And yes, I admit that DOES cross my mind here and there. But there are very valid reasons why I won’t.
Let me begin by saying that I am NOT anti-technology. I buy the newest iPhone when it comes out. I have a laptop. I fully embrace social media and the internet and all the wonders introduced every day. (With some exceptions, of course. Some things are just ridiculous.)
But I firmly believe that books, for the most part, belong in paper form. So for your convenience, I’ve made a list. In no particular order.
- We collectively as a society stare at computer screens all day long. It’s a scientific fact that too much is bad for your eyes. It might be a TAD extreme to call eReaders a “health risk,” but for purposes of making my point I’m going to go ahead and be hyperbolic.
- Children have no concept of expensive electronics. Do you really want to hand over a $200 piece of equipment to a little person who hasn’t discovered what “breaking something” is?
- Your entire collection of books is absolutely worthless if your eReader breaks. As a lifelong klutz, I’m not willing to take this risk.
- You know how sand gets everywhere when you go to the beach? Try getting it out of your eReader. While I calmly brush it off my book.
- How are you supposed to show houseguests how smart and well-read you are without a bookcase proudly displaying your oh-so-cerebral books? It’s a horrible design choice and not nearly as effective to have a bookcase showing off your eReader.
- It’s just not the same to curl up with an electronic tablet. There’s something so satisfying about physical pages of words, not to mention “the close” — the moment when you finish, close your book and reflect.
Silly? Maybe. I know I’m in the minority here, but I’ll stand up for the printed word (emphasis on PRINTED) for as long as I’m around. I think there’s a book calling my name right now, as a matter of fact.
