To Read, or Not to Read

"Young Man Reading by Candlelight," 1628–1632, by Matthias Stom. Public domain

The quality of reading is closely connected to the quality of the thing read—both the written material and the object that presents the writing. In other words, there is an element brought to the reading experience as a whole by a good volume, with fair print, crisp pages, and a sturdy cover. But the book, especially in its most traditional forms, is a thing threatened in the age of screens.

The question of book or Nook, of novel or Kindle, of ink or e-ink, is a real question these days. To read, or not to read, is the question, however. The dichotomy is based upon the difference between the physical and digital experience of reading—and it’s a difference that can make all the difference.

From Paper to Plasma

Despite how individual judgments may lean, screens are by general judgment convenient, and therefore the tablet is becoming a trendy way to read. While its convenience hasn’t statistically caused an increase in reading books, it’s making physical books a less-common commodity. Of all the endangered things in the modern world, the book seems to be getting rather short shrift.