"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?
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon I have fallen in love with the Libby app since I read a lot of fiction. But for nonfiction I usually prefer paper so I can mark things up. I will buy novels on paper if I think I might read it repeatedly, or if I know the text design is important. And poetry I always read on paper because how it sits on the page is so important.
@CultureDesk@bookstodon@TheConversationUS I’m always reading at least one ebook one physical and one audio. Late night wake ups with the kids makes ebook win there, nonfiction in the car on audio (I can’t do most fantasy or sci-fi on audio) As I prefer maps on hand and the ability to flip around and reread sections physical is preferred for SFF
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon as a Millennial I massively prefer print. As someone with sensory issues I can only really do print or audio books. Ebooks are actively bad for me.
@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon I was born in the late 80s and I’m a big reader. I use an ereader with a screen reader or audiobook and may read larger print books or standard print with clear font.
@mhanson101@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon Sure, the choice of medium is personal and subjective, that's absolutely fine. but that phrase "real books" is intrinsically pejorative to those who choose different reading media. It also means that someone (for example) born blind has NEVER read a 'real book'. That's just wrong.
@ronsboy67@CultureDesk@TheConversationUS@bookstodon I agree that when someone is using it as an insult it's not cool, but I think as a distinguisher it isn't always meant that way. For sure a treacherous path to walk, and mostly unnecessarily so. I don't personally feel like that was the intent here though, I would like to think it was meant more tongue-in-cheek.
@CultureDesk@ronsboy67@TheConversationUS@bookstodon@shojiwax that’s a very different dynamic. If what you’re suggesting is equivalent is true, then you might choose that either hardback or paperback books are “real“, but not both. And that’s just silly.
The book, for me, is the text I've written. That content can be complemented by the aesthetics of a physical paper book, but when I write a book I'm not creating a physical paper medium. I'm writing words. The physical paper medium is just a delivery vehicle for the book. As is a Kindle or Kobo.
I read by print, ebook, and audio in roughly equal amounts.
I voted "something else" because there's no "all of the above." It's not even "depends on the subject matter" for me, because it doesn't really depend on that, so much. It depends on what I'm doing, or whether there's a good narrator for the audiobook, or whether I got the book from my uni library (which doesn't do ebooks yet), etc.
As for what I'm doing: Walking (I walk about 3-4 hours a day) or running, doing dishes, cooking, I'll be on audio. In the bath, audio or ebook (reader in a ziplock). Lying on the sofa, print or ebook. Eyes tired/strained (more and more often these days), audio.
@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 😊
@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).
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.
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.
@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.
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 - e reader for tech books, reference, and practical matters. Paper for pleasure. E reader again if I'm trapped without paper.
@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 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.