r/readwithme • u/Zealousideal_Set678 • 1d ago
Question❔ Paperback vs E-book
If a book comes in both paperback and e-book formats, which one would you get?
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u/scribblescope 1d ago
Companies have way too much power when it comes to ebooks (removing access, changing content), so physical is my preferred format. That said, I don't need to own every book I read! I do most of my reading digitally through the library and only pick up titles that I've read and really love.
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u/duameegee 1d ago
I’ve finally accepted that I enjoy reading ebooks more than physical books.
This has a lot to do with personal preference but I just can’t hold a physical book comfortably for a long time with my wrist tendinitis, and I’m reaching the age that small fonts are becoming annoying for me. And being a non native English speaker, I love the ability to look up a word easily on ebooks. I’ve moved around quite a lot and books are heavy to move! I still buy paperbacks from book sales or thrift stores but probably won’t buy a brand new physical book unless it’s super significant for me
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u/Ok-World-4822 1d ago
Really depends on the situation for me. I don’t mind either format so it mostly depends on what format I come across first, if there’s a 1 euro ebook deal going on or not or if I want to read it in a specific format because it’s part of a series and I have the series all in one format
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u/Left_Candy_4124 1d ago
Paperback fits in my pocket and feels better to me, holding it, flipping the pages...
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u/AgelessEuphoria 1d ago
Don't get me wrong, I love a paper book but I will choose ebook most of the time because I am at the point in my life where I need reading glasses but I still often forget them. I appreciate the ability to change / enlarge the font whenever I need to, or have an adjustable backlight when I don't have a light.
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u/thatindiewriter 1d ago
E-book! I have a e reader and I love it. I also love how portable e reader are and how can just delete if I don't like it. That being said, I do miss physical books sometimes but they're so expensive now and don't see the point of buying one I've haven't read before. I haven't touched one in years, if I ever do I will only buy my favorite books to display, read, and own, which a problem with ebooks: you don't own them.
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u/No_Wolverine6548 1d ago
How many times can this question be asked??
What are you doing with the information that’s gathered? And why not share your preference??
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u/RepresentativeDrag14 1d ago
AI driving engagement?
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u/No_Wolverine6548 1d ago
Possibly. Wish mods would have a voting pole section, for commonly asked questions like this, pinned to the top of the sub page and no longer allow people to ask them.
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u/ClueAccomplished1098 1d ago
Kindle ereader, but that has more to with my poor vision, lack of space, and a very limited selection of books from my small rural library. I do try to use LIbby to save money and support my library, but the wait times can be extremely long and the assortment of books in my preferred genres is still very limited. I would love to get an out of state library card from one of the big city libraries, but there are few libraries offering that these days and the membership fee is just too expensive for my budget, especially when there's no guarantee that they will the books I want to read.
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u/Matheson-Monroe 1d ago
Nothing beats the feel and smell of a hardcopy book. Unfortunately with eyesight like mine I usually need to be able to control the font therefore I end up reading an ebook. I do still purchase a hardcopy of the book if it is really good. I need those trophies.
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u/ecosiaonparempi 1d ago
paperback, i like to see what i have acomplished on the shelf or get it for free at the library.
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u/Holiday_Change7321 1d ago
E book always bc I don’t carry anything but my phone. So can read it anytime.
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u/__Drell__ 1d ago
It depends. I try not to use kindle because I hate giving money to Bezos. Instead I use Libby, but if a book is on hold or not there I'll be a hypocrite and either give my money to the other big corpo -Barnes and Nobles -or may give Bezos my money for the ebook.
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u/Affectionate_Sign777 1d ago
I sold my kindle and used the money for a second hand kobo
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u/LowTale5268 1d ago
what's a kobo?
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u/Affectionate_Sign777 1d ago
It’s one of the biggest ereader brands, outside of the US Libby doesn’t work on kindle but it does work on kobo, and kobo also automatically syncs reading progress to storygraph nowadays which is neat, and they have a usb clicker that doesn’t require clip on
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u/CrabbiestAsp 1d ago
Paperback. I don't care how people enjoy their books, but I love building my library and sitting turning the pages in my book while I read. I feel like it's part of the experience for me instead of just being on another screen.
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u/Affectionate_Sign777 1d ago
Ebook cause I am disabled and can’t read physical books.
Used to be a paper person but now even if I could idk which I’d pick cause the ereader really is very convenient but also there’s just something nice about a paper book…
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u/pippa_nox_ 1d ago
Probably both to be honest. I love paperbacks, but sometimes I’m not a fan of the font that comes with the book, so I would probably get the e-book first, and if I liked the book, I’ll get the paperback too. But if the e-book is more pricey than the actual paperback, I’m going with the paperback.
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u/Schluballybub 1d ago
I exclusively read Ebook for many years. Switched back to paper/physical last year. I do prefer the feel of a book over a kindle/tablet.
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u/lollipop-guildmaster 1d ago
As long as I can continue to own my books by downloading and stripping the DRM, ebooks all the way. My life stopped being a neverending search for more bookshelves (and space to put them in) in 2010, and I have not looked back.
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u/hippoluvr24 1d ago
Depends. I much prefer having a physical book, but ebooks are way more convenient for travel. I mainly use my ereader for library loans, but I'll buy an ebook if it's on sale or I specifically want to read it on a vacation.
