The comparison between traditional books vs. eBooks is possibly one of the prominent topics (after Star Trek vs. Star Wars or Barcelona vs. Manchester United).Now, it’s quite evident that the popularity of ebooks is on a steady rise. In fact,speculations are also rife that printed books will replace electronic counterparts in the future.
However, the traditional community of readers perceives e-reading as an extension of their reading habit rather than replacement of what that existed from centuries. Moreover, reading printed books presents many rewards for children and adults alike. Let us ponder over some of those benefits of leafing through the pages of a printed book as compared to their digital equivalent.
- Helps in Absorbing Crucial Information
Readers of printed books are able to grasp and retain more of the plot than the readers of ebooks. Many eminent assignment help experts believe this effect is associated with the tactile sensation of holding a book in your hands.
Simply put, seeing and feeling how far you’ve progressed into the story, by virtue of the waxing and waning pages, makes you feel like you’re unfolding the story—both literally and figuratively. Also, with a printed book, it’s convenient to go back and confirm the information you may be unsure of without losing your place. This is the reason they are better than having to scroll or click back on your mobile device or tablet.
- Printed Books will never become obsolete
Gutenberg didn’t have to worry if the people roaming the mortal world after 5-6 centuries will be able to read his endeavour or not. But the same assurance won’t work in case of the readability (let alone compatibility) of today’s file formats.
In fact, you may have already observed how e-readers like Kindle refuse to honour certain file formats that existed as default for many years and indeed are digital mortals. On the other hand, while reading physical or printed books to children, you don’t have to worry about it becoming outdated like the digital versions.
- No risk of getting distracted
Unsurprisingly, people who read ebooks tend to get sidetracked rather easily, but that’s not because the Internet is only a simple tap away. Digital readers are prone to spending more time scanning for keywords than actually processing what they are reading.
With a printed book, there’s no scope of getting distracted by links or getting embroiled into the internet rabbit hole of looking up the collective term for a group of ferrets (they’re known as a “business,” by the way).
- Improves the comprehension skills of children
Anything that gets a child reading is definitely a step forward. Many academicians assert this process becomes a lot more effective if you use a paper book instead of an ebook.
In fact, the children who read from digital devices reportedly lack proper comprehension skills. Now, the reason behind this is that the children or adults reading from digital devices focus more on the device and the setting instead of the story.
One of the peripheral advantages of reading to children is known as “dialogic reading,” in which the child and parent discuss what is happening in the story. It can serve as a significant influence on a child’s worldview and approach to learning.
- Printed books are more appealing
Sounds a little vain, right? But just this one time it’s alright to judge a book by it’s cover. Considering that paper books have existed far longer than their digital counterparts, the former is way ahead in the look, feel, and design department. In fact, there’s already an entire division of marketing connected with traditional books (book marketing).
This doesn’t mean ebooks can’t be beautiful or appealing. But as a medium,ebooks are still very new, and designers have only been able to scratch the surface in terms of their potential.
Some people may argue that the real appeal of the book should come from the story, and not from the design or illustration. But let’s not forget that human beings (specifically children) are drawn to appealing visuals too.So, for people who truly love traditional books, an appealing cover, design, and brilliant illustrations also matter.
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- Traditional books can be shared
Traditional books can be shared, rented, or resold. Ebooks, on the other hand, are generally restricted to one device or one owner per purchase. Once you are done reading a digital copy, you don’t really get the option of passing it along to bless someone else.
Anyone who uses ebooks and digital products in their daily life would know that they definitely have unique advantages. They are affordable and easily accessible. For those who have a genuine fondness for the written word, however, the feeling of holding a book in their hands is irreplaceable and incomparable.
- Printed books help you get a good night’s sleep
When it is time to retire for the night, most people prefer to look at their Smartphone or tablet screen and scroll through social media. But this isn’t a good idea. The blue light emitting from the screen can meddle with your melatonin levels and sleep cycles. This makes it harder for you to fall asleep and makes you feel groggier when you wake up.
In general, the engagement and brain activity that comes with reading printed books can help you drift off (if you struggle to fall asleep). If you’re hoping to get a good night’s rest, printed books can be your saviour.
- Physical books serve as great hand-me-downs or collectibles
What’s common between the Sistine Chapel and the first edition of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book? Well, both of them are rare and antique. For avid readers, holding a first edition book in their hands is one of the greatest joys in life. This is again something that the digital counterpart can never provide.
Having a hardcover on your bookshelf is like having a painting by an eminent artist on the wall. In fact, traditional books can be passed on to future generations as hand-me-downs.
- Physical books come with a vast array of fonts
Another unique factor about physical books that many of you may not have noticed is the incredible variety of fonts that books come with. Ebooks, on the contrary, have much less options to offer. While reading from the digital devices,the sameness of the font strips away one of the unique and defining features of printed books. You may find the name of the font (generally, something exotic-sounding) mentioned. Sometimes, the font is invented or modified just for that specific book.
Ebooks are dull in comparison with their incredibly limited font selection. This is weirdly ironic, considering the ease with which so many computer applications use different fonts.
In conclusion,
There are many advantages and disadvantages of both the formats. In some cases, the benefits of ebooks outweigh the perks of printed books, as the former offer more convenience. However, if you consider the points discussed in the post, reading printed books are often more advantageous for children and adults. Can you tell us other benefits of printed books? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below.
Author bio:
Suhana is a passionate blogger and digital marketing enthusiast. Suhana Williams is the most talented assignment maker who also provides assignment help through Assignmenthelp.us. She enjoys the ever-evolving world of digital marketing and loves to share her opinion on every possible update with her audience. When not creating magic with her words, you can find her sky-diving or trekking in the most bizarre locations.