There are many ways in today’s world to consume written material. You can download the material digitally to any smartphone or tablet. You could buy a paper book. You can listen as a narrator reads the content in an audiobook. I’m often asked which is better. I feel that that is entirely subjective to the reader, but to answer the question, I decided to weigh the pros and cons of each media type.
Digital Books
I will admit that I am most drawn to this form factor. The content is presented with a font and background color that helps me focus on the writing and opens my mind to imagine the story’s world. I often find that I’m a faster reader with digital books. Nowadays, reading digitally offers analytics on reading speed and time. This is frequently helpful since I try to read for at least an hour at night. I can see the trends in how long and how fast I read. Also, for those late-night sessions when I can’t sleep but don’t want to put on my glasses, I can increase the text size and dim the background not to disturb my partner. Digital is a lot lighter than physically carrying books around town. You can take millions of books in your pocket or backpack on that same thread. A handy feature is that since these books can be purchased over the internet, you can access your complete library and buy new books anywhere you have Internet access. If the book’s author finds a mistake or wants to change the story, like to add an epilogue or a sample of the next book in a series, all they need to do is push an update.
With Digital books, you don’t own the content. You own a license, and with the license, you can read the content. If, at any point, the rights holder pulls the content, your copy goes along with it. If your battery dies, then so does your ability to read. I often miss the tactile feel of turning the page. With digital books, you can simulate the page-turning or view the text as a nearly endless stream of words. Still, it doesn’t feel the same as turning the page since the content is on a digital device with internet access. It is easy to get distracted by notifications or the draw of other apps on the device. I have to set a focus mode just for reading, and other than a few emergency exceptions, I filter out all other apps and communications.
Paper Books
Books have been written on paper for millennia. Books will outlast my life and can always be accessed. Paper books can be read anywhere without too much trouble. All that is required is a little light and the book itself. Paper books have a rewarding feel and smell of their own. I find it enjoyable to turn that last page and close the book. The sense of satisfaction is unmatched. Paper books can be read with just a little light. Paper books are physical objects that, once you own a copy, you own until you choose to part with it. Also, you can loan your copy to others to share in your pleasure of the book. You can find paper books that are no longer in print books that are lost to history.
Paper books are often big and bulky, so it’s impractical to carry more than one or two with you at any given time. You must have some light to read a paper book, and that can interfere with the sleep of your partner if, like me, you often do late-night reading sessions. Since the book is in print, errors are forever on the page and can’t be amended efficiently. Since they are physical goods, paper books must be purchased in the physical world. Going to a bookstore can be a fun adventure, but with paper books, it is a requirement to get new books.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are my least favorite way to consume written material. Audiobooks have their time and place. They can be consumed while doing other activities like cleaning the house or driving. They can be downloaded online, so you don’t have to buy the book at a physical store. Some people find that they can enjoy audiobooks better than any other written media. Some find it easier to enter into the world of the story. Also, audiobooks are a great way to listen to the content for those who have trouble reading the language. A good narrator can bring even the driest of most boring of contexts to life since audiobooks don’t require light to read the material. They can be consumed anywhere.
Audiobooks are often the most expensive form of media. The added cost of paying for a good narrator. Like with their digital companions, audiobooks can only be consumed while you have the power and hardware to play them. Also, unless you own the audiobooks on CD, you are more or less leasing the content. If the license holder pulls the content, your copy will go along. Audiobooks are sound, and even with headphones, they can distract others around you. There is no physical interaction with the material. You are listening to the sound, and your mind has to leap there.
Final Thoughts
I, for one, am an equal opportunist when it comes to the argument about digital books vs paper books vs audiobooks. I feel that they each have their merits. It is up to the reader or, in the case of audiobooks, the listener to decide the best way to consume written material. As long as you get the material from the page and put it into your imagination, it’s a success. What type of book do you prefer?
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