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u/FearlessKnitter12 1d ago
At this point, I'll get the ebook if price is the same and my budget allows. I don't need any more physical objects cluttering my space.
That being said, if I read it and know immediately that it's one I'll re-read a lot, that may make me want to invest in the paperback so that I always have an available format for it.
For books I already own, I am actively watching for ebook deals so I can more easily take them with me on travels. So maybe I'm weaning away from physical books for the most part. And my ebooks, I want the ability to put them on external storage, so an inconvenient software update doesn't change or eliminate my reading material.
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u/KayaQueen 1d ago
Depends on the book but there’s about .03% chance of scenarios where I’d choose an e-book.
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u/thrace75 1d ago
Ebook through the library or very cheap on Amazon. Like I’m not heart broken if I eventually lose access to a $2 book. It’s just more convenient for my life. Paperback if it’s one I want to keep forever.
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u/dancinhorse99 1d ago
I have kindle i will read ebook first if I love it then I will get physical book. I read about 100 books per year so I only buy about 5-10% of the books I read
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u/OstrichPaladin 1d ago
Always paperback. I know people talk about books becoming consumerist but it's also sort of the last bastion for physical media. I will own my books physically, and I will not give that up
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u/d0nutbutth0le 1d ago
I will leave the physical books for the collectors and archivists. I read for enjoyment. I will take the convenience of my Kindle over a physical book any day. I read Dune on paper earlier this year and it was so annoying to read because of physically maneuvering the 800 page book around. I can read the Kindle in bed in the dark and press on words I don't know to define them. Also, publishers are now putting out books with these weird smooth/soft paper covers that feel terrible to hold
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u/LowTale5268 1d ago
Reading a book and reading a screen are two different experiences. Dick wrote books and I would rather hold a paperback novel in my hand than stare at a screen.
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u/timmy013 1d ago
I am currently always go for paperback
But if I have ebook reader I might go for e-book
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u/SmartPolicy6430 1d ago
A Kindle. I went over to this way of reading whilst waiting for cataract surgery. As the paper white is back lit and I can adjust line spacing and font size it's just so much easier on my eyes.
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u/IntelligentTrip6054 1d ago
Paperback. I don't read books on screens unless there isn't any other option.
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u/Insecure_Egomaniac 1d ago
If I’m buying a book, I buy paperback. I don’t purchase ebooks separately from my KU subscription.
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u/Kunzite_128 1d ago
Ebook. Much more convenient, and I don't have the physical space for paperback books anyway.
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u/TheProletariatPoet 1d ago
They can’t change your physical copy so physical copy every. Single. Time.
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u/strawcat 1d ago
I borrow ebooks from the library and purchase hardcovers of the books that I love after reading.
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u/Careless_Joke3129 1d ago
Honestly I buy the paperback / hardcover and pirate an epub to read on my iPad in bed reading lights ain’t it but the dark mode on the oled screen gives off way less light that the wife’s kindle haha
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u/Notinthiseconomy_ 1d ago
If I’m buying a book I get a paperback. I do read a lot on my kindle though, but it’s books from Libby or kindle unlimited.
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u/Usually_Respectful 1d ago
Paperback. I enjoy the feel of books and the sense of progress as the pages go from my right hand to my left hand.
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u/Larielis 1d ago
I borrow e-books or digital audiobooks from the library. Then buy a paperback for ones I like.
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u/isabella-garcia30 1d ago
Honestly depends on whether I think I'll reread it. Ebooks are great for trying something new since they're cheaper and take up zero space, but if I already know I love a book I want the paperback on my shelf. There's something satisfying about seeing the spine every time I walk by.
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u/Spiritual_Top_5881 1d ago
Lol my husband gives me grief for this all the time, but both haha. I read my paperbacks at home or take them with me on vacations sometimes. I always have my e-reader with me. So if I unexpectedly need to stand around waiting or have some time when I’m wherever I just whip it out and keep reading the book I’m busy with at home.
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u/Aramiss60 1d ago
E book, always, I prefer to read on my r readers, and I don’t have a lot of room to store books.
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u/LAffaire-est-Ketchup 1d ago
Depends. How much do I care about this book? Is it by my favourite author? I want print.
Do I just want to read it? Is the ebook cheaper? Then ebook
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u/ghostlynym 23h ago
For me it depends on my mood at that moment. I like both physical books and digital. It depends on whether I want to read the book now (so digital) or if I’m okay with waiting for the book to get delivered, whether I’m visiting a bookstore, whether I’m travelling as Kindle is easy to carry and how heavy is the book and so on.
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u/nightlamp29 22h ago
Recently, I have been buying books on Kindle, because physical copies take up a lot of space in my rented flat.
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u/zulu_titan 21h ago
Print engagement fosters a deeper, more meditative Ilteracy than the fleeting convenience of digital text
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u/CTS9206 20h ago
Totally depends on genre and my mood. Some genres are purely audible, for my ears only. Other genres are going into the ereader, when the book / series goes great to be snuggled up and the lights are out. Finally I am limited with space so a select few are worthy of being on the bookshelf. They are not all trophies and my paperbacks do get read, admired and reread.
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u/NoFidYellow 1d ago
Paperback. I don’t have an E-Reader, I don’t really want one. And books are my escape from screens and I’d like to keep it that way.
I also think me having an e-reader filled with cheap books I can download at will would be dangerous for me and my wallet.
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