Paper versus gadgets: why reading paper books is useful

The advent of e-books and online reading platforms has revolutionized the way we consume literature, but the benefits of print still remain. Beyond mere words on pages, paper books offer a tangible and intimate experience that touches our senses, stimulates the mind and promotes a deep connection with the written word, providing a respite from scrolling through glowing gadget screens.

In this article we will talk about which medium is better to read from – from paper pages or from the screen of a gadget, and why, based on research by scientists, and we will also find out how modern people relate to reading and what trends in reading exist today. Spoiler: we were pleasantly surprised!

Due to the lack of time for reading in the fast pace of life, getting acquainted with a book becomes a real luxury. What if you learned to read faster than before, while still being just as good at understanding what the lines were about? We will teach you this art in the online program “ Fast Reading and Assimilation of Information ”. The suggested techniques will help you read fiction, contracts, important papers and any other texts more carefully in less time.

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Why have gadgets replaced books?

Book reading trends are not encouraging: people in today’s technological society do not spend time in libraries and stores as often as before. Those who still love to read often use electronic media, which have begun to replace paper ones. This is why a book reader or tablet is used more often:

• Convenience and mobility. Gadgets allow you to carry a huge number of works with you in one device. E-books are available anytime, anywhere, without the need to carry paper copies with you. This is especially useful for traveling or situations where access to a library or store is limited.
• Instant access. E-books offer quick access to a variety of works that can be downloaded from the Internet or read online. There is no need to wait for delivery or go to the store to purchase a new paper edition. In addition, e-books often offer search functions, bookmarking, and the ability to increase font size for easier reading, which is not the case with paper pages.
• Eco-friendliness. Using e-books helps reduce paper consumption , which means saving forests. Downloading works digitally reduces the use of natural resources.
• Multimedia capabilities. Gadgets have additional functions: watching videos, listening to audio books, or receiving additional information in real time. This allows you to combine different forms of content and enriches the reader’s experience, allowing you to expand it.

However, despite the advantages of gadgets, many people still remain devoted to print media. Ultimately, the choice between electronic media and books depends on the personal preferences and needs of each individual reader.

Meanwhile, scientists are more often inclined to believe that the displacement of paper books by electronic ones has a negative impact on reading comprehension and cognitive functions of the brain, and have repeatedly proven the benefits of classic publications.

What do the researchers say?

The scientific community is inclined to believe that paper books are better than electronic ones.

Ann Mangen from the University of Stavanger (Norway) and her colleagues conducted a study that examined the effects of reading on paper and on a computer screen on reading comprehension.

In the study, participants were randomly assigned to read a short story in print or on a computer screen. Scientists have measured various factors associated with reading comprehension and engagement. The results showed that reading on paper was significantly superior to reading on a screen in terms of reading comprehension .

The study found that physical interaction with paper, such as the ability to turn pages and visually navigate through text, played a role in improving readers’ comprehension and retention of content. It has also been noted that the spatial and tactile perception of paper books contributes to better integration of information and deeper interaction with the text [ Academia, 2013 ].

A 2018 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development survey found that 15-year-old students who read paper books scored higher on the 2018 PISA reading tests, with an average score of 49 points versus 40 for those who read less often. Interestingly, children reading digitally scored an average of 15 points [ IA “Red Spring”, 2022 ].

These and other studies that we have seen have shown the high effectiveness of reading paper books compared to using an e-reader.

Some statistics

In 2022, VTsIOM, as part of a joint project with the Komsomolskaya Pravda website, conducted a survey of Russians on reading topics. It turned out that among those surveyed, 92% still read books; people aged 25-34 do this most often – 13%. It is interesting that the level of education is inversely proportional to the number of readers – with higher education there are 4%, with secondary education – 13%, with incomplete secondary education – 27%. Reading activity is lower the more time respondents spend in front of TV. It turned out to be impossible to identify the socio-demographic group of “book reading leaders” due to minimal discrepancies in the survey results [ VTsIOM, 2022 ].

