Reading is one of the greatest hobbies of all time. It is wholesome, healthy, stimulating, and enriching. Depending on what kind of books you like to read, it can transport you to new worlds, teach you about the history of humankind, help you improve your life, or provide some escapism to help you destress and relax.
Reading boosts your mental health and makes you more intelligent and curious about the world. It doesn’t matter whether you like classic literature, adventure novels, or teen romances. Fiction or nonfiction. Lighthearted or serious. As long as you are reading, you are learning about the world and yourself.
Perhaps you prefer to store all of your books on a Kindle or other e-reader. Or maybe you enjoy the feel of a paperback in your hand. Both formats have their benefits, and it’s impossible to say that one is correct and the other isn’t. But that said, printed books have been around for thousands of years, while eBooks only appeared in the last twenty years. If you are undecided about which format is best, here are four reasons to opt for a printed book over a digital one.
They’re cheaper
Although eBooks generally come at a lower price than a paperback or hardback, you also have to factor in the cost of the e-reader itself. This can set you back a few hundred dollars, so it’s only worthwhile if you buy a colossal number of books every year. But if you really want to save money on your reading habits, physical books are the way to go. You can borrow printed books from friends and family, which is not something you can do with a digital version. And while an eBook may be cheaper on Amazon, you can’t wander into a charity shop and pick one up for a dollar.
They’re better for your health
If you are the kind of person who likes to say up to the early hours reading, a printed book will be much better for your health. E-readers and other devices emit a blue light that can be harmful to your health, preventing you from getting enough sleep and worsening your vision. In the long term, a physical novel will be much better for your wellbeing. And for the sake of your eyesight, if you do read eBooks regularly, it would be worth investing in some Bjorn Blue glasses to block blue light and protect your vision.
You can build a collection
For any serious reader, their bookshelf is their pride and joy. It is a visual representation of the books they have read and loved, and it provides an incredibly clear insight into their character. You don’t get this with an e-reader. Although it can contain hundreds of thousands of books, it’s not quite as satisfying as a physical collection.
Real bookstores are brilliant
For a digital reader, you can buy a new book at the click of a button. Whereas for readers of printed books, a trip to a bookstore or library is one of life’s great pleasures. You can spend hours perusing the shelves, flicking through pages, and smelling that glorious papery aroma. eBook owners are missing out.
Mocha Girl Alysia
