There are many factors to consider when discussing the matter of e-books, printed books, and audiobooks but in the long run, it boils down to the reader’s preference. Passionate fans of printed books claim that nothing is like the smell of paper and the rustle of the pages as they flip through the book with their fingers. With the advancement of phones, tablets, and e-readers, e-books have become a common reading standard. Also, audiobooks are not new, in fact, audiobooks have been around for almost a century. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the 3 forms of books;
PHYSICAL BOOKS
Advantages
• No batteries needed: What you simply need is your printed book and you can start to enjoy whatever the book has to offer you. Printed books don’t require you to charge your device before you can start gaining the info and benefits that they offer.
• It’s for everybody: Even the non-computer literate and members of the family will find no issues when they want to read. They can always go for printed books.
• Understandability: You can indicate marks and take notes so that you can easily understand what the writer is trying soon say.
Disadvantages
• Inconvenience: They can be heavy and hard to be carried from one place to another.
• You need lighting: You cannot read a printed book at dark without needing external lighting.
• Lack of space: Printed books can occupy a lot of space in your home.
EBOOKS
Advantages
• Speed: You don’t have to wait until you reach the library or bookstore, you can always read an e-book straightaway.
• Cheaper: Because there are no printing fees linked with e-books, they are often inexpensive or even free compared to the printed books.
• No limit on storage: You don’t have to worry about the amount of books you can store on your shelves. You can have as many books as you desire because you don’t have a limit with e-books.
Disadvantages
• Battery life: You can’t use your e-reader if it runs out of battery unless it charges again.
• Distractions: Reading with your tablet or smartphone can bring about distractions for you.
AUDIO-BOOKS
Advantages
• People who read audiobooks have an excellent command of the language. Therefore, you would also learn the tones of pronunciation as you listen to them.
• It is a great way to replicate the old age tradition of story-telling which is usually more engaging.
• Audiobooks can be listened to in the most inconvenient situations, like traveling in a crowded train, waiting for somebody at the coffee shop, dusting the house, cooking, etc.
Disadvantages
• With audiobooks, rewinding or revisiting an older chapter is a bitch
• The speed of the reader might not be compatible with yours. Therefore, a book that takes you about 5 hours to read might take 10 hours on an audiobook.
• Reduced reading efficiency: While reading a real book, you are engaging your eyes in the process alongside your auditory sensors. People tend to remember the things they see better than the ones they listen to.
The three forms of books have many advantages and disadvantages, and selecting which is a better option depends only on you. You may find it convenient using the technology or to continue experiencing the comfort of the traditional reading zone. However you decide, it is a matter of your own convenience.
They all have great pro’s and I enjoy them all, but regardless of the con’s give me the real book anyway. The smell, the feel, it will always remain my favorite.
aiblove physical books but hatw the dusty smell that can come along with them.
Who else is with me on the physical books? Call it naiveness but I can’t imagine myself reading from my iPhone or my PC. I like to flip through pages, easily refer to previous pages or even other books while I read. Though reading electronic books is not a bad idea, I believe it doesn’t work for many.
While all these types of books have their pros and cons, if it comes down to a battle of having to choose one to stick with I would have to go for the physical books — the old-age natural feel of a freshly opened book recently purchased from your friendly bookstore is one of the best feelings for me. Although for convenience and technology’s sake, I would still go for the audio and e-book when convenient of course. And yes, rewinding the audio book is a bitch! Good point there.
Agreed. Totally a matter of preference and convenience. I have loads of ebooks because they are cheaper and more portable. The cheaper ebooks have allowed me to discover many authors that I may not have picked up at the bookstore. However, I ALWAYS get my favorite authors in physical form and usually hardback. I like the feel and smell of the book, I guess.