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As for the choice of media, the situation here is interesting. Despite the obvious prevalence of gadgets, Russians still more often choose paper books. According to the Russian Book Chamber, in the first quarter of 2022, books of different genres and brochures were published by 8% compared to the same period in 2021. Returning to the VTsIOM survey, we note that printed publications are chosen by 58% of respondents, followed by the share of reading from a tablet screen – 35%, least often, only 20%, people read from a computer screen, and e-reader is preferred by 16% of respondents.

The discrepancy between the 100% indicator and the total number of respondents is explained by the fact that people do not have a single way of reading – they combine several convenient options. Most often, paper books are read together with electronic books by people in the middle age range, and older people more often prefer the conservative printed version.

It was also possible to find out that paper format is more often preferred by people with traditional media consumption – daily TV viewing (63%) and the Internet (64%). The smartphone screen reading format is chosen by people involved in active Internet practices – 45-51%, as well as active Internet users who rarely watch TV – 50% [ VTsIOM, 2022 ].

Another survey that is worth paying attention to was conducted on a social network by American activists among millennial friends , at that time they were about 20-30 years old [ Publishers Weekly, 2015 ]. The numbers were not included in the results, but the majority of those who participated in the experiment chose paper books, refusing electronic texts and media. They explained this decision by the opportunity to come into contact with paper, own a publication and own a library. Some people chose the electronic format, but much less often; there were very few who combined paper and a gadget.

The general trend is that people used to read more, but there was less choice of books. Now it’s the other way around – there are more works of different genres, but fewer people get to know them. Nevertheless, one cannot but rejoice at people’s love for reading and choosing paper books. This is also confirmed by the Statista Advertising & Media Outlook study: according to their data, in 2020 the share of sales of paper publications was much higher than that of electronic ones [ Gizmodo, 2021 ]. Even in the United States, where reading e-books is much more common, 45% of paper books were sold during the indicated period versus 23% of digital books.

This is what the situation looks like with the sale of both formats:

As you can see, paper books are popular all over the world. And that’s good news.

A few words about the benefits of reading

The trend towards a decrease in the popularity of reading in a modern “digitized” society immersed in virtual reality is obvious, but in the opinion of most scientists, there is little good in this.

Many studies and scientific papers have been devoted to the benefits of reading. Most of them boil down to the fact that in the long term, the process of becoming familiar with books has a positive effect on brain function. This effect was described by Harvard University professor Joseph Henrich in his work The Weirdest People in the World . He studied the spread of literacy among the population. According to his data, reading literally “rebuilds” the brain and improves verbal memory – the ability to remember information received in verbal form, including through text. Do not confuse it with nonverbal memory, when perception comes through visual images [ Cambridge, 2010 ].

Constant reading leads to a thickening of the corpus callosum of the brain, which connects the right and left hemispheres. The thicker this area, the more neurons it contains, which is directly proportional to the quality of connections in the brain.

Various studies suggest that reading not only allows you to absorb new information, but also develops the ability to remember details, think more effectively about complex problems and find alternative ways to solve them.

The importance of reading for children

Children immersed in gadgets rarely read, but, as it turns out, this will only make them worse off in the future.

Italian and English scientists conducted a joint experiment called The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice, the results of which were published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology . The survey involved schoolchildren aged 7 to 15 years. It turned out that children who read the Harry Potter books showed less prejudice towards various minority groups compared to children who did not read the books at all.

There is a caveat to this study: those students who identified with Harry showed greater loyalty and understanding towards the disabled, gays, illegal immigrants, and other minorities than those who were more indifferent to the series of novels about the wizard, but read others books. Those students who did not interact with texts at all or read extremely rarely reacted to minority groups more critically, aggressively, and negatively.

A reading experiment showed that interaction with text increased the level of empathy in children. They know how to put themselves in the shoes of others and understand their feelings by expanding the “window of perception”; children look into these “windows” every time they make decisions. Children who do not read are more prone to xenophobia [ Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2014 ].

Thus, reading books not only improves children’s literacy levels, but also improves their prosocial attitudes and behavior and ultimately helps in creating a more equal society.

It is interesting that in essays about paper or electronic books, children more often write that printed volumes are much more interesting and enjoyable to read, despite the greater availability of e-book readers and gadgets.

Why should you choose a paper book?

