E-Books Or Print Books- What Do You Prefer?
It's
safe to say that e-books have disrupted the publishing industry. But,
as the recent studies have shown, the appetite for reading printed books
has not diminished either. Before you buy either version though, it’s
important to realise that each one has its pros and cons, and choosing
the best option depends on a number of factors…
Pros of printed books
Help in retention and offer a more fulfilling experience
Several
studies suggest that reading on paper instead of an electronic screen
is better for memory retention and focus. The tactile experience of a
book aids this process. You can feel and smell the aroma of the textured
pages. You can hear the flipping of pages. These sensations aid your
memory. “You can make notes on a print book, dog-ear the important pages, and underline the key sentences,” said a student. A
study found out that readers using a Kindle were less likely to recall
events in a mystery novel than people who read the same novel in print.
Author Joe Queenan, in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, argued that
e-books are best suited to those who are only interested in the content,
have vision problems or who are ashamed of what they're reading.
Printed books are collectible
Print
books are yours for life. The books you bought in school days will
still be readable decades later. They are physical reminders of your
intellectual journeys. “From
Cinderella to Puss In Boots and from Famous Five to Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, I spent my childhood engrossed in these literary
gems. Each
book holds a special place in my memory as my uncle always wrote a
personalised note on each of them. E-books don’t provide this kind of
emotional connect,” said Dhanvi Shah, class VIII, Gopi Birla Memorial
School, Mumbai.
Reduce eye strain
Exposure
to blue light at night, emitted by electronic devices disrupt the body
clock and contribute to visual fatigue. A 2014 study published in the
journal PNAS found that reading an e-book before bedtime decreased the
production of melatonin, a hormone that preps the body for sleep.
No battery needed
You
will be left in a lurch, if for some reason you forget to charge your
device. One will never face this sort of issue with traditional books.
Pros of e-books
Convenient
E-books
are delivered almost instantaneously. They can be purchased from the
comfort of your chair. “You don't have to go to a bookstore or wait for
the courier guy—in case you order the book online. When you buy an
e-book, your reward is instantaneous,” mentioned a student.
Multimedia format
E-books
not only contain text and images, but also audio and even video. By
tapping into the potential of multi-media content, e-books can enhance
the overall reading experience. For example, a biography, can be litter
with relevant photos, include videos of famous performances and even
speeches.
They take up less space
You
can store hundreds and thousands of e-books on your reading device or
computer. They don’t need an elaborate bookshelf. And not to forget that
you will have a backup online if something happens to your books.
Portability and price
You
can literally carry a library in your palm. This is useful for
voracious readers who also like to travel, without much to weigh them.
Also, the price of an eBook is usually less than a print book.
Eco-friendly
“Most
of us love the feel of hardcover books in our hands, fresh off the
press. But let’s admit that they come with environmental costs. Whereas,
the carbon emissions from electronic books are far lower than
traditional book publishing,” opined a student.
Good for people with reading disorders
Individuals
with reading disorders like dyslexia can benefit more from e-books
because they provide a range of options for changing the text size and
spacing of lines. A 2013 study found that people with dyslexia read more
effectively, and with greater ease, when using the e-reader compared
with reading on paper.
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