Why Printed Books Will Never Die

Untitled-Artwork
Cartoon by Samuel Sherrill

Teetering on the edge of my dresser is a pile of books; I imagine them waiting impatiently for me to open their covers, take in the scent of parchment and ink before I dive into their stories.

We are heading into a holiday break, and for me, University Journal opinion editor, this means finally having the time to agonize over which book to read first. The same can be said for many of us here at the Journal.

However, not all of us are hoarding our novels, sci-fis and classics on the edge of a desk, some have a list of books saved to their tablets, laptops and phones. Despite that, we believe that the printed book will never die.

The Journal staff realize that making that statement is pretty bold, especially with the current trends of Amazon Kindle, Audible, and many other options to stream and store books straight to our devices.

There is something satisfying about turning the pages of a printed book that can in no way be replicated by the new.

To those of you who agree with us, or don’t, we have come up with a list of reasons why the printed book will never completely go out of style:

Aesthetic

You know what we are referring to. Among any number of other scenarios, it’s that perfectly charming photo we have all seen on our Instagram feeds; a photo staged charmingly with a beat up copy of “Moby Dick” or John Green’s latest, laying next to a cup of coffee and a plaid blanket.

Provenance

The books we read define us. Whether or not you agree, digital versions don’t seem to impact us quite as deeply.

Collectable

To many who have heirlooms handed down through generations, rare copies or hardcovers written by a favorite author: those books sitting on a shelf are much the same as having a favorite print by an artist hanging on the wall.

Nostalgia

While ebooks present the same words and chapters, the experience of a printed book offers a smell, the feel of pages flipping between your fingers, and the weight of a book in your lap that a tablet simply does not. There will always be a demand for these experiences.

Regardless of whether you read off of a screen or paper, the University Journal wishes you all a great Thanksgiving break and a chance to step into the pages of a good book.

Story by
Savannah Palmer
and University Journal Editorial Board

opinion@suunews.com

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