The first physical book came about sometime between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE, while the eBook that we are familiar with today was invented centuries later, in the 20th century. Since the development and improvement of the eBook, there has been conversation over the benefits and drawbacks of having an electronic copy of a book, rather than a paper copy.
Those who believe there is no better comfort than cozying up with a physical book will likely say that an eBook cannot provide that same feeling. On the other side of the aisle, several educators have transitioned to eBooks because of their accessibility. Either way, there is plenty to unpack about the differences between the two forms of texts.
eBooks' Mental Mapping
An interesting aspect that separates paper copies from eBooks is that they allow for what’s called “mental mapping.” Because books are static physical objects, the location of words or illustrations will never change like they do on electronic devices. This allows readers to create a sort of map is useful for long-term memorization. According to thebestschools.org, “Our minds gravitate towards physical illustrations, mnemonic devices, and memory cues” when comprehending a given topic. It’s almost a sort of visual muscle memory. For me personally, I’ve definitely used the mapping technique to memorize lines for a show or lyrics on a page. For all my visual learners out there, reading a physical book has likely assisted you in recalling the knowledge for a longer period of time via mental mapping. And of course, there are always certain aspects that physical copies have in their favor. They not only function without electricity, but also if you drop a paper book, the worst thing that could happen is it gets dirty, as opposed to shattering like an electronic device.
So, what do eBooks have going for them?
Without a doubt, we live in the most technologically advanced society ever known. Especially during these times of extended periods indoors, it’s hard to go far without seeing some sort of tablet, computer, or smartphone ready to be used. In 2019, a surprising 86.6% of American households were reported to have some kind of internet subscription. It can be safely assumed that the percentage of American households with electronic devices is close to or even higher than this figure. This means that more than three-quarters of Americans are able to quickly access eBooks in the safety of their homes. eBooks are arguably better for the environment because they require no additional resources, such as wood or ink, per book sold. In an age where there is a larger emphasis on environmental consciousness, this is a major plus. Students’ textbooks can be distributed on a massive scale without destroying a single natural resource.
As convenient and accessible eBooks can be, many will still say that the experience of browsing a homey book store and getting the new book smell is priceless. It is truly a matter of personal preference. Despite our generation’s reliance on technology, paper books are not going away anytime soon. We have the ability to relax by the fireplace with our mint-condition copy of all the Harry Potter books in one moment, and conveniently pop up our biology textbook next to our homework in another. The choice is all ours.
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