"Gen Z is bringing back reading," says The Week, which leads us to wonder what the heck it is we've been doing all these years. But, the publication explains, it's not just reading — it's real books, made of paper. Per research published in @TheConversationUS: "Gen Zers and millennials prefer books in print over e-books and audiobooks" which has manifested in an "unlikely love affair with their local libraries." Here's a breakdown of what might be happening. We want to know: How do you like to read these days?
I am a millennial and a reader and I just turned 40 and I am extremely over having this exact same conversation every 5 years for the last 20+ years. Please stop. I am begging everyone. Just stop it.
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon Definitely a fan of print books because I don't have to worry about charging a battery on a device and words on paper are considerably less strenuous on my eyes than a screen (ASD sensory issues).
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon
I prefer hardcopy for anything with illustrations or technical drawings, e-reader for straight text. My current electronic library is ~2000 books; I simply don't have room to house all of them in hard copy.
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon
I mostly read on my phone for the simple reason that I have it with me. A book is a better experience, but I don't always carry one around.
Mostly I just read on my phone because that’s the device I have with me. But when I pass by a Little Free Library I always check for any interesting print books.
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon Print and Ebook equally depending on material and situation. Some technical texts I prefer as print, and some things that are more meaningful to me as well.
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon I like my e-reader for reading in bed at night, especially if I'm having insomnia and don't want to wake my partner with a booklight. I like paper for sitting and reading on the sofa or out in the world.
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon - e reader for tech books, reference, and practical matters. Paper for pleasure. E reader again if I'm trapped without paper.
Depends if it's night or day. In the day, I'm okay with a print book. At night, I'd much rather have the light off and use an e-reader, it's easier on my eyes and helps me go to sleep faster. Also, falling asleep reading doesn't lose my page.
I have a collection of about 2000 paperbacks, mostly, largely science fiction and fantasy. These days I mostly buy e-books, because I don't have space for more physical books. I can't afford more bookshelves, nor do I have the open wallspace to install them against.
haha I also have the problem of wall space. All my shelves are double loaded as it is, and there are boxes of books tucked into corners and closets and under tables. In general, I still prefer print books but I do have a Kindle, which is nice for travel and night reading when I have insomnia and don't want to disturb my husband. My personal library is around 2700 books, not including my husband's. I am TheGalaxyGirl on #LibraryThing
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon As much as I prefer print books, these days I mostly read on my phone. There are so many stories freely published online that I don't buy that many books any more. And I stopped using an eReader because I spent so much time dealing with format conversion and DRM. I have the modern equivalent of the Library of Alexandria in my pocket and I make good use of it.
Whatever I can get from the library. I'm not a big audiobook listener, but my seven-year-old is addicted to them and listens on hoopla 12 hours a day. e-books are fine in a pinch but I wouldn't spend money on them. I used to have a Kindle but it broke so now I have to read on a tablet. That's nice while I'm knitting at least. I occasionally buy physical copies of books that I would want my kids to find around the house and read someday.
Real print books are so much more satisying. As well as embodying text, they're objects in themselves that you can own and furnish a room with. They're often beautiful, with their own smells and tactile pleasures, friends with benefits, which evoke memories of the time spent with them. Used books are mysterious strangers, coming with their own secrets in the form of margjnalia and obscure bookmarks.
E-books are corporate control of reading pleasure.
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon eBook with color e-ink display for non-fiction and comics. Audiobooks for fiction (I like to listen to stories; and after 12+ hrs of screen time during the work days, my eyes cry for a rest). Paper books for hard technical and legal books (with OCR-ed PDF copies at hand).
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon Mostly I read on e-ink or not at all. Reading a print book is a great experience - if you don't need to use a dictionary or move or switch books or store it somewhere.
I read a lot and in several languages. Traditional books just aren't feasible. And I won't read off a screen.
@mutkitta@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon I too read only ebooks, although I do use audio in conjunction for immersive language learning. The attached photo represents more than 95% of my paper book purchases over the last 25 years. Some might see a pattern 😊