10 Reasons why ebooks are a waste of time

Researchers have been examining the differences between reading regular books and e-books for years. Many of the studies have shown that reading old-fashioned books has plenty of advantages over e-books, However, here are 10 reasons why you should always choose paper books over digital books.

1. Give your eyes a break from screens!

Staring at computer screens for hours at a time isn’t exactly the kindest thing to do to your eyes, and many of us already do it all day at work. The constant strain can lead to computer vision syndrome (CVS), which might leave you with headaches, burning eyes or blurred vision. But for physical books No flickering, no glare reflecting off the screen, just old-fashioned ink on paper. Yassss!

2. No need to turn off your book on a plane!

Remember when you had to turn off your e-reader for a few minutes in the middle of a very interesting part when you were on the plane? Painful yeah? But for physical books, no need to do that. Just read on like a badass.

3. You're Missing Out On Important Information

A 2014 study found that readers who used Kindles were less competent in recalling the plot and events in the book than those who used paperbacks. Researchers still aren’t quite sure why this occurs, but it might have something to do with being able to physically and visually track your progress in a real book.

4. You can read in the sun

E-readers cant be used in direct light, the screen goes dark and suddenly your stranded with a book you cant read. Physical books will never disappoint/snitch on you like that.

5. E-Books Get In The Way Of Sleepytime

A recent study out of Harvard University found that reading an e-book before bed lessened the production of an important sleep hormone known as melatonin. As a result, people took much longer to fall asleep, experienced less deep sleep, and were more fatigued in the morning.

However, reading an old-fashioned book can actually help you sleep better.

6. You can’t get an e-book signed

Unless you plan on collecting signatures on your Kindle, you’re not going to any book signings with your e-reader anytime soon. Autographed books make thoughtful and personal gifts. Authors are flattered to sign hard copies of their publications, but they can’t physically sign an e-book… (That is one of my many signed books)

7. Books have physical beauty

Books are beautiful. At least a lot of them are. The cover art, the font, the page numbers -- every aspect of the book’s physical design has typically been carefully crafted. They possess the quality of scarcity, which means that your copy is unique on some level. For readers who truly love a particular book, an electronic facsimile is not an adequate replacement for owning a physical copy.

E-readers, at least as of now, aren’t that beautiful and they are not optimized for book design enjoyment.

8. Libraries and bookstores!

If you’re a book nerd, you know the importance of libraries and bookstores. The smell of all that paper and knowledge in one room is almost too much to handle. These majestic places wouldn’t even exist without books!

9. Screens = Stress

Reading helps you de-stress faster, when researchers measured heart rate and muscle tension, they found that people relaxed just six minutes into reading.

But reading on a device might cancel out this effect, and may even impact your stress levels negatively. Repeated use of mobile phones or laptops late at night has been linked to depression, higher levels of stress, and fatigue among young adults.

10. Physical books are better!

For all the great things e-books accomplish — convenience, selection, portability, multimedia — there are still some fundamental qualities they will simply never possess. Reading an old-fashioned paper book might seem out of style, wasteful, or impractical. But don’t underestimate the simplicity of holding a physical book in your hands, flipping through the pages, and not having anything else to shift your focus to. Commit to the classic paper book and you'll get the full, healthier experience.

So there, it’s decided. Books are better than e-readers all day every day. They’re prettier, easier to manage, and provide us with stories without ruining our eyes and health. Long live the printed word!

Do you like e-books instead? take the poll below.