Is internet making books and book reading redundant? - Page 3

Each one has its pros and cons, and choosing the best option depends on a number of factors.

A portable little e-reader can carry an entire library wherever you go, which is great for those who always want a choice of reading material.

On the other hand, reading on paper has a number of benefits, esp, when there's the nostalgia factor attached to it! ❤️

Some people absolutely love the look, smell, and feel of the classic book held in the hand, and such people may not want to give up the sensory experience of reading from a paper book.

When you read on paper you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right, you have the tactile sense of progress ... Perhaps this somehow aids the reader, providing more fixity and solidity to the reader's sense of unfolding and progress of the text, and hence the story.

Many book-lovers still prefer the traditional option and value the tactile sensation of a bound paper book. Paper books are, as a rule, carry with them a more human touch, a preference to own something rather than just use it !! There will be more emotional attachment to physical books.

Whenever I sit in front of my bookshelf, I have the proud feeling that I own priceless diamonds to ornament them with. Every book contains both the author's imagined world and the reader's envisioned view of that world.

Each book evokes a different memory. Instead of buying any fancy items for myself, I used to buy books with my pocket money.

When I was in 6th class, one day I happened to go into the library room,.

Awestruck by the quantity of books in front of me, I slowly walked up to the librarian and asked for all the books because I wanted to read them all.

"Okay, sit here and read as many books you want," she said, laughing at me.

My book reading started at that point, and still continuing.

Nice topic Armu4eva. Thank you for providing opportunities to share our views freely here with a friendly passion.

In my opinion, the internet is not making books and book reading redundant, but rather it is changing the way we access and consume information. However, with the rise of social media and other online distractions, many people are opting to spend more time on their phones rather than reading books.

The internet provides us with an immense amount of information, but not all of it is reliable or credible. Books, on the other hand, have gone through a rigorous editing and publishing process, and they are often written by experts in their respective fields. This makes books a more trustworthy source of information than most content found on the internet.

Furthermore, reading books provides a unique and immersive experience that the internet cannot replicate. Books can take us on a journey of self-discovery, teach us about different cultures, and transport us to different times and places. The act of reading a book can also improve our cognitive abilities, such as concentration and comprehension.

That being said, it's no secret that social media and other online distractions have made it easier to spend hours mindlessly scrolling through feeds rather than picking up a book. However, the internet has also made it easier to access books and has expanded our options for reading material. We can now access books from anywhere in the world and in different formats, such as e-books and audiobooks. Personally now I consume books through Audible during my evening walk as its difficult for me to sit in one place and read for long hours due to several distractions.

The internet has also made it easier to connect with other readers and to find recommendations for new books to read.

In summary, while the internet has changed the way we access and consume information, books remain an essential and valuable source of knowledge and entertainment. Rather than making books redundant, the internet has enhanced our reading experience and opened up new opportunities for learning and discovery, even though the temptation to scroll through social media feeds can be strong. 😊

Nice topic Armu4eva.

My love for books started the moment I learnt reading. My father agreed to fulfill my demand of getting 1 story book per say. That luxury, I cherish even today. Initially it was 1 thin story book per day. He would buy more & give me 1 per day. Then if there are10 stories in book, I have to read them 1 per day. On 11th day I would get a new book. Later on to satisfy my greed for reading, he joined few libraries only to get books for me. I must have read books on most of the epics including Upanishads, Jain, Buddha, Greek stories too. What a treasure it was!! Later on I would spent my earnings on books too.

Can internet replace that experience? No.

It can only provide selective knowledge, at times it can be only just 1 pov. Our brain decides how much to use out of that information. But only reading books, pondering over various aspects, teaches us what is good, bad & neutral.

So all mediums have their own advantages.

Let's use them max for our benefit.

I may be the only one, but I have started reading more books due to the internet due to easier access etc.

I have an eye condition, I was born blind. I always loved reading but it was very difficult for me to read books with small text. Phone apps and internet has made my life so much easier. Now I can read any books I want, pain free.❤️

Originally posted by: Armu4eva

Happy to see you here Tia.

Those of our times definitely remain avid book lovers tho the speed with which we read these days has declined too. I do have my worries for today's generation, as i find them quite distant from the book reading habits. In fact people prefer YouTube videos to understand concepts of textbook too.

It's my favorite topic. Thanks for starting this discussion 🤗

That's true. Once a book lover, always a book lover.

I feel there is a difference between reading books for curriculum/exams and leisure reading. Most of the time reading for exams from notes or YT videos is easier for students than from books because the information is concise over in notes/YT videos, whereas books, though all with valuable information, can be time consuming to study and process. And studying 6-7 subjects in one semester, that too all of them from thick books may get too stressful for students keeping exams in mind. But I have seen a few refering books when a concept gets tricky.

