It’s 2016, which means that almost every household contains some form of an electronic device. From iPhones to iPads, flat screens to laptops; we are living in a world that has become digitalized. Not only are we able to store all of our music, photos, and documents using electronics, but we are also able to carry hundreds of books on just one little device. Sounds handy right? Maybe for some, but there are many reasons why paper books are much better than digital ones.
Here are five reasons why I will never own a Kindle.
1. There’s nothing like holding a book in your hand.
Being able to feel the pages, flip easily back and forth between your favorite parts just to read them again, and let’s be honest, sometimes books have “that smell” that makes you feel like you’re at home in a library. A Kindle doesn’t have that feeling or smell. It's just a rectangle.
2. Books don’t require a battery.
I know that the Kindle is supposed to have a long battery life, but sometimes we end up in places where we don’t have access to a plug. Why would you want to have to worry about always bringing your charger and having a place to plug it in? We worry enough with our phones. I work in a bookstore and a costumer came in the other day talking about how her Kindle had almost 100 books, but when she took it out to read while on vacation, she found that it was dead. She said it reminded her of that Twilight Zone episode where a book worm becomes the last man on earth and he has all the time in the world to read – and then he breaks his glasses. Tragic.
3. Why would I want to stare at a screen all day?
I do that enough working on homework or binging on Netflix, I don’t need to do it while reading too. Just like I can spend hours watching Netflix, writing a paper, or spending way too much time on the internet, I can sit down and read for hours. While I love technology, I don’t want to spend all of my time on some form of a screen. Books are my break.
4. Books look cool.
I know you’re supposed to worry about what’s on the inside and not the outside, but let’s face it, some books just look amazing. From classic hardcovers to beautiful paperbacks, if you’ve ever owned a bookshelf, you know how amazing books can look when they’re all put together. I have two rules when it comes to books: never borrow and never give away. Due to these rules, I have about 300 books from the past five years or so all crowded together on my bookshelf, and I have to say, they look pretty cool all together.
5. Bookstores are important.
Okay, I’m a little biased because I work in one, but I know a lot of people who consider bookstores to be their second home. Without paper books, bookstores won’t be necessary anymore and the thought of that is heartbreaking. I can’t imagine not having a bookstore to go to, browsing the aisles until I find a book I’m interested in, sitting down and reading the first few chapters so I know it’s the one. Plus it’s a place where I can find recommendations from the staff and other customers. I’ll never give that up.
Don’t get me wrong, I love technology. I don’t know what I would do without my laptop or my phone that carries all of my music, but you will never find me walking around without a book. While a Kindle may sound like a good idea while on vacation (packing a lot of books in your luggage can be a pain), I just won’t be able to make the switch. There's just something about holding a book that makes me feel happy and complete, like I'm holding a whole other world in my hands. I know there are a lot of other people out there like me, and that gives me hope that no matter where I travel to, I’ll always be able to find a bookstore to get lost in.
