16 Reasons to Choose Digital Books Over Physical Ones
Credit: Apple
Nowadays, there are many ways you can read a book. You can go physical, digital, or even listen to an audiobook. It doesn't matter which way you choose; you're still reading and learning from the books you love.
With that said, some people don't like digital books that much. Sure, nothing beats the smell and feel of a brand-new physical book, but going digital brings a lot of benefits to your everyday life. Benefits that physical books just can't compete with.
We're not against physical books at all. They also come with certain benefits that digital books will never be able to replicate. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy both.
If you're still on the fence about choosing digital books over physical, then here are some reasons to change your mind.
Digital Books Are Portable
By far the best advantage of buying digital books is that you can take them anywhere much more easily than a physical book. It doesn't matter where you're going; you can take hundreds, if not thousands, of books with you.
Whether you're using an eReader or your iPhone, you can start reading on the bus, on your Uber ride, or in the park. Not only that, but you don't have to stick to just one book. You can switch between as many books as you want.
Sure, carrying just one physical book might feel better, but if you prefer quality, digital books are the way to go.
Digital Books Are More Environmentally Friendly
If you care about the world and your environment, then digital books might be the best option for you.
As we mentioned, there's nothing better than the feel of a book in your hands, but with millions of books being printed each year and even more trees being cut down because of it, it might be better to focus on digital books as much as possible.
That doesn't mean you can't still get physical books, but it's better to just buy a handful of physical books each year.
You Can Get Any Digital Book Instantly
When you think about digital books, you're probably also thinking of convenience. You can scratch the itch for a new book almost instantly, thanks to the many digital bookstores you can find online.
It doesn't matter if you want to buy a mystery novel, a book about puns, or that niche science fiction adventure no one has ever heard of; you're almost certainly going to find it online.
And yes, you can buy physical books online, too, but you need to wait until they arrive for you to start reading. And if you want to read more, waiting for a book will not help.
Digital Books Are Always Available
Besides how easy it is to find and start reading digital books, you also have the benefit that digital books will always be in stock. After all, the author only needs to upload the book once, and millions of people can download it at the same time.
With physical books, you run the risk of having to wait for the bookstore to have more in stock, and who knows when that's going to be? Granted, you may have to wait your turn if you're using an app like OverDrive to borrow books from your local library, but that'll never be a problem if you're buying your digital books.
Digital Books Are Easier to Read in the Dark
Another great advantage of digital books is your phone or tablet's screen. All you need to do is adjust the brightness to whatever you like, and you can read the whole night without interruptions — until your phone runs out of juice, that is.
Unless you have a lamp and a comfortable chair, you can't read a book at night. Yes, if you want to fall asleep faster and have better sleep, reading a physical book might be the best option (although eReaders are a close second, thanks to their e-ink displays).
But if you just want to read the whole night, or your place isn't very well-lit, a display will be better for your eyes.
Digital Books Are Easier to Hold for Hours
Whenever we find a book that we just can't put down, we tend to read it for hours on end. And usually, the only thing that makes us pause our reading is how heavy the book is.
But with digital books, that isn't a problem anymore. Whether you're using your phone or a tablet, most devices are light enough to hold for hours without any issues.
Moreover, premium eReaders are designed with comfort in mind. For instance, the Kindle Oasis has a thicker side, so you can hold it with one hand, and it's light enough that you won't feel tired after reading for long periods of time.
It's Easier to Highlight or Comment on Digital Books
With digital books, you can highlight any quote or phrase in a book with just one finger.
Not only that, but it's way easier to write a comment on a digital book instead of having to write on a white space you found.
After you're done, most reading apps also come with a way for you to quickly access and find your comments and highlights. And you can even send them to yourself via email so you never lose them.
You Can Read Without Your Glasses
When you buy a physical book, you're stuck with the font size the author chose. And if they chose a really small size, you might have a hard time reading it.
With a digital book, on the other hand, you can change pretty much anything. You can choose the style of the font so it looks however you want.
Likewise, you can change the size of the font so you can read without glasses and without any struggles.
Digital Books Are Generally More Affordable
If you go to Amazon right now, you'll find that most physical books tend to be more expensive than digital ones.
This is because, with a physical book, you need to deal with shipping and printing costs. Digital books don't have any of that, so you tend to find them at a cheaper price.
Additionally, when books are on sale, digital books tend to have a bigger discount. You can find amazing digital books for $0.99, whereas their physical counterpart will only go down in price a few dollars. You're also far more likely to find digital books available for free from places like Project Gutenberg.
You Can Read Digital Books From Anywhere
We've already talked about how easy it is to carry your digital books with you, but another benefit is that you can read them from pretty much any device.
You can open your book on your phone and keep reading on your computer once you get home. You can also check your books on your tablet, eReader, and almost any browser.
The best part is that some reading apps will sync your progress across any platform, so you can pick up where you left off immediately.
You Can Also Listen to Your Books
Another benefit is that you can listen to your books whenever you want. We're not just talking about audiobooks, which are sometimes available alongside the digital option.
But with some accessibility features, like the iPhone's Spoken Content feature, you can "read" your favorite books while you're driving, cooking, or working out, which is impossible to do with a physical book.
Searching for Words or Phrases Is Really Easy
It's really annoying when you find a cool part of a book, and you can't find it later. Unless you highlighted or bookmarked that section, you'll need to go over the pages to find the section you're looking for.
With a digital book, however, you won't need to waste your time like that. As long as you remember a word or phrase from that section, you can search for it, and your phone or eReader will give you the answer in a matter of seconds.
You Always Have a Dictionary With You
Nowadays, it's easier than ever to find the meaning of a word you come across. Thanks to Google and dictionary apps, you'll know what the author was trying to say in just seconds.
And sure, you can still use these apps while reading physical books, but some apps that let you read digital books already come with a built-in dictionary.
You can highlight a word and search for its meaning without leaving your book, which is a great way to avoid losing focus. Moreover, some apps like Kindle also save all the words you search for so you can review them later.
Digital Books Last Longer
While physical books are great, they can be tough to keep in good shape. You need to worry about dust, sunlight, and just the passage of time.
But with digital books, you don't really need to worry about anything. They just last as long without any special care.
Even if your phone breaks down, you know you'll be able to access your books once you get a new one. They're safely stored in your storage or the cloud, waiting for you to read them.
Sometimes, Digital Books Are More Engaging
Granted, this won't apply to all of us. But some people — especially the younger generation — tend to find digital books more engaging.
That's because they're more used to holding their phones or reading from their computers than holding a book. It's become a habit at this point to reach for your phone, so some folks feel more comfortable reading from a display than an actual book.
Digital Books Are More Private
Some people don't like sharing what kind of reading they're into, and that's okay.
After all, some covers and book titles can be graphic or weird. And while you enjoy the book, you may not enjoy all those stares you get when you take it out.
Fortunately, with digital books, that won't happen. Most people will think you're checking social media. And even if they see you're reading, they probably won't be able to see what you're actually reading.