Paper or Plastic?
Window or aisle seat? Coke or Pepsi? Apple or PC? These are the kinds of questions that divide families, ruin friendships, and start social wars. It seems like we humans are simply wired to classify, select, and reject. We want to protect our preferences to the point of elevating them to near moral choices even if they’re as simple as what kind of soda to drink. So back to the first question… paper or plastic? No, not bags – books.
Do we hold tight to our paper books or ditch them for their digital descendants? I know – Does it really matter? As long as people are reading then who cares what format they’re reading it in, right? Apparently it does. Almost weekly now I stumble into discussions about this in the library, online, or in my community. This is quickly becoming one “those” issues and battle lines are being drawn daily.
I come from a family of readers and writers. As far back as the 1300s members of my family have been scribes and teachers. It’s possible that my forefathers were involved in similar debates – Scroll or illuminated manuscript? Vellum or parchment? Charcoal or ink? And the biggie – hand written or printing press? One reflects a high degree of skill and talent and discipline. The other was designed for consumption by the masses and could be put together by pretty much anyone who can match letters. I guess some things really haven’t changed much.
Personally, I’ve always liked the scent and feel of paper books. While I would be in a near panic if I finished a book without another one already on my shelf waiting to be read, I also relished the time perusing the shelves of Barnes and Noble, hunting for my next alphabet meal. In fact, during times of stress I retreated to the bookstore. It has always been a safe haven.
So when digital readers came out like the Kindle and the Nook I didn’t really see the point. I suppose I distained them so much that they didn’t even merit my time to criticize. They were simply a flashy way for the bookstore (and publisher) to get us to spend more money while feeling good about improving the environment. But that all began to change when I got an iPod Touch.
I read a lot of action/suspense books that are historically, literarily, or scientifically based. If the author has done his or her job right, then I walk away from the read entertained but also more informed. But I constantly have questions when I read – What is that based on? Did that really happen? Hmmm… I wonder what that looks like? So I started picking up my iTouch every time I picked up my book. For every hour of reading I probably spent 10-15 minutes of that on the internet. So you can imagine what happened with the iPad came out and they combined internet access with books into one device. I was hooked. And being able to download free samples has been great… can’t do that in your living room with a Barnes and Noble printed book.
Yet I miss the feel and scent of a hardback. I miss using little notes from my son as bookmarks. So what do you prefer – paper or plastic? Share your thoughts by making a comment.
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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I personally beleive that books should be kept in their proper paper form because it’s just the way that most poeple have grown up reading books. Soon enough with the continuation of digital books, there would no longer be any more libraries (or librarians for that matter) but a whole digital collection and a mechanical voice to help you along the way. Borders and Barnes and Noble would slowly be closing down as more and more people buy from the digital collection instead of going to the actual store. Like you I also enjoy the feelings of holding a book in my hand and looking at the collection in my shelf, I would never have that same feeling once it all becomes digital. Though I have strong feelings against this new era of digital books, I know that eventually books (along with everything else) would become digital.
Oh this is the hot topic of the moment!
Over this past three-day weekend break I had this very conversation with my mom and aunt, all of us avid readers. We, too, came to the conclusion that we love the feel of a book … the weight, the smell, the cracks of breaking it in while turning more and more pages, and being able to see the end. Knowing that the end of a book is near brings about a whole new set of issues. Issues such as the excitement of making predictions about the final chapters, trying to determine if the author will end the book with a pleasing conclusion or cut us off only to want more, and of course, beginning the search for a new book.
I was fortunate enough to receive a few gift cards to Barnes and Noble from my students for Christmas. I could have purchased many books that would have piled up, I would have read, and then collected dust on my bookshelf. So I broke down and bought the nook. It took a lot of convincing, but when I realized that I was about to lug around 4 books with me on vacation, I knew it was a wise decision and would also save some space.
It was the BEST decision I ever made!!! I’ve been reading more books at the same time, can turn the lights out and continue reading, love that it has all my books in one place, is wifi enabled, I can borrow and lend books with friends and the library, it suggests books I might like based on my selections, and I LOVE IT!!!
The best part is that I can still go to the book store to pick out the books I want to read and then download them or pick up and read a paper book if I so choose.
No matter your preference … Happy reading!!!
Personally, I like both. With any digital reader on the iPad you can highlight a word and see the definition come up allowing you to know the definition and understand the story better without having to flip through some giant annoying dictionary. And on iBooks and Kindle you can enlarge and change the test and fonts making it possible to read the way you want.
