When I was younger, there were no electronic books. Reading a book meant going to a bookstore to purchase one, or borrowing one from a public library. All of my textbooks in college, graduate school, and law school were paper books.
Since electronic books have become readily available, I do almost all of my reading with them. While I can enjoy sitting and browsing through a physical book, particularly one with many photos or diagrams, almost all the books I buy or borrow now are in electronic format. If I have a choice between an electronic version or a paper version, I almost always choose the electronic format.
I’ve used both the Apple Books app and the Kindle app on my iPad. I find for me the Kindle app to be easier to use, and I like its features. While I have numerous books in Apple Books, I now buy almost all my books in Kindle format.
I do almost all my reading in electronic books today.
I get that some people still prefer paper books. They like the feel and touch of physical pages. But for me, there are many benefits to using electronic books instead.
1. Electronic Books Allow Saving Highlights & Electronic Searching
When I read nonfiction books, I highlight a lot. By using the Readwise service, I can sync all of my highlights (Kindle, Apple Books, PDFs, and web) to the Readwise app and access them anytime.
I can also search these highlights in Readwise, and I can search the full text of books in the Kindle or Apple Books apps. If I’m looking for a quote I remember reading, I can do an electronic search and find it quickly. I don’t have to hope it’s referenced in an index or hunt through a book to find it.
The most valuable service I receive from my ReadWise subscription is automatically receiving a daily group of random highlights from my library, which gives me spaced repetition of thoughts. As I revisit multiple highlights each morning, it reminds me of concepts I thought important enough to highlight and it sparks new thinking and ideas for blog posts and life.
2. Electronic Books Are Less Expensive & Immediately Available
When I search for books in the Amazon Kindle store, it’s not unusual for electronic versions of books to be heavily discounted compared to the cost of the same physical book. When I recently looked up a popular productivity book by James Clear, Atomic Habits, the electronic version was $11.99 while the paperback was $16.95.
It makes sense for publishers to discount electronic books. They save the cost of printing and shipping to the customer. This means that you can buy many more electronic books over time for the same amount of money you’d spend on fewer physical books.
Buying electronic books is instantaneous. I can purchase a book online with a couple of clicks, and it automatically downloads to my iPad. I don’t even have to wait for delivery.
3. I Can Borrow Electronic Books From the Library Without Leaving Home
When I find out about a book I’m interested in reading, I often check my online public library to see if they have it. More times than not, they do, either in written format or audiobook.
If it’s available, I can instantly check it out and download it to the Kindle app on my iPad. If it’s not immediately available, I can place a hold on the book. When I receive an email telling me the book is available, I can download it.
It’s remarkable that I can do all of this without even visiting a local library. I save the time and gas expense of having to drive to and from the library.
4. I Can Change the Font Size & Backlighting in Electronic Books
As I get older, I find that it is difficult for me to comfortably read paper books with smaller print. Reading electronic books on my iPad eliminates this problem.
I can easily increase or decrease the font size to fit my vision. I can even change the font to one I prefer. Paper books give me none of that flexibility.
The other factor that affects my reading as I age is the quality of the light where I am reading. If I’m reading a paper book, I often have to sit in a location with a bright lamp right next to me.
Since my iPad has built-in backlighting, I can sit in very low light or darkness and still not have any issues reading. The app also allows me to choose the kind of backlighting I use.
If you’re younger now and don’t have any of these issues reading, one day you likely will! At that time, how will your paper library function for you? Will some of your books become practically unreadable for you over time? With electronic books, you never have to worry about future-proofing your library.
5. Electronic Books are Light & Can Store Multiple Books on One Device
When I was attending law school, I remember carrying in my backpack what must have been 30–40 pounds of books with me each day to classes. It was a burden that regularly gave me neck and shoulder pain, and was a hassle to drag around wherever I went.
Now, with electronic books, I can carry the same number of books, and many more, for only the low weight of the mobile device. And, I can have any number of books accessible on that device without any addition in weight or physical storage space.
When paper books were the only option, I remember trying to decide what books to take with me on a trip. It was difficult to know what books I’d feel like reading, and I always took more than I needed. It took up extra space in my suitcase.
On trips now, I just take my iPad (which I also use for email, messaging, writing, and mind mapping). All of my books are with me, without having to make any decisions about what to take along.