The biggest debate among book nerds, to read a hard copy or to read an electronic reader? Of course- being a huge book lover, I ALSO have an opinion on the subject and I feel that I have a good amount of history with both types of books to give a good unbiased opinion.
One thing to keep in mind as I go through this post- you can LOVE both forms of reading. There is definitely a time and place for both types and neither type is wrong. However, there are advantages to both types of books.
Now, to the good stuff…
Electronic Readers to Read Your Favorite Books
There are a ton of advantages to having an electronic reader vs. hard copy. One of the biggest advantages that come to mind?
TRAVEL!
When you travel, especially if you want to lay on a beach for a week, then a electronic reader will be your friend. You won’t have to take bulky books with you when you are flying or taking up space in your suite case.
Travel is one of the few times when I still read using an electronic reader. This saves me so much time and because I read so much and so quickly, it allows me to have hundred and thousands of books at my fingertips. With that being said, if you are a slower reader that will only read one book in a week, then you may still bring a hard copy.
A disadvantage to electronic reader vs. hard copy? As far as I am aware, unless you are reading on a app on your phone, you need wifi or a hotspot in order to download a book. This may or may not work if you are planning on looking for a book you may need to plan ahead when you have wifi or a hotspot.
Finally, a advantage for me to having an electronic reader is that you can easily see reviews, ratings, page number, etc. I am someone who has strict guidelines on what a book needs to contain before reading it. I read so many books, so quickly that I would spend thousands of dollars easily if I wasn’t picky about the books I read. What I look for are:
- Page number (no less than 350)
- At least a 4 star rating from 100 people or more
- NO cliffhanger
- A depending, no series
These are just quick guidelines I give myself to help narrow down what books I would want to read. Of course, now that I am reviewing books, I am going outside my own comfort zone to give you all good reviews, but I still try to stay within these guidelines. And luckily, an electronic reader provides easy access to all this information!
Hard Copy for Reading Your Favorite Books
Now for the awesome benefits of reading a hard copy vs. electronic reader. I love the feel of having a book in my hand. It makes reading seem so much more enjoyable to me. Being able to physically turn the pages? That is one of my favorite things.
Don’t even get me started on walking around a book store. That is literally my favorite thing in the world. I love going to the bookstore by myself so I can peruse the shelves for as long as I want, without worrying about anything or anyone else.
Lastly, a personal advantage for me by having a hard copy, I can add it to me library. You see, my ultimate goal in life is to have a library in my home. And by that I mean, floor to ceiling shelves filled with books, a reading nook, comfy areas to read, etc. and by reading hard copies, I am gradually gaining books to stock my future library… life goals people, life goals.
A disadvantage to doing hard copy vs. electronic reader is that hard copy books tend to be more expensive depending on where you are buying books from. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you are reading on a budget.
Overall Thoughts on Hard Copy vs. Electronic Reader
Although I think both options of reading a book are awesome, some people work better with one over the other and there is nothing wrong with that. I was a lover of all electronic readers, but now I’ve gone back to my hard copy books. There is no right or wrong answer, the books you read will still be the same exact thing whether you read them on your electronic reader or by hard copy.
Now that you have heard my opinion on the hard copy vs. electronic reader, what is your favorite form of reading books?? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Reading!
Electronic Readers I Recommend:
Amazon Kindle: I love the Amazon Kindle. You can get the app on your phone and read from your phone or you can get an actual kindle and read from that. They are super light and the books tend to be much cheaper than hard copy books. The Amazon Kindle can hold up to thousands of books and are thin and easy to carry around. I highly recommend a Amazon Kindle for your Electronic Reader.
