I read a lot of books. I utilize e-books, listen to audio books, and have a large collection of physical books. Whether or not I have read all of those physical books is not part of today’s discussion. As any book lover knows, collecting and reading books are two separate hobbies.
Reading in and of itself is a great hobby. It can be entertaining, informational, or both. I, personally, love both fiction and nonfiction. I love learning new things but I also love escaping into a good story. I have a friend who only reads technical manuals and another who primarily reads romantacy, the spicier the better. But which method of reading is better?
Physical Books
Novels have been around for centuries. Many scholars consider the first novel to be The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, written in 11th century Japan. However, at the time, most books were likely only read by by the wealthy, or read aloud to the masses. Until the invention of the printing press in 1439, books were mostly hand copied. This invention allowed for the mass production of books, newspapers, and pamphlets, which also increased literacy. With books being more easily and cheaply available, it made more sense for the average person to learn to read.
Physical books hold a spot in many readers’ hearts, including mine. Just walking into a library or bookstore fills me with joy and anticipation. They have a feel and smell to them that e-books and audio books can’t compete with. It’s also a lot easier to go back and reread a passage you either glossed over or just want to reference. They are also bulky, can be heavy, and are a pain when moving house.
E-Books
I have had a Nook in the past, but currently use a BOOX e-ink tablet. It allows me to download any e-reader app I want, including the library app Libby, but still have the e-ink I like from my nook. It’s great for travel. I can carry as many books as I can download onto the tablet and it takes up less space than a paperback. E-books are also often cheaper than physical books as publishers don’t have to pay for printing and shipping.
The downside to e-books? It’s harder to reference back to a previous page, though most of them give you the option to highlight and bookmark passages and pages. They also don’t have the same sensory appeal as a physical book.
Audio Books
Audio books are great for a lot of reasons. Before printed books were common place, spoken word is how stories were passed on. Crowds would gather around the story teller and listen as he or she recited whatever story they had memorized for that time. Audio books benefit individuals who may have issues reading printed words. This could be due to learning disabilities like dyslexia or sight issues. They are also a great way to check of your TBR while doing chores around the house, commuting to work, or running errands.
There are people, however, who don’t consider audio books as reading. In the literal sense, I guess that is correct. According to Merriam-Webster, to read is to “receive or take in the sense of (letters, symbols, etc.) especially by sight or touch.” So I understand the argument. I don’t agree with it, however. If listening to an audio book is the best, or only way, you will consume a book, listen to the audio book and don’t let anyone shame you for it. You are still consuming the words the author wrote.
And no, movie or television adaptations are not the same. They change the structure of the work and leave out a lot of important details, including internal dialogue and emotion. Movies and television also do a lot of the work for us in terms of visualizing the scenes and characters.
My Preference
I prefer physical books, then e-books, then audio books, though I do utilize all three formats. I just love the feel and smell of physical books. I do love the portability of e-books, and the affordability. I read a lot, and every little bit of savings counts. Audio books are last because I really only use them for non-fiction. Particularly memoirs read by the author. I find I lose focus easily when I listen to audio books.
My opinion on the matter is that all book formats are good. It just comes down to preference. Whether you only read one type, read a combo of formats, or only read books from the library, you’re still reading. And if you do have a strong preference for one type or another, don’t make people feel bad for liking a different format. That’s not ok.
Alicia Coast 