Books are one of the most important inventions in history and have evolved throughout the centuries into today’s modern book. Whether you have free time, or it is a hobby, there are several benefits to reading books.
But, which is the better option, e-books or paperback? I prefer paperback. The feel and look of physical books draw me in and encourage me to read or buy them. I like to buy my books new off Amazon because they have the cheapest prices. I’ve read e-books in the past and it’s just not the same experience.
According to The University of Minnesota Libraries, most historians trace the origins of the book back to the ancient Egyptians and their papyrus scrolls, but the first written script was created around 3,000 BCE. Between the 2nd and 4th centuries, the Romans combined sheets of parchment and bound them between wooden covers.
This was called the codex and created the structure of today’s books. The earliest known printed book was a Buddhist text called the Diamond Sutra dated around 868 CE.
After Johannes Gutenberg invented the mechanical movable type in 1448 and produced 180 copies of the Bible, paper books took off.
The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center estimated that before the printing press, the total number of books in Europe was around 30,000, but by 1500 CE, the book was thriving as an industrial object. The number of books in Europe grew to around 10 to 12 million.
Although paperback books revolutionized the book industry, the invention of the e-book took reading to another level. According to the U.S. Government Publishing Office, in 1971, Project Gutenberg was launched and digitized the U.S. Declaration of Independence, making this the first e-book in the world. 2007 rocked the world of reading with Amazon’s launch of the Kindle and Apple’s launch of the iPhone.
By April 2012, e-book sales in the United States had surpassed all hardcover book sales, topping over $3 billion in revenue nationwide. By the end of 2013, the Association of American Publishers announced e-books accounted for about 20% of all U.S. book sales.
As of December 2023, 67% of Americans read in print while 26% read e-books, according to the PEW Research Center. Despite the popularization of the e-book, Americans still seem to prefer paper copies over digitized books.
I agree, paper copies are better than reading through a screen. Getting to feel and turn the page is a feeling like no other.
Both paper and e-books have advantages for the reader, some the same and some different. One thing they have in common is the ability to entertain, inform, or provide something for their readers.
The book industry will continue to grow in the future, in profits and the number of readers. Whatever form you’re reading in, books are a timeless treasure.
Categories: Opinion
