Ebooks, audiobooks, or physical books?

By Kate

     In the past couple decades, ebooks and audiobooks have become more popular and accessible. Many people prefer reading paper books, while others use the electronic alternatives to real books. There are reasons to read each form of book, and, depending on what you look for in a book and where you are planning to read, one of the three options will probably work better for you.

     Ebooks are a concise, portable alternative to physical books. They are easy to use for travel because they are small and can store thousands of books at once instead of carrying just a few paper books at a time. Ebooks also allow you to highlight parts of text and take notes, which many people don't like to do in physical copies. I recommend using ebooks if you are traveling and don't want to carry heavy paper books. However, I find it easier to get distracted while reading an audiobook, so if you have trouble focusing or are easily distracted, it is probably better to use a real book.
     Like ebooks, audiobooks are convenient if you want a lighter, more portable alternative to a real book. They are great to listen to while you're waiting for something or are on a car ride, or if you just want to give your eyes a rest. Sometimes, I like to listen to an audiobook while following along in the physical copy because listening to the voices in the book being acted out can help the story come to life. However, I don't recommend using an audiobook as background noise while doing something else that will distract you from listening because although you don't have to use your eyes, they still require your full attention, and if you aren't able to be completely invested in the audiobook, it is probably best not to listen to one. In addition, audiobooks usually take longer than it would take to read normally, so if you are looking for a quick read, audiobooks probably aren't the best option for you.
     Although ebooks and audiobooks are convenient and fun to use every once in a while, I think it is best to stick to normal books most of the time. You can't get the real experience of reading a book with and ebook or audiobooks. Physical books may be more expensive than ebooks and audiobooks, but if you don't want to buy books, you can easily borrow them from the library or from a friend for free.