Leisure reading is something that develops a taste for literature, of any kind, romance, popular, thriller, comedy, comic books, non-fiction, sci-fi, dystopian, historical, autobiography, you name it. In this time, everyone is getting distracted due to social media, an increased pace of life, and constant use of mobile phones. It is definitely affecting the habit of reading by affecting people's attention span. But now since books are no longer restricted to the pages, there are ways to squeeze in reading ebooks and audiobooks in bits and pieces into one's life. Books have the power to change how a person thinks, so it will not be fair to leave the habit of reading behind in the name of progress. It will be a pity if every book is available on fingetips but man is rendered incapable of consuming them due to distraction.

But as you said earlier, avid book lovers will not give up on books, come what may.

Like it's said Once a book lover, always a book lover. <3. Yes in this era of internet it has drastically changed. Teens prefer Netflix and chill over Books.😆

But but, I still see some reading books (very rare) but atleast there are some who do. And we can't blame cuz we are in the era of technologies, e-books, Netflix and stuff. However if one gets into of reading one book, I'm sure it'll become a habit. Bcuz books are your greatest escape ❤️ ,Sometimes your greatest lessons, and always add up to your knowledge.

And yes you're right. Today's generation prefer YouTube even for textbooks. And Google for anything and everything.

Replace books?! Nooo. While you can get endless amount of information over the web. Books are something that cannot be replaced. (Atleast for me)

What a great topic!

I guess it is entirely about personal preference. Since my parents are voracious readers, we have a wall size shelf in our study with books decades old. Books that have brown pages, or spots in between because they're old. They smell different, have a rustic feel to them and I sometimes prefer buying used books over new when I have to highlight things. It just works well.

Keeping your books in excellent condition is an art. Not everyone is able to do it. I will always prefer physical copies! Always.

The only time I wish to read Kindle is when book is more than 600 pages, that kind of length just makes a heavy copy and it gets difficult to carry or handle them basically.

When it comes to e-books and pdfs I guess it is a quick solution for everyone. Sometimes we aren't sure if we will like the book or not, skeptical and in between of a decision - ebooks help with that. Suppose if I don't know whether I'll like the book or not I can easily skim through the ebook in much much less time than the physical copy. Also some books are either beyond expensive, or just unavailable in stores / websites.

They both have their pros and cons. I don't mind occasionally going to the ebook versions but Kindle I rarely ever read.

Is internet making books and book reading redundant?

No, the internet is not making books and book reading redundant. While the internet has certainly changed the way we access and consume information, books remain a valuable and important source of knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration.

Firstly, books offer a depth and complexity of information that is often lacking in online content. Books can provide a more thorough exploration of a topic, allowing the reader to delve deeper and gain a fuller understanding. Additionally, books often provide a more immersive reading experience, allowing the reader to become fully absorbed in the story or subject matter.

Secondly, reading books has been shown to have numerous benefits for cognitive development, including improved focus and concentration, expanded vocabulary, and enhanced critical thinking skills. These benefits cannot be fully replicated by reading online content.

Lastly, nice topic Tanu

A wonderful topic! And one that's very much relevant!

Physical books, are a joy to read. I always find that reading them is a much more intense experience, to be honest. The ease with which I cry or laugh over a line in a book, the way your finger subconsciously underlines a line you love over and over again, why, even the anger you feel when you realise that someone has dog eared a page in your book, because that's MY BOOK!!!!!!! Right?

But, for people who don't have the time to truly completely read a book from start to end, or find physical books too costly for their voracious reading appetites to be satisfied with just them, ebooks are always going to be a win. You can skim through chapters, there's less emotional investment, and all you need is a screen and enough good internet for a download!

So yes, ebooks are extremely convenient for when you just want to read something, anything, but physical books are THE go to if you actually want to truly FEEL a story, I'd say....

Originally posted by: Pottermeow

A wonderful topic! And one that's very much relevant!

Physical books, are a joy to read. I always find that reading them is a much more intense experience, to be honest. The ease with which I cry or laugh over a line in a book, the way your finger subconsciously underlines a line you love over and over again, why, even the anger you feel when you realise that someone has dog eared a page in your book, because that's MY BOOK!!!!!!! Right?

But, for people who don't have the time to truly completely read a book from start to end, or find physical books too costly for their voracious reading appetites to be satisfied with just them, ebooks are always going to be a win. You can skim through chapters, there's less emotional investment, and all you need is a screen and enough good internet for a download!

So yes, ebooks are extremely convenient for when you just want to read something, anything, but physical books are THE go to if you actually want to truly FEEL a story, I'd say....

Definitely a major convenience for college students I believe.

Specially when you're a hosteller and have campus miles away from the city, the cab fairs are insane so book shopping happens rarely. Ebooks come in handy then!