I’m reading the newspaper and paperback books…what’s happening to me?!
On the list of things I never thought would happen, I’m reading on paper these days. Paper! Like, from trees and stuff.
I think its crazy that anyone, including me, is reading on paper in 2017. We have Kindles! And iPads! And I think Microsoft has things you can read on. And phones the size of books!
But yet here I am, back to reading on paper.
Why I read the print versions of the AJC and the Atlanta Business Chronicle (ABC)
There is so much noise coming at us on our digital devices these days. On my phone, I read things on Flipboard, Google News, Reddit, Google Assistant, Twitter… and it never stops.
But in order to get local news AND make sure I read it, I get the AJC and the ABC. They come once a week, and they’re there. They’re right there. On the table. Which makes it so that I can’t forget to read them. And its important to me to know what’s going on locally, and this is my best solution so far.
Why I read actual, real, made-from-paper books
This one is even more odd because, since the moment I turned 40 last year, I immediately needed reading glasses. I’m at a point where I cannot read medicine bottles any more. So not only am I reading actual books, I can’t read them without finding my reading glasses and putting them on.
Two reasons I’m doing this. The first is because, similar to the newspapers, if I have a book and its sitting there, I remember to read it. A book on the Kindle is easy to forget about. Out of sight, out of mind.
The second reason is that it turns out I actually enjoy holding a book. I know, its weird, especially for me. I haven’t read real books in probably over 10 years. But here I am, with a stack of books on my desk that I cannot wait to read, wearing my old man glasses, killing trees and resisting technology and progress along the way.
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Related: Books I’m reading
i had a Kindle Fire for a while to read but still pick up physical books more than anything. The biggest reason for me is concentration. I’m far more focused on what I’m absorbing reading off paper. It’s also much harder to multitask on other things (email, Slack, etc) if all I have in my hand is a book :)
Yep, exactly. I’ve tried the Kindle and still enjoy it for that reason – no distractions. But for the moment preferring actual books.
What are you reading right now?
Right now, Mere Christianity. Second time reading through it. Last time was on a deadline in college so it’s nice to be able to slow down and digest it this go around. It’s a meaty book.
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Totally agree Jeff – Im digging real live books now more than ever. I’ve also rediscovered the public library and am enjoying that for a slew of reasons… my bookshelves are less cluttered (though part of me still feels like my bookshelf is a view of who I am.. it’s challenging me to realize I don’t need a physical memory of the book, cause I know who I am), it’s free!, and it makes me read faster (those books have due dates and someone else is waiting on me to get finished so they can read it!).
You know, I think the next evolution is for me to embrace the library as well. Even for audio books I heard its great. There will some books that I’ll want to own – for notes, for referencing again, for feeling like they’re “mine” because they’re special – but mostly I think library books would work great. And I love the due date pressure on getting it read! Great tip, Maggie ;)
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