Ebook or Physical Copy?

I feel like the modern debate when it comes to reading is whether a physical copy of a book or an ebook is the better option. I decided I’d make a pros and cons list for both to figure out my stance. So here are my unsolicited opinions and thoughts on ebook or physical.

Ebook

• Portable: It’s easy to carry around the book, especially if it’s on your phone. Plus, you don’t look as strange (read: geeky) carrying around a digital device (not that us book nerds have ever cared about that!)
• Access to multiple: You can have so many books at your fingertips!
• Read in the dark: This is great for late-night reading. I love reading on my Kindle app at night.
• Always have the book with you: This goes a bit with portability, but no matter where you’re at, you can always have the book with you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a boring birthday party to “show face” and “be nice” and ended up reading a book on my Kindle app. Always a life-saver.
• Annotations: Easily highlight or make notes without destroying the book.
• Easier to hold: It’s easier to hold your phone or other reading devices than to hold pages open.

Physical

• Smell: You don’t get the new book smell! Honestly, this is a big one for me even though it doesn’t seem very important.
• No screen: We’re on our screens enough as it is. It’s nice to just have something that doesn’t emit light for a change.
• Annotations: Sometimes, you want to leave pretty notes on your pages. You can’t add calligraphy to a digital book.
• Satisfaction: There is something so satisfying about seeing my little library of books. I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t feel that same amount of satisfaction looking at my digital book library.
• Experience: How does one describe reading a physical book?
• Cover: Seeing the covers in person is truly something to behold. Designers work so hard to make these covers what they are and I think they should be appreciated.
• Pictures: This one’s self-explanatory, but you just get better pictures with a physical book than taking a picture of a cover on your phone or Nook or whatever.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I love them both! There are so many benefits to both and, honestly, I didn’t even realize there were this many until I wrote them all down. I think I’ll always feel a little more of a pull towards physical copies of books, but I’ve really enjoyed reading more ebooks lately. What can I say? I guess I love them both!

Comment below which one you prefer!