The Library Makes The Man

[Husar]

What's this elitist nonsense again?

If we're meant to read so many books, why do most people need glasses after doing it for a while?
And if it's about gathering information and gaining knowledge etc. then why does the medium matter?
It's fine if you like to read books but all these nonsensical "rules" about how to read and them etc. are just a matter of taste and a way for people to feel superior.

[Kagemusha]

I like how the paper of old book smells.

[Csargo]

Get with the times gramps!

I've never used a Kindle or any other similar device for reading. I can see the convenience of having one though. I don't understand what you are so upset about.

[drone]

Real books. If I wanted to rent a book, I would go to a library.

[CBR]

I guess there is some nostalgia involved when moving away from the dead tree versions.

OTOH there is no horrible smell from used books, no despair over running out of room on the bookshelves, no annoying tall books that forces you to put it somewhere else, less time spent when going through multiple books for a particular reference and when encountering one of those of oh so uber academics who insist on "Verba Obscura" the iPad is handy for the quick lookups,

Apart from that, paper is great!

[TinCow]

I completely agree with the OP. I can understand the appeal of e-readers for 'throw-away' fiction that you'd be embarrassed to have displayed on your shelf anyway, but the only way I will ever switch away from paper for my non-fiction reading is if I simply cannot get paper copies anymore. In addition to simply enjoying the feel of a book, I very much like the visual appeal of a home library. It looks good, and you can't have a room like that if you've only got e-books. Plus, it's kind of hard to collect and display rare books in electronic form, which is another one of my side-projects.

[Montmorency]

E-books are preferable (though on the PC; I don't have an E-reader). There is nowhere comfortable for me to sit while reading a book, and reading in bed is impossible: I fall asleep immediately.

Books are for when I want to read outside the house. Otherwise they're only good for endnotes. Going from page 20 to an endnote in a non-bookmarked pdf is a monstrous ordeal.

Finally, physical copies are too rich for my blood. I have no idea where to find these used book stores, so it's either Amazon or the library for non-digital.

[Fisherking]

I hate reading from an electronic page.

I don’t know what it is but if it is over two pages I just leave it. It is like I get some kind of claustrophobia.

I like being able to hold the book. See the whole thing, turn it over and see the back cover and thumb the pages.

Scrolling just does not do it for me.

[Fragony]

What's this elitist nonsense again?

If we're meant to read so many books, why do most people need glasses after doing it for a while?
And if it's about gathering information and gaining knowledge etc. then why does the medium matter?
It's fine if you like to read books but all these nonsensical "rules" about how to read and them etc. are just a matter of taste and a way for people to feel superior.

Why does it matter to you that we prefer a certain medium, got no idea where the percieved hostility is comming from.

[Drunk Clown]

Books suck, period.

[Greyblades]

Ah, Ebooks; light, portable, compact and convienient. So many tomes in such a small package and it makes you feel like your're holding a star trek padd without the pretentiousness or the privacy loss that you get with an apple product.
I've been using the sony ebook for over a year and a half, mostly at college in my free time and when I'm walking for long stretches. I've read American Gods, The Book Thief, the Harry Potter books, The Hobbit, The Lightning Thief (and subsequent entries in the series) and all of the Song of Ice and Fire books on that beige/grey screen and I considerd it my most important items in my college life last year. Then I got onto a course I actually liked and convinced into buying a PSP so my use of it as realy realy gone to nil, mostly due to all the recent books I've read beeing either long sought after ones I wanted to get in hardback (Wise man's fear, Chathrand series) or spontanious decisions during my periodic romp through waterstones on my scenic routes home from campus (Ciaphas Cain, Lost fleet).

I like how the paper of old book smells.

Agreed.

I hate reading from an electronic page.

I don’t know what it is but if it is over two pages I just leave it. It is like I get some kind of claustrophobia.

Is that an Ebook that has a backlit screen or one of the electronic paper Ebooks?

Books suck, period.

Tell me you're joking, please.

[Drunk Clown]

I have burned the novell 1984. It was such garbage.

[B-Wing]

Anybody mentioned audio books? I spend about an hour each week day driving, and more on the weekends, and I find it very convenient to be able to listen to a book whilst driving. Non-fiction works seem to better than fiction, for two reasons. One, you frequently get distracted from listening while you're driving, which means a lot of rewinding if you're listening to a narrative. But with a non-fiction, it's not such a big deal if you miss a few sentences. Secondly, the quality of the voice acting matters less in non-fiction, where the narrator isn't trying to make voices for multiple characters. I'd recommend audio books to anyone who spends a lot of time driving and doesn't care to spend their free time reading.

[Drunk Clown]

Anybody mentioned audio books? I spend about an hour each week day driving, and more on the weekends, and I find it very convenient to be able to listen to a book whilst driving. Non-fiction works seem to better than fiction, for two reasons. One, you frequently get distracted from listening while you're driving, which means a lot of rewinding if you're listening to a narrative. But with a non-fiction, it's not such a big deal if you miss a few sentences. Secondly, the quality of the voice acting matters less in non-fiction, where the narrator isn't trying to make voices for multiple characters. I'd recommend audio books to anyone who spends a lot of time driving and doesn't care to spend their free time reading.

Sure, why not just call while driving and ram an innocent person.

[classical_hero]

Books suck, period.

Yeah. I have not been in a library for years. If I want something i can get it online. It is so much easier.

[Husar]

Why does it matter to you that we prefer a certain medium, got no idea where the percieved hostility is comming from.

Tsk, honey, the hostility was overdone, but I was mostly referring to the OP, who calls e-readers a pox etc. I mean, where does that hostility come from?
I don't mind if someone prefers to read books, but to say it like people who prefer e-readers are somehow inferior and "doing it wrong" is quite conservative-elitist IMO.

[Strike For The South]

Tsk, honey, the hostility was overdone, but I was mostly referring to the OP, who calls e-readers a pox etc. I mean, where does that hostility come from?
I don't mind if someone prefers to read books, but to say it like people who prefer e-readers are somehow inferior and "doing it wrong" is quite conservative-elitist IMO.

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[Moros]

I sadly don't have the money to buy a lot of books especially the expensive more academic ones. But as a student I make maximum use of the univesity libraries (have about ten books borrowed at this time, I can go up to twenty) and there's still the city library as well. When I do have money later, I'll surely have more than a mere bookshelve.

Though I admit I occasionally (once to twice a year) buy a book and tell my parents I need it for a course.

...But then again I often don't feel the need to buy some books that actually are 'needed' for a course.