Print or ebook? Which excites you the most? While e-reading devices will not be completely replacing paper books anytime soon, in part because of the hands-on experience paper books provide, there’s an undeniable increase in e-reading globally.
While in 2011 only 17% of Americans read at least one ebook, in 2013 that number almost doubled, reaching an unprecedented 28% of the population. What is most revealing in a recent survey done by the Princeton Survey Research Associates International is that the percentage of people who are reading ebooks exclusively is actually quite small, 4% of the total, to be precise. It seems that print book offer an irreplaceable, intimate experience for the reader, something that an ebook simply cannot provide.
Despite its limitations and its militant opponents, e-reading is on the rise. People are choosing to invest in hand-held devices that are exclusively dedicated to reading all sorts of online content, and not just books. The explosion and diversification of e-content has the potential to positively affect the reading habits of individuals, encouraging them to engage more often with online content reading. Although print books have advantages, many people find that the positive aspects of e-readers are very helpful in their daily lives.
Owning e-reading devices like tablets and e-readers, or even using the relatively small screen of a smartphone, promotes reading and therefore learning. Having access to downloaded or online content at all times makes it easier to engage with reading during times when you’re more likely to be killing time anyway, like when you’re waiting for the bus, on the subway, or simply looking for some “down time” to give your brain a break.
Whichever type of content you prefer reading on a device, it is certain that it will satisfy your thirst for knowledge, ensuring that you stay relevant in your field of expertise and offering you ample insights on various subjects, which will help you become a more interesting conversationalist.
An undeniable pattern we’ve seen proven time and time again is that successful individuals have an unquenchable thirst for reading. They never stop reading and learning – and this means that they will remain successful and capable of achieving even more as the years go by. E-readers and other hand-held devices serve and facilitate this, by allowing people to educate themselves through reading, with a simple click of a button or tap on a screen.
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