The ways in which we read

There was once a time in school when you had to visit a library, card in hand, and hope to God they had the book you needed for your biology test next Monday. If you needed to find a “juicier synonym” or word definition, your only reliable sources came in the form of thick thesauruses and dictionaries that needed to be thumbed through until the desired word was found.

In this generation, schooling, defining and learning in the digital age has made things much easier, and more convenient in a variety of aspects. A word definition is now only a google search away. All you have to do to find a synonym is search for one online, and faster than you can say the word fast, you have quick, nimble, agile, brisk and rapid.

It is quite obvious that the world is much more electronic now, than it ever was. Reading has not fallen short of the digital age either. Many people have turned to iPads, kindles, and nooks in replace of paper back books. In many ways, electronic reading has infiltrated both the personal and classroom setting. This virtual craze does not seem to be slowing down either which begs the question, should all reading be done virtually, or is there something to be said for holding a book in hand, and reading by lamp light?

I do not believe there is one easy answer to this question. Electronic books (ebooks) have their pros, but they most certainly carry their cons as well.

Digital books bought online are often much more inexpensive than a new paper back or hard cover book bought at Barnes and Noble, and for students, especially in college, inexpensiveness is often a necessity. Hundreds of virtual books can also be stored in one place. Instead of lugging around a heavy bag filled with large books, one can simply hold a lightweight tablet with more than twice the amount of reading material stored inside of it.

Though the convenience of ebooks is undeniably a good thing, they do have their downfalls. Reading only on an iPad or tablet can strain your eyes. The bright light illuminating forth from the tablet can irritate your eyes and contribute to fatigue after a while. Tablets also need to be charged with can prove to be an inconvenience when you need to gain bars on your biology textbook before beginning your studies. Electronic reading can also make thumbing through pages more difficult when you need to get to a particular section in your reading.

As the electronic age continues to grow often look for the most convenient and efficient ways to achieve a particular task, and reading is not exception. Almost any book that you find on library shelves or in bookstores can be rented or bought electronically, and are yours in a matter of minutes.

Though the progression of electronic books is not a negative achievement for the digital era, it should not be the only way our generation, and generations after ours continue to read. The printed word should never become obsolete, and thankfully it doesn’t look like it will in the foreseeable future.

According to the National Association of College Stores, in 2011 digital books made less than 3 percent of text book sales. Though this number has grown since then, it shows paper backs are still bought and used on a regular basis.

Though the convenience of a google search is undeniably a good thing, the printed word should never become completely old fashioned. In an electronic world that continues to progress, there’s something pleasant about sitting back to relax with a physical newspaper or book that doesn’t need time to load.