Paper Books vs. e-Books

 

From the previous posts (Links given below) you must be aware of the importance of reading. In this digital age, the next big question is whether to read paper or e-books. E-books can be in various formats such as pdf files, epub or Mobi files, kindle books, or even material available on websites.

https://agnipathdoctors.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-basic-key-to-success.html 

https://agnipathdoctors.blogspot.com/2021/06/video-lectures-vs-reading.html 

Some of the advantages of e-books are: 

They are very portable, depending on the storage space available on your mobile, tablet, or laptop you can literary carry thousands of books with you. 

They are usually cheaper than their print version as the cost of paper, printing, transportation, distribution, and storage, etc. is saved in e-books.  Additionally, there may be a lot of free reading material related to your topic available on the internet. Many online teachers provide free digital reading material with their courses. 

You can easily search for something using the search function in e-books. 

They are usually up to date and have the latest information, as they can be easily updated electronically. And they are environmentally friendly as they save paper which saves trees.

So with so many advantages why have printed paper books not become extinct?

One is that paper books are distraction-free. It is easy to become distracted while using an e-book. You may be tempted to use the device on which you are reading the e-book for surfing the internet, chat with online friends or check on Facebook or WhatsApp messages.

You may get distracted by the e-books themselves. With the vast numbers of e-books or the reading resources available on your device or online you may get easily confused and end up reading few pages from here and there rather than in-depth study from a single standard textbook.

Paper books generally are up to some standard. All the e-books available may not be up to the mark. There is a substantial cost involved in printing and distributing a paper book. Therefore the publishers try to assess and try to publish and print only those books they are convinced that will be bought and read by a large number of readers. There are obviously many exceptions and some authors may not get published by the established by publishers due to this high barrier to paper books. Remember, even J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter was rejected first by 12 publishers.

Printed books are easy on the eyes. Although the screen display technology has vastly improved from the time when there were only Black-n-White CRT monitors (like the old box type TV) to read e-books, reading paper books still cause less eye strain than reading e-books.

Paper Books are invaluable for revision and last-minute preparation. Printed books are easy to revise, skim, and flick through. It is easy to get a rapid idea of the material while going through a printed book than an e-book. You can more easily speed read a printed book than an e-book. Remember Warren Buffet’s around 500 pages of reading every day? Most of this reading he does from printouts taken by his staff of the material available digitally.

Most importantly – Better memory and recall. One big advantage I find in paper books as compared to e-books that you have better recall of the things you have studied from a printed paper than from a screen. There is better long-term memory retention with printed material. 

If you are just reading for pleasure or fun like a novel, e-books may be good enough. But if you are doing the reading for academic purpose, serious about learning some subject and want to score great marks in exam then studying from paper books should be your primary or preferred method of study.

But in the end, it’s up to you and whatever preferences you have.

— ND

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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal, and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Practice should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost. 

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended only for fun purposes. The author does not promote or recommend any behavior illustrated here or claim it to be useful. Use the information herein is at your one's own risk. Before trying to emulate or follow anything the reader is well advised to take into account ethical, moral, legal, and other considerations. The author recommends that Medical Education should be of the highest ethical and moral level keeping in mind the interest of the patient as foremost and according to MCI and other Board norms.