Kindle? No Thankyou.

Who enjoyed watching Game Of Thrones?

I did. It got to the point where I’d be rushing off to bed at around 8:30pm so I had time to watch at least one episode on my tablet before I even thought about going to sleep.

‘Winter is coming’.

Ominous.

Almost as ominous as ‘Christmas is coming’.

Shudder.

And, as per usual, someone, somewhere will be thinking, ‘Oh, I know what I’ll get Ed. I’ll get him a Kindle. You know, I don’t even think he’s got one yet’.

They’re right. I don’t own a Kindle.

It’s because I don’t like them-plus I neither like the concept of eBooks or having to read one.

Because you can only ever own, read and display one kind of book.

In its most noble and traditional format.

As a book.

Because real books will always triumph over eBooks.

No contest.

I’ve heard all the arguments in favour of the dreaded digital version.

That they offer convenience, portability, and access to thousands of titles at the touch of a button.

I hear you. But look. Did you hear that whooshing sound just now?

That was the argument for eBooks sailing over the top of my head at a great height and into the far distance.

Never to return.

Because despite all of this technological advancement in the field of literature, there remains something timeless, irreplaceable, and profoundly satisfying about real, physical books.

The book as it was always meant to be will always surpass, always be superior to the version you squint at on a screen.

And here, lest you still doubt me, are, and in the very best manner of the current fashion in blogs (and yes, I do realise the irony of my postulating this argument via a medium that will be accessed and read through a screen) are Five Reasons Why Physical Books Will Always Be Superior To Digital Ones.

Books Are Tactile.

Think of the pleasure a hug gives you-and the recipient. Be it your partner, a family member or close friend. Some people love to engage with nature by hugging trees. But you can hug a book as well. They provide genuine sensory pleasure, their feel, weight, texture, even their smell-I have books from my childhood that, with just one deep inhale of a page, can immediately send me back in time to places and people that might otherwise have been long forgotten. The book in question can be a brand new novel or an old musty classic that belonged to one of your grandparents.? Either way, they’re real and stimulate all of the senses. Screens cannot do any of those things-except, maybe, keep you awake at night.

More Relaxation, Less Eye Strain.

Yes, I concur. An eBook on a screen offers convenience. But it can’t erase the fact that screens cause eye strain. Prolonged reading on electronic devices, especially at bedtime exposes the eyes to blue light, which can lead to discomfort and even disrupt sleep patterns. Reading a physical book offers a break from screens, helping you unwind and immerse yourself into the narrative without the worry of digital fatigue. There's a calming simplicity in flipping through pages too, making it an experience that can soothe and relax you far better than sliding, slipping and scrolling your way around a smudged screen.

Retention, Comprehension, Understanding.

Numerous studies have shown that remembering and retaining the facts and/or plot in a book are usually much easier to do when you are reading a physical book rather than a digital one. The tactile (see above) experience of holding a book and turning pages, back and forth, swiftly and easily, ?provides the brain with spatial references, which can aid your memory. It’s easier to recall information when you remember it as being on the left or right page, near the top or bottom of the book. eBooks, by contrast, present an unchanging digital screen, making it harder for readers to retain details, particularly with longer or more complex text and never more so when you want to refer to the previous page and the act of scrolling takes you back from page 246 to page seventeen-before the screen freezes…

A Book Shelf Is An Expression Of Who You Are

I always enjoy going to visit one of my closest friends whenever I visit my home village of Brancaster. But I also enjoy visiting his bookshelves as part of the experience. It is crammed full of books of all genres, ages and topics, all of them much loved, well read and thoroughly enticing. I used to borrow his vinyl records back in the day, now it’s more likely to be one of his books. Bookshelves have long been a cherished part of people’s homes. A home full of book shelves is a proud testament to knowledge, learning, and curiosity. Books reflect personal taste, identity, and intellectual journeys, offering glimpses into who we are or aspire to be. A row of carefully chosen books on display can spark conversations, share experiences, and make connections with others .eBooks, hidden on screens completely ?lack this tangible representation of our literary journeys.

Real Books Are Built To Last

eBooks rely on power and technology, both of which can fail. A physical book, however, is dependable, doesn’t run out of battery power, and will endure through time-even if you have a blackout at home, a few well placed candles will mean you can snuggle down with a book and embrace, for a while, being removed from the twenty first century. In an era of rapid technological change, books have remained constant and resilient. The wear and tear on a well-loved book is a testament to its endurance and to the memories held within its pages.

I totally get that eBooks are convenient. And that, for someone in hospital for example, they can help while away those boring hours spent doing nothing. But they’re still a very poor substitute for the real thing. A physical book invites us to slow down, savour, and truly connect with the stories it holds. It offers not only a window to a different world but also a grounding sense of comfort and nostalgia.

Let’s keep turning the paper pages and let real books remind us of the beauty of their simplicity and permanence in an ever more frantic and fast moving high-tech world.