1. They can help you sleep.
Lots of people read a book in bed to help them sleep, but if that book is online, it could suppress the production of melatonin – taking you longer to fall to sleep. A study showed (www.pnas.org) that when you read from a digital screen it takes longer to fall asleep and participants spent 20% less time in REM sleep. So we think, if you read just before bed, stick to paper books!
2. They can help you de-stress.
Reading can reduce stress levels by 68 per cent, according to the University of Sussex research. Many studies show that overusing technology stresses out, in addition to having detrimental effects on our health that affect our mood. So, keep calm and stick to paper.
3. Paper books keep you focused.
Human beings are easily distracted and today’s environment just makes that problem worse with the constant notifications from different sites. But not so with a paper book! A paper book forces you to pay attention to it and nothing else, which is great for retraining your attention span.
4. You’re more likely to finish a paper book.
As a New York Times writer (Jenna Wortham) learned, it can be tough to finish an e-book unless you have a dedicated reading ritual. However, an unfinished book staring you in the face is much more difficult to ignore.
5. They can make great conversation pieces.
The books you read can help shape who you are. That’s why it’s so exciting when you find out someone else loved the same book you do. But that conversation generally doesn’t start unless they actually see the book you’re reading.
6. Physically touching a book helps you remember what it says.
When reading a paper book instead of an e-book the added element of physical touch helps you remember what it says. The feeling of paper under your fingertip provides context that leads to better comprehension. Plus, all of the physical movements you make while reading a book, like flipping pages and where you put the book down give you more cues to trigger your memory about various aspects of the book.
7. A physical book’s visual cues aid comprehension.
It’s not only touch, but the visual aspect of a physical book that helps you remember. Firstly, a physical book lets you add notes and comments in the margins to up the amount of memory-triggering cues there are. Furthermore, you’re better able to visually track your progress. That sense of progress doesn’t occur with an e-reader.
8. It is protected from the elements.
A book is much better able to withstand a number of elements. Even if it gets wet, it’ll dry and be fine other than a few brittle pages. Plus, you can read a paper book without any charging required.
