The eBook versus the Tree Book

Are we simply stuck in our ways?

Rain is trickling down the window pane while the thunder rolls overhead. Wind creeps its way under the door and licks over your bare arms. You turn your attention to the window and observe the aggressive dancing of the tree branches to the howling music played by the wind. You grasp your mug of coffee between your hands bringing it up to your lips and tuck the blanket tighter over your legs. You pick up your book to carry on reading.

While reading that paragraph what did you imagine yourself holding? A printed book or a Kindle? For me, personally, I imagined a printed book. For others, it may have been an electronic device supporting eBooks. In a world where technology is evolving and improving daily, it can be quite daunting to keep up with the constant change in trends. Historically most humans do not cope well with change – as seen intensely among those belonging to the older generations. While I am definitely not against the use and progression of technology, I do find myself being rather sentimental over the printed book. Is this sentiment simply a generational quirk or a refusal to move forward? Do those in the younger generation share these feelings or is there a definite generational gap?

I have tried to read eBooks in the past, especially since books are so expensive it is sometimes better to go for the cheaper eBook options. Even though I have read multiple books from my phone or the laptop, I could not get the same feeling of attachment as I did when reading a printed book. There is something about the feeling of paper between your fingers, turning the cover over for the first time and hearing the satisfying creaking of the paper. The ecstasy of burying your face in the pages and inhaling the smell of new ink and glue. Watching the one end of the book grow thinner as the end nears and, finally, the satisfying feeling of reading that final line in the early hours of the morning before gently closing the cover knowing that you have finished the book.

I got none of that from an eBook.

Perhaps I am too biased or perhaps I am just too set in my ways and do not fully embrace technology for the potential it has. So where do we start to draw the line between bias, sentiment, and fear for of change? At what point do people prefer to buy an eBook over the printed book?

After much thought and consideration on the topic, I decided to do some research to answer the questions which have been probing at my mind and I will attempt to summarise some of the ideas that I came across without too much bias:

In defense of the Tree Book:

– Tactile: Printed books offer a more emotional connection to the content being read. A lot of readers have agreed that printed books allow them to feel closer to the characters and plot and also support a stronger emotional reaction. Whereas eBooks are more cold and detached. Readers also rely on other senses such as touch and smell to fully immerse themselves into enjoying the book.

– Collectible: When walking into someone’s home and seeing books upon books stacked on shelves you cannot help but experience a warm feeling and strong urge to explore the titles. Not to mention that a book is a very memorable and thoughtful gift that one does not easily forget. Not only can a message be inscribed on the cover to be seen for years to come but you can also make your own notes in the margins to refer back to guaranteeing fond memories.

– Tradable: Printed books also encourage sharing between friends; whether it is the sharing of the physical book or discussing the book in a club, printed books definitely offer more in the line of conversation than eBooks. Imagine being in a coffee shop and watching someone read a printed book in comparison to a Kindle – the individual with the book is perceived as more approachable (especially since you can see what they are reading) and thus printed books stimulate conversation more easily.

– Secondhand book stores: This point ties in with the point above – the digital book is a threat to secondhand book stores and even libraries. Many of the books that I own are ‘rescues’ from secondhand bookstores and many years of my life well into university involved me loaning books from the library. When entering either of these buildings, the smell of old books embraces you like a warm hug. I remember the sad feeling I got when returning a book that I really enjoyed to the library. These are feelings and memories an eBook cannot replicate.

– Technology proof: In our modern age we are all familiar with the distress that we experience when our Smartphone’s battery is nearly depleted or if we move out a WiFi zone or just do not have reception at all. Perhaps there is an update blocking you from continuing your book? Printed books are plug-and-play friendly: simply pick it up and enjoy. Much less complicated.

– Good for the brain: Research has indicated that people who read printed books are more likely to remember the content than those who read eBooks. This is because when we read articles online, we generally practice skimming whereas, when reading a proper book, you practice deep reading. Other research has also proven that the bright light on an eBook overstimulates the brain and hurts the eyes with excessive reading meaning that eBook readers are more likely to struggle to fall asleep after reading than printed book readers.

– Zombie apocalypse proof: This may be my favourite tree book defense. When the zombie apocalypse starts and the electricity and the Internet stop working, your book will still continue to work. You will also finally have a use for that massive Oxford dictionary that your grandmother keeps: to swat some zombies.

In defense of the eBook:

– Portable & Space Saving: If you are going on vacation it is definitely easier, more space conservative and less hefty to carry a Kindle instead of a stack of printed books that you had in mind for the summer vacation. Kindles allow you to save thousands of books on one device and carry it wherever you go. If you have a small apartment, it is also more space conscious to have a Kindle instead of stacks of books. I have to say that this is an appealing argument.

– Readability: Most Kindles allow the user to edit the font size and bookmark certain pages to refer back to. Especially for those with poorer eyesight, this can be a major selling point. If you’re also not a fan of making doggy ears in your book or sticking it full of post-it marks, Kindles also offer a certain appeal. Kindles also allow you to read at night because of the built-in backlight, but a lamp also works.

– Search friendly: Whether you want to find a particular book in your database quickly or want to find a specific section within a certain book, a Kindle has a built-in search function that can allow you to find what you need in seconds. This is not a simple feat with traditional books proving that eBooks can be timesavers.

– Audio options: Some Kindles come with audiobook options which means that you can also listen to the book while on a long road trip. While the audiobook is not a new development, it is easier to listen off a device than to carry around CDs or cassettes. Let’s be honest – those aren’t really a thing anymore either.

– Privacy: If you are one to read in public areas such as coffee shops, waiting rooms or during a flight, a Kindle can provide you with more privacy than a printed book since you cannot identify what someone is reading. If you do not enjoy people commenting on the book that you are reading then a Kindle can be the perfect option.

In a study conducted on Debate.org, they asked whether readers prefer to read eBooks or printed books and the results came back 62% to 38% in favour of the printed book.

While I personally prefer to hold a book in my hand I cannot hold anything against the person who prefers to read off of a Kindle; even though I do not understand it. However, I do wish you long battery life and a strong WiFi signal.

At the end of the day, whether you read eBooks or printed books it does not make you less of a book lover. Those who prefer reading printed books might just be slightly more sentimental and have the potential to fair better in a zombie apocalypse or power outage. The real battle we should be fighting is not between the eBook and Tree book community, but rather the non-book lovers. What’s up with those guys?