Imagine yourself opening up a new book, feeling the pages as you flip through pages, and smelling the scent of freshly cut wood. Nothing is more satisfying than watching yourself pass through each chapter and end the book by triumphantly closing the back cover. Today, reading paper books is becoming increasingly less frequent due to the rapid digitalization of reading materials. However, reading printed books is still a more valuable experience than reading e-books because printed books promote a better reading experience.

Reading printed materials is a healthier option than reading digital materials. As opposed to digital books, printed books do not have light emitted from them, which eliminates any possible eye strains from blue light. Speaking from personal experience, reading from a paper book is a lot easier on people’s eyes especially after spending hours doing work on an electronic device. Though reading paper books can cause eye strain after spending an extensive amount of time reading small text, the effects are nowhere near as harmful as those from reading e-books. 

Paper books have also shown increased comprehension amongst readers. According to a 2014 study in Italy, readers have shown a better comprehension of the information presented in paper books as compared to digital books. This is likely because reading a physical book eliminates any distractions that may be observed while reading on a device, thus allowing the reader to focus more on the story. Other studies have shown readers of paper books have consistently scored higher on assessments concerning the content of a novel. Scientists believe that this is a result of the sensation of holding a book that causes the reader to feel more connected with its content.

Physical copies of books also allow for more individual connections with the story. Folded pages, annotations, and cracked spines can remind the reader of the experiences they had as they read through the story. Regardless of whether the experience was favorable or not, having a personal imprint of the book will make the story even more special to the reader. Since readers can keep their physical copies of their novels forever, the unique markings they make in their books will constantly remind them of their experiences. Piper Guyton (11) adds to this and says that she especially enjoys paper books because “they allow [her] to feel more connected to the story.”

Even though digitalized reading materials are often easier to access and share, printed books offer a more enjoyable reading experience. As time goes on, paper books will continue to become more valuable as people realize how advantageous paper books are.