Paper or e-book: what to choose? We talked about the advantages of e-books earlier when we looked at the reasons for the displacement of traditional publications by digitized ones. They are chosen primarily for their mobility and accessibility to reading at any time. What about paper books?

Although both paper and e-books have their merits, here are a few reasons why the paper book remains relevant and is still a favorite among those who love to spend time reading:

• Tactile experience. The physical nature of paper books appeals to many readers. The feel of texture and physical turning of the pages of a book creates a sensory experience that some find more engaging and enjoyable than scrolling through a scroll bar on a screen.
• Reducing eye strain. Prolonged use of electronic devices can cause eye strain and fatigue. Paper books offer a respite from the digital world, allowing readers to rest and avoid the potential negative consequences associated with excessive screen use.
• Improved memory retention. Research shows that reading on paper improves the retention of information compared to reading on a screen. Tactile feedback and spatial navigation on physical pages can help readers form a stronger connection with content, leading to improved retention and comprehension.
• Reading without distractions . E-readers often have features such as notifications, Internet access, and multimedia distractions that can interfere with the reading experience. Paper books provide a focused and uninterrupted environment, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the story without digital distractions.
• Preservation and Collecting . Paper books have a long history and cultural significance. Owning a physical copy allows you to create personal collections and display the books as decorative items. Additionally, paper books have a sense of permanence and can be passed down from generation to generation, creating sentimental value and a connection to literary traditions.
• Possibility to read for free. The paper version of the book can be borrowed from the library. There you can find new items and unique publications, which are sold in stores at a very high price. In addition, the library will be an excellent solution for those who love to read, but do not want to collect what they have read for various reasons. Paper books can also be borrowed for free from bookcrossing.
• A paper book is more motivating . A volume that lies on the table makes you want to open and read it more, while you can periodically forget about an electronic one.
• You can buy a paper book as a gift. This will be a great surprise for adults and children. Moreover, this can be not only fiction, but also a fascinating atlas, encyclopedia, collectible volumes, etc.
• Paper books do not depend on a power source. They don’t run out of charge, don’t freeze, don’t glitch – they are devoid of technical shortcomings that an electronic gadget may encounter.
• Dynamics tracking. By flipping through the pages of a paper book, you can track how far away the beginning is and how soon the end will come. This is interesting for those who view reading as a long-distance race, which motivates them to return to the work every time. You can also leave notes on paper.

It is important to note that individual preferences may vary, and some readers may still prefer e-readers due to their convenience, portability, and affordability. Ultimately, the choice between paper and e-books depends on the specific reading context.

Let’s summarize

Which books – electronic or paper – should you choose? Of course, it all depends on the situation and preferences. Both options exist.

Scientists are unanimous in the opinion that paper publications are much more useful in terms of expanding perception, assimilation of information, tactile sensations, developing empathy, and reducing stress. In addition, they help to relax the eyes, provided there is good lighting.

E-books are a kind of fast food: you can read them quickly and anywhere, because the gadget is much more convenient to take with you. This format will also be optimal for those who, during their studies or due to the specifics of their work, are forced to read a lot and obtain information in a short time.

In any case, regardless of what you choose as a medium – e-reader, gadget or printed publication – they are of little use if you do not assimilate what you read. This is especially true for children who are taught speed in schools – they strive to read more words out loud, but rarely catch the essence and cannot tell what was discussed in the text.

We invite you to test yourself, what kind of reading technique you have – take a short test , it’s free. Offer it to your child, he will also be interested, and you will find out how he is doing with his speed and ability to absorb what he reads.

If you are not satisfied with the test result or you feel that your technique still needs to be improved, come to the online program “ Fast Reading and Assimilation of Information ,” where you will learn to read faster, while absorbing the meaning and grasping the content with high accuracy. This skill is useful at any age, especially during times of information abundance, when you need to be aware of everything in the world.

And in order to choose what you need and not delve into everything, turn on critical thinking, which you will improve in the program of the same name .

“People stop thinking when they stop reading” – Denis Diderot, French writer, educational philosopher and playwright.

Don’t stop thinking, read! And in conclusion, we ask you to answer the question on the topic of the article: