Honestly, I don't think that either side of the war is right, nor is either side wrong. For instance, let's talk about ebooks first. Ebooks are basically books, just incorporated into an electronic device. They have hundreds of books to choose from and there are many different types of ebooks. Just like a phone and laptop, they're always improving and upgrading to give you the best reading experience that you can get from this particular device. I think that ebooks are an excellent choice of reading. Our world today is constantly upgrading and developing, especially in technology. I think that ebooks allow you to read as many books as you desire without taking up much space. Instead of having shelves and shelves of books, you could have a device that's probably about the size of an Ipad to store your books in. Ebooks also save you a lot of money. While a regular book may cost around $10-$12, ebooks only cost under about $10 at the least. This allows people to use less, save more, while not having to forfeit the joy of having a lot of books.
Unfortunately, there are downsides to ebooks. Have you ever heard that no 2 people are alike? Well, it's true. We're all unique and different and so we'll probably most likely not enjoy many of the same things. Some people like basketball, others like volleyball, and some may like science and math, while others like english and music. This goes to ebooks too. Not everyone will like ebooks. They may be too distracting for some people, like myself, because even though I'm holding a device that allows me to just read, I'll want to explore and do something else because I'm on an electrical device that reminds me of my Ipad or phone. And in order to get access to those cheap books, you need to buy a kindle or some other type of device that allows you access but, they may be a little expensive to some people.
When you were younger, did you parents ever read you stories out loud?? Like how the big bad wolf didn't get to eat the little piggies, or how the scullery maid got a happily ever after that she deserved?? Although your parents probably don't read to you anymore, the world has invented something that allows you to be read to once again and they're called audio books. They're literally that. Audio books are a great edition to one's busy lifestyle, especially for adults. You see, adults have jobs that they need to work hard at to earn money to live off of and sometimes they don't have the time to sit down in a comfy chair and physically pick up a book and read it for as long as they wish. Some are way too busy to pick up an their kindle and read it, or they just don't have long enough lunch breaks. Well, audio books are their answer. You can listen to audio books in the car, as you walk to school or work, on the bus, in the train, and even on the airplane. In fact, you might just play it out loud in your room because you're too lazy to pick up a book. But, that's okay because you're not missing out on a fantastic story. Audio books are also cheap, like ebooks, but you don't need to buy a kindle to get access to books. On Amazon, all you do is get an account and sign up and you're in. Audio books help you "read" the really long, intimidating books, like Harry Potter, which is outstanding because more people get to enjoy the books that they want to.
Again, there are downers to everything in life. Audiobooks may increase the amount of time that a person listens to their earphones which, isn't only bad for your ears, but it could also potentially steal you away from your friends and family, especially if you're really liking the book. Who knew that that could be a bad thing? Also, some people learn and understand things better when they read it, not when they hear someone say it to them, so even though you'll be listening to a story, there's still a chance that you many not even remember or know what it's about. Also, you may get distracted. Like how a student sometimes gets distracted in class when the teacher goes on and on and on and on about who knows what, audio books can sound like that to some people. Therefore, their mind drifts off into daydream-land and they miss the entire story.
Lastly, the old physical book. Having the actual book may make the reader feel more connected to the story, more a part of it. This makes it that much more enjoyable. There's nothing more satisfying to some people, especially myself, than to be able to flip the last page of your book and say that you're done. Having a bookshelf full of books makes me really happy and proud of myself because: 1) I've found something that I absolutely will always love to do and 2) I get to see the actual amount of books that I've read, which gives me a sense of pride and joy. But, buying the physical book can be expensive, especially if you buy a lot of books, then paperback becomes your best friend. The traditional book may not fit into our society as well today too. We've invented top notch T.Vs, phones, laptops, Ipads, cameras, and so much more, and the old traditional book may just seem to old fashioned and not upgraded enough to people's standards.
All 3 inventions offer different perspectives and experiences. They're all different, yet they still manage to be the same. They all tell a story, just in different ways. Who says that to read means to only read what's in front of your eyes? You're still receiving the story, just maybe through a screen or by ear. Either way, you're still technically reading, in my opinion. Similarly to how people learn differently, people also read differently. Some learn by hands on work, while others by pictures and texts. This also applies to reading! Some read the best with an actual book, while others comprehend the story so much better by listening or looking at it through a screen. In the end though, everyone is still getting the same juicy story, just through a different straw.
So, whose side are you on? The audios, screens, or sheets?
http://mattgrube.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/whose-side-are-you-on.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment