As our society advances in order to provide services for the growing population, we are faced with the decision to follow the old ways or stay updated and keep up with the current habits. A strong example of this, is the debate between using paper books or eBook. Every reader has their own preference, whether wanting to stay with the paper (the old) or move to the new (e-book), but both have their pros and cons making it hard to decide which is best.

Paper books are the traditional option and many people are accustomed to using them. I spoke to my mom who has an eBook, but prefers paper books. “I love the feeling of holding a paper book,” she said, “It feels like I’m not actually reading when I use my eBook.” My mom is not the only one who feels this way. Anne Magnen, of Norway Stavanger University, recently held a study that supported the idea that reading paper books is better than reading from an eBook. In the study, there were two groups of students who read the same book. One group had the e-version and the other had a paper version. The surprising results proved that those who read the paper version remembered the text better than the ones who read the e-version. Magnen believed that the reason for the results was because eBook readers were missing out on the physical experience of reading a book, whereas readers of the paper version could comprehend, imagine, and remember the information better. Reading paper books on the other hand is known to help promote comprehension, and imagination, and decrease stress levels. Many people who read paper books before they go to bed or for leisure are known to be less depressed and tired. Reading an eBook in those situations does the complete opposite. A study at Harvard University helped prove this. During the study, it was discovered that reading an eBook before going to bed lowers the production of a sleep hormone, known as melatonin. This research is also applicable to the use of phones or computers before bed.

Even though eBooks have some negative qualities, they offer some positive qualities that traditional paper books don’t. For example, an Amazon Kindle 2 can hold up to 1,500 non-illustrated books in its 2 GB memory. EBooks are much more convenient than traditional books because they allow a person to carry a multitude of books in a device that can go with them anywhere they want. The price of most eBooks is pretty reasonable considering their capabilities. Most eBooks cost between $79-$130 and prices range for downloadable books. Also, many families are choosing to get an eBook to share between adults and children. There is a family setting on the amazon kindle that allows individual libraries for each family member and there is also an unlimited option that, at an extra cost, that gives kids unlimited access to chapter books. With qualities like these, it is understandable why many people are leaning toward eBooks.

Our society is progressing at an incredible speed and along the way many traditions are being lost. People have become distracted by shiny new products and have forgotten that there are already options that are just as good, and maybe even better. EBooks have become very popular while paper books decrease in use. Devices like kindles and nooks may seem to be the cool way to go because of their many extra capabilities, but they also come with many downsides. The other choice, paper books, is truly the safest way to go due to the unique experience they offer. No device will ever come close to copying all of the health and mental benefits paper books offer. It is the reader’s choice as to which type of book they choose, so they should all be aware of the pros and cons that eBooks and paper books have.