I, (not a) Robot

Now I've probably gotten your hopes up and you are expecting a review on I, Robot. I apologize, that is not what you are in for today. No, today I am going to weigh in on digital versus hard copy. Mostly because on my other blog I was reminiscing on the good old days of laying on the floor looking at maps and atlases. You know, back in the good old days, before Google maps existed and the internet was something only academia and government knew about. (Yes, there was a time like that, and no, it was not that long ago. Relatively speaking). Besides, my reading list this week has consisted of a lot of Terry Pratchett, because I've really been in the mood for some humor and whimsy, and the Discworld just fills that niche so beautifully. I should also mention, I finished Mao's Last Dancer. I highly recommend it, and at some point I will write about the value of (auto)biographies in studying history. I will say, I learned a lot about life in Communist China, it is an inviting read, and be sure to look for the more recent editions, because there have been additions since its original publication date.

Alright. Digital versus printed. I confess, I am old school and I am biased towards print. It isn't quantifiable, but there is something different about holding a book, turning pages, feeling the weight and size and shape of the book in your hands. It is a more personal experience. I don't know why, but turning pages is really important. It seems like I've heard that the more senses you can use, the more something sinks in (don't quote me on that, because I don't know if it's true, but it does make sense. The more of your senses you use, the more pathways you are making in your brain, something like that). With printed materials, you can use sight, but also touch. And there is the possibility of smell, too, especially with older books. Maybe the what makes the difference for me, I don't know. All I know is that holding a book is a very different experience from holding an e-reader, and I prefer the book experience, myself.

That being said, there are things I really like about digital books. It's true that you can carry a ton of them and space is not an issue, although I have found that that isn't a very compelling argument. The only time that would be helpful is if I'm travelling, and if I'm travelling, I don't need oodles of books, because I'm going to be doing other things. And I can carry the books I need for reading while en route. One exception: class readings. Apparently, textbooks are a thing of the past, and pdf's and online readings are the way to go these days. (I earned a master's degree and purchased roughly five textbooks, and half of those are really compilations of articles that were published by various professionals. So, it was incredibly useful to be able to put those readings on one device and take them with me, because who wants to bust out the laptop on the 20 minute bus ride? And printing them all? Let's talk expensive. I will also say that digital books tend to be less expensive than printed ones, which is another distinct advantage.

So, I'm not completely opposed to digital books, and I own quite a few myself. But, my preference will always be the good old-fashioned print copy.