the Internet has brought new advances in the literary scene. Electronic books or e-books, as what they are called, have long since emerged as substitutes to paperbacks and even academic textbooks. But their entry into the publishing market does not mean the end for printed books, as shown in a survey done last year in 10 countries around the world.
Print and Paper in A Digital World, which was a study done by graphics communication industry Two Sides and research company Toluna, shows a higher preference among respondents for printed books (72 percent) as compared to e-books (9 percent). If you are to get to the bottom of this, you will find that the following are some of the reasons why printed books are still preferred than their digital counterparts:
Easier to use and control
According to Cassie Brand’s article “In Defense of the Printed Book,” physical books make it easier to go back and forth through the pages, especially when in search of a specific section. Compared to e-books, where we have to go through each page one at a time unless we remember the exact one we’re looking for, physical pages are more convenient and easier to navigate. Also, imagine if the book you’re reading has a visual component like a map, it would be easier to use it when on paper than on screen.
Stronger connection
Physical books enable its readers to use their senses, as stated by research news website Futurity. This makes it easier for them to retain the information they have read. Brand’s article adds that readers unconsciously use the placement of the text in the book to remember a certain information. Apart from that, physical books elicit a stronger connection because of the sense of identity they provide to collectors, as the types of books found in their shelves are reflections of their interests. Then there is the idea that their favorite books can be passed on to family and friends.
Avoiding digital overuse
In Print and Paper in A Digital World, 53 percent of the global respondents expressed concern over the health effects of overusing gadgets. Majority of them said it is important to take a breather from their devices and resort to reading in print instead. Apart from the radiation from digital screens, an article from Harvard Health Publishing explains that prolonged exposure to the blue light coming from screens suppresses melatonin production, which aids in our sleep.