Books versus Ebooks and Kindles

Physical Books vs Ebooks and Kindles: Which Is Better?

For some readers, nothing beats a physical book. Others wouldn't give up the convenience of a Kindle for anything.

Both have genuine advantages, and the better choice often depends on where you're reading, how many books you get through and what you enjoy about reading in the first place.

So, physical books vs ebooks: which is better?

Why Do People Still Prefer Physical Books?

For many readers, a physical book is part of the pleasure of reading.

There's the cover, the feel of the pages, seeing how far you've read and eventually putting a finished book on the shelf. A printed book also gives you time away from another screen, which can be particularly appealing when so much of the working day is already spent looking at one.

Physical books are also easy to lend to friends, swap with family or pass on when you've finished.

And, unlike a digital file, a favourite book can stay on your bookshelf for years.

Are Physical Books Better for Concentration?

This depends on the reader and the device being used.

One advantage of reading a printed book is that it creates a naturally screen-free environment. There are no messages arriving on the page, other apps waiting to be opened or browser tabs competing for your attention.

A dedicated ereader such as a Kindle removes many of those distractions too, so the difference isn't simply paper good, screen bad.

If putting your phone away and picking up a physical book helps you concentrate, however, that's a perfectly good reason to choose print.

What Are the Advantages of Ebooks?

Ebooks win hands down on portability.

One small device can hold hundreds or thousands of books, which is enormously convenient for travelling, commuting or simply avoiding an overflowing suitcase.

You can also buy a new book almost instantly without waiting for it to arrive.

Ereaders can offer practical features such as adjustable text size, built-in dictionaries and the ability to change how text is displayed. Those features can make digital reading much more comfortable for some people.

And if you're going away with cabin baggage, taking one Kindle instead of four novels is difficult to argue with.

Are Ebooks Cheaper Than Physical Books?

Sometimes.

Ebooks can be cheaper than new hardbacks or paperbacks, and older titles and classics are often available inexpensively.

But ebooks aren't always the cheapest way to read. Libraries, second-hand bookshops, book swaps and passing books between friends can make physical reading very inexpensive too.

Price alone probably shouldn't decide the ebook vs physical book debate.

What About the Environmental Impact?

This isn't as straightforward as it first appears.

Physical books require paper, printing, transport and storage. Ereaders require electronic components, manufacturing and energy.

The environmental comparison therefore depends partly on how many books you read on a device, how long you keep it and what happens to your physical books after you've finished them.

A printed book that is read several times, borrowed by friends or bought second-hand has a very different lifecycle from one that is bought and immediately discarded.

Physical Books Make Better Gifts

This is one area where print has a considerable advantage.

You can wrap a physical book, write a message inside it and choose a title because it reminds you of someone. It becomes an object as well as something to read.

And you don't necessarily have to choose the exact book yourself.

Our Monthly Book Subscription lets you choose the reader's preferred genre and leave the actual book selection to us. Each month we pair a brand-new book with Irish chocolate and a gift from an Irish brand.

For a one-off present, you can also browse our gift hampers or create your own gift hamper around the person you're buying for.

Kindle or Physical Books for Travelling?

Kindle.

If luggage space matters, it's difficult to beat an ereader. You can take an entire library without sacrificing half your suitcase.

But there's nothing stopping you bringing both.

A Kindle can handle the airport, flight and commute while a paperback waits beside the bed when you get home.

Do You Have to Choose?

Not at all.

Plenty of avid readers use both physical and digital books.

You might use an ereader while travelling, download a book when you want it immediately and still buy physical copies of favourite authors or books you know you'll want to keep.

The two formats solve different problems.

Physical Books vs Ebooks: Our Verdict

If convenience, portability and instant access matter most, ebooks are difficult to beat.

If you enjoy the physical experience of reading, want time away from screens, like sharing books with other people or want something you can keep on your bookshelf, printed books still have plenty going for them.

At The Book Resort, we're naturally biased towards physical books. We spend every month choosing them for our subscribers in Waterford, and we like the idea that a new book can still be something worth waiting for.

But you don't have to pick a side. (we might but you don't have to)