But, with a regular book you don’t waste energy and even though it’s reading, reading on an iPad can still be bad for your eyes. So really, I would go with either.
I absolutely love the feel of a book – the rustle of the pages as you turn them, the smell of the ink, the distinctive scent of a book that’s been on the shelf for a few years… that said, I now carry twenty-something books in one convenient device, download more as I go, and relish the ability to read at all times whether I have hands to hold my book and prevent the pages for turning or not. No more cramps trying to hold a book open one-handed, no more balancing acts attempting to turn pages in a similar manner. The pleasure of reading hasn’t changed, only the format in which I read. The instant gratification provided by the immediacy of an online purchase is priceless, I do have to admit that. The ability to adjust the size and style of the font is a nice perk. I thought I would have a hard time making the transition – which I started contemplating because I am a self-admitted technology junkie – but alas, the moment I got my nook it was all over. I look fondly at the shelves I have with books stacked on top of each other due to lack of space, and I know they’ll be there for me when I ready to re-read them, despite the fact that I have completely crossed-over to the other side…
Coke not Pepsi, Apple over PC, and most definitely an aisle seat but, when it comes down to a paper book or a plastic one. I am stumped. I love them both. I love, love, love to read a book on my i-phone when it is much more convenient then carrying around a clunky book. On the other hand…. there is nothing like cozying up on my comfy bed with a hot cup of chamomile tea and good book. You can’t cozy up with an ipad it’s just NOT the same. I’ve tried. So I refuse to pick one over the other.
It’s like asking me to pick which of my children I love the best. Just can’t do it! I Love them all just the same!
I like both…but I like paper books a little better. What I love with paper books is looking at the beautiful cover art. Although some books don’t have cover art, it’s fun to see what they do do with the cover of their books. I also like the summaries on the back of the books. With electronic books it gets a little frustrating. It might not be charged, or there was a downloading error, or it breaks. Paper books are just more dependable. Also with electronic books you can’t tell the page number. I just finished reading Pretty Little Liars on my kindle and I had to look up the page number on google. But paper books also have there faults. Like sometimes it’s to tempting for me to sneak a peak at the end of the book. Though that may happen i still like paper books a little better. Just a little
For me, if I’m reading for pleasure it is paper all the way!!! I actually received an e-reader device for Christmas and returned it! I like paper books! I stare at a screen for so many hours in a day, I just don’t want to read my fun reading online too. BUT for research, online all the way!! For me it is easier to search and find, evaluate, annotate, collect and use information when found online. I love the online databases and the online reference book collections that SMES subscribes to and have become a believer in Google Scholar and Google Books. So, paper? Yes! Electronic? Yes! Read, read, read!
I love paper books. The feeling of turning the pages, the scent of the fresh paper and ink, the rustle of the pages, and especially seeing how many pages you are from the end. With the Ipad, Kindle, Nook it just doesn’t have the same feeling. What I do like about electronic books is that you can get a book immediately. You don’t have to drive to the store, finish it in an hour and beg your parents to drive you back for the sequel, it’s all right there. Also, instead of having to conceal a flashlight under you sheets, it already is glowing. But, sometimes the electronic items don’t have certain author or book. Have you ever thought that if so many people start reading digitally, bookstores will have to close because they aren’t getting the business they used to? I think I will ALWAYS prefer paper books, but as long as I’m reading everything just simply goes away. It’s just me and the story. But, when you want to pass down a book I don’t want to loan my device, or have someone buy a Kindle! I just want them to be able to have the book to read. So whatever your preference, happy reading!
I would prefer the old fashioned paper back books. Not high tech plastic, but simple pages with words printed on to them. I think that the reason i prefer paper back books is because when you have finished the book you can look back and ask yourself “wow did i read all that?” and you know that you did. I also like paperback books because they are simple and plain. I like that is simple because then you can focus more on the story and less about the image of the book.
Well, if prefer both.(If that’s possible) Here are the pros and cons of each side.
Pro Paper: Well, of course I LOVE the feeling of pages slipping through my fingers, and you can’t forget that smell. You don’t have to buy any computer or any of the Kindle, Nook, ect. nonsense. They are portable and small. It is simple to buy the book, just go to the bookstore and pick out a book, they probably have what your looking for. But, they probably don’t have most books on the electronic versions of reading. Also you can spread the love of reading by actually giving the book to a loved one or friend. You can’t really GIVE someone your electronic book.
Pro Plastic: You can easily download books while staying right where you are and not going to the book store. You can have a lot less books in one little space.
So, in the end I think I’ll go with paper.
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