Am I the only one that prefers a physical book over electronic forms? There is something magical about the smell of a physical book. Seeing yours or other people's notes in the margins. Having a tangible representation of a story? What is everyone's opinion about this?
You could consider this topic from the point of illuminated texts such as the ones found in Ireland (Book of Kells)... Or even first edition printed copies of books. As someone who likes to collect physical books, I think there is a lot you could write about here. – Lauren Mead8 years ago
I would find studies or articles detailing if electronic books are starting to outpace physical books to see if the digital age is starting to see the end of the physical book medium. – BMartin438 years ago
The materiality of a book is not only of value for the individual reader, but also research Topic in many insitutions. It might be interesting to look at the changing materiality of a text and how it is presented. – L.J.8 years ago
I finally broke down and got a Kindle for Christmas. I love it, but agree physical books are irreplaceable. There's something beautifully comforting about holding and reading a physical book. – Stephanie M.8 years ago
Yes, its as if I remember it more with a physical copy. – melanie6148 years ago
I agree with others that there is something tangible about holding a physical book in your hands. Maybe it's because you're more active: you have to turn the pages, feel the paper. Books have a smell that bring to mind a lifetime of perusing bookstores and libraries. I own a Kindle and I like it- I've ready many books on it. But it'll never fill me with the nostalgia (maybe that's what this is really about!) and satisfaction of a physical book. – Jesse Munoz8 years ago
I do like a physical book, but with my OCD it's hard for me to enjoy having a physical copy because I am so concerned with making sure it does not get dirty or any of the pages get bent. While I prefer reading a physical book, it's easier for me to manage an ebook. – ac7r8 years ago
Maybe you can see books as a fetish object. Personally, I have an eBook I bought when I moved to the U.S. as I didn't want to buy physical ones to them sell them when moving back (I would feel like betraying them and knowledge), so having hundreds of them on a small and light device I thought it would help me. Bad news, guys: I already have tons of physical books and I have started to create my strategy to take them back home with me (without costing me hundreds of dollars). I found myself using digital books for academic purposes and when traveling (going along with a physical one or ones... sorry, I can't handle it!!) and physical books when I read them for entertainment as I like my reading experience to be total: smell them, touch them... feel them in general.I like to see my reading progress and to see how much is left to read (and crying out loud desperately). So I would see digital books and physical books as a comparison between food and ''nouvelle cuisine'' (books + food = best. date. EVER, hahaha) – barbarapetidier8 years ago
I find it interesting that keeping physical books seems to hold more appeal now than keeping CDs or even DVDs. I can't see the use in buying a physical CD, but if I love a book, I definitely try to buy a copy. I wonder if there is still some new technological advancement in ebooks that will make the shift away from physical books more complete. – bookishwhimsy7 years ago
It seems that for people who only need the content, an ebook would suffice for providing a convenient way of gathering the necessary information. The rest of us really care about the material or the imprint of the cover; the page layout in terms of paper, margins, spacing and grouping of images among other elements of printing. Being able to insert a photo of a friend or relative into the pages, or write notes on a separate sheet and tuck it next to a chapter, removing a section with excellent dialogue or fine artwork to take with you or to pin on a bulletin board at work is definitely a trait that make paper books practical. Making paper books is a entirely creative process on all levels requiring many hands; whereas, ebooks are products designed by highly trained minds. For those that don't agree, museums will always have a place for the relics that paper books might become and the future will undoubtedly uncover more methods for delivery of content, in their own ingenious ways even if for the mere novelty of doing so. It may reach the point where people will succumb to public pressure to use the technology and not be seen as living behind the times. – L:Freire6 years ago