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Tangible -

Books are real, tangible objects. As opposed to e-books, which are essentially a digital file.

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Tactile experience -

There is a physical sensation when holding a book in our hands–how it feels, the weight, turning a page, etc. This can never be recreated through an e-reader, for instance.

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Smell -

Who doesn’t love the smell of a new book? You won't get that with an e-book.

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E-books are greener -

E-books don’t rely on paper and consequently all the industry of manufacturing paper and printing. It’s safe to say that e-books are more eco-friendly.

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Eye strain -

If you’ve ever used a tablet, smartphone, or a computer to read a book, you know how it can strain your eyes. E-readers are far superior, but this is not applicable to physical books.

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E-books are not good for your sleep -

Many people like to read in bed. But staring at a screen before calling it a night can interfere with your sleep.

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Price -

E-books are, in most cases, cheaper than printed books. You do need a more expensive device to read them, but you probably have it already (e.g. phone).

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Exclusive -

To cut costs, some authors are no longer publishing books in paper format. Some publications are only available on digital format.

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Physical progress -

You can physically visualize your progress while reading a book. You will get closer to the end at each turn of the page. E-books won’t give you the same experience.

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Spatial memory -

Books might be superior with regards to visual-spatial memory. We tend to remember certain parts of text and be able to find it physically in the book.

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Distractions -

This is particularly true for e-books with interactive elements. A study found that these were more distracting for children, compromising the learning process.

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Portability -

This is where the e-book excels. If you like to read during your commute to work, or at other places where it wouldn’t be convenient to carry a physical book, a digital alternative is the way to go.

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Artifacts -

You find books in museums and old libraries. Some are indeed historical artifacts with an historical weight that e-books don’t have.

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Multitasking -

E-book readers like the possibility of being able to switch to another task at any giving time. E.g. Googling a word, checking social media, etc.

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Skim reading -

This is more accentuated when reading e-books, which can be useful, but it’s different from reading something at a deeper level, connecting emotionally, and using critical analysis.

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Advantages of reading e-books -

Another study did find, however, that digital reading improved students’ capacity to read faster.

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Books make great gifts -

A book is still a great present and, of course, you can write a personal note on it.

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Book signing -

Plus, you can get it signed by the author! You won’t show up to a book signing and ask for the author to type their name on your e-reader, right?

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Privacy -

The beauty of e-books is that you don’t have to worry about other people knowing what you’re reading.

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Theft-proof -

Most burglars and thieves probably won’t see the benefit of stealing your books. An e-book reader or other gadget, on the other hand, is more vulnerable to theft.

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Physical books are a great way to switch off -

This is particularly true if you’re reading on your smartphone or laptop, where you can get easily distracted with notifications.

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A question of power -

You will literally need power in your device to be able read an e-book. You will never run out of battery with a physical book.

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Tech annoyances with e-books -

You know, the page that doesn't turn, the device that crashes, the formatting problem, software updates, among many others. In a physical book, these things won't occur.

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Decor -

A bookshelf is a timeless piece of decor. Plus, you can place books on shelves, stack them on the floor, etc. Needless to say, you can’t decorate your living room with e-books.

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Exclusive information -

Books are old, very old, so there is some information that you can only find in them.

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Used books -

You can buy, sell, and donate books. There are second-hand bookshops, for instance. Or just swap them with friends and family.

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Used books -

Though you can easily share a copy of an e-book with a friend and keep reading yours. No paper wasted.

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Notes -

Do you usually like to underline parts of a book, for future reference, or even make notes on the margins? This can be done in both digital copies and paper books. 

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Vacation reading -

E-books are definitely easier to carry, but try reading one while sunbathing on the beach with the sun glaring on the screen. Paper will probably work best.

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See also - Thirty books that influenced the world

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