When it comes to reading ebooks, the world can be divided into two types of people: those that do and those that don’t. Many people declare that they prefer reading printed books and love the look and feel of them. Others have never tried to read ebooks, fearing the strange new concept of reading novels on an electronic device.
I know a number of people who would like to move to smaller homes but feel unable to because of their large book collections. There are significant advantages to be gained by using ebooks and very few disadvantages. I have become a great fan and encourage everyone to give it a try. Here is a list of the main benefits, if you are not already convinced.
The Reading Pleasure Benefits
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You no longer need to struggle with holding a heavy book, keeping the pages open and having to find your place when the bookmark falls out.
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You can increase or decrease the font size, and that means you may not need to use reading glasses.
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You can quickly navigate back to the table of contents and other parts of the book, and your place will be retained.
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There is a dictionary feature to instantly check on the meaning of words.
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Reading devices are light and portable, fitting easily into a small bag, so you can carry your ebook with you at all times.
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One device can hold and manage several books at the same time and also have the next books you propose to read.
The Health Benefits
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Printed books will be covered in dust, pollens and bacteria, even after cleaning. Ebook readers can be kept clean and hygienic with a quick wipe. Their use helps to prevent the spread of disease and produce a much healthier environment.
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You will no longer need to cart heavy bags or boxes of books, helping to prevent orthopaedic injuries.
The Environmental Benefits
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Significant resources are needed to produce and transport printed books, including the trees used to produce paper and the machinery involved. That also generates pollution and waste. Ebooks require very few resources to produce.
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Printed books require substantial amounts of storage space. Ebooks require no physical storage space.
The Financial Benefits
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Ebooks are generally less expensive than printed books, with many available at very low cost.
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Ebooks can be delivered almost instantly, and the cost of that delivery is almost negligible.
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You can access a vast range of books from around the world.
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When you travel, multiple books can be stored in one small device, greatly reducing the weight of your luggage.
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There is no need to have rows of bookcases in your house. Ebooks can be stored in a cloud, helping to simplify and unclutter your life and decreasing the need for storage space in your home. That is particularly advantageous for older people who need to downsize.
There are some reports suggesting that the sale of ebooks may be in decline, although that may be based only on book sales from traditional publishers. It will be interesting to see how ebook sales progress in the near future. In the past I was dubious, but I became an instant convert after reading my first ebook and truly believe the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
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Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
I appreciate your comment about how e-books save trees because paper is not involved. Thanks for mentioning how it takes up less storage too because you can have at least 100 books on one device. My daughter and I love to read, and we are considering shopping for e-books.
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Thanks for stopping by, Ashley. I’m glad to hear you’re going to try ebooks. I converted to them years ago, and hardly ever read a printed book these days. Regards, Toni
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Now that I have to travel a fair bit, I must say they are life savers, as otherwise, I’d have to be dragging tonnes of books with me. And there are so many free e-books on offer too! Thanks so much!
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Absolutely, Olga – 1 kindle compared with 10 books and it’s easy to see the advantages.
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You almost convinced me, Toni. But electronic devices bother my eyes after a while. And I wonder how their disposal affects the environment. They’re certainly not biodegradable, but are they recyclable?
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Thanks Tina – let’s hope that in the future, they’ll have devices that are fully recyclable.
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Great post Toni. Yes, there are huge benefits to ebooks, I agree with all your reasons. But for me, there’s still a huge place for paperbacks. All my books on the craft of writing are purchased in paperback. I need to be able to flip back and forth freely, dog-ear pages, highlight, etc, with resourceful books. 🙂
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I agree Debby – print books are great when we need to go back to them time and again. It will be interesting to see what the future holds. x
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For sure. But I’m sure there’ll always be a place for both, or who knows, maybe some newer invention down the road. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Adventures and Musings of an Arch Druidess and commented:
And if you have eye issues, you can adjust it to see better, whether you need it brighter or bigger, it’s easier on the eyes than a physical book.
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Thank you so much for sharing that!
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Sharing your awesome post, Toni! My thanks to you and to The Story Reading Ape too. 🙂
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Thanks Bette 👍😃
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Thank you so much, Bette x
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Reblogged this on Wendy Unsworth and commented:
Toni Pike is a guest on The Story Reading Ape today with something to say about ereaders. Like many book lovers I was sceptical about this new form of reading at first but i am a convert! I travel around a lot and the Kindle is so convenient. I don’t even have to decide which books I want to take beforehand. And, honestly, once a story has me in its grips I don’t see any kind of ‘book’ at all – just the ‘world’ I have been transported to.
Here is what Toni has to say –
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Thanks for reblogging Wendy 😃
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Thank you so much for sharing that, Wendy – and for your great introduction. Agree wholeheartedly with all your comments.
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