How Then Shall We Read?

I think “bookish” people often have the reputation of being snobs about certain ways of reading. We hear statements like “audiobooks don’t count” and “digital reading is bad for you” and assume everyone who actually reads must feel this way. While there are definitely people out there who have VERY strong opinions about these things, I think what most book lovers are actually trying to communicate is that they know how they like to read. When we pay attention to what type of reading brings us joy, we are going to do it a lot more. In that vein I want to consider the three main “types” of reading and what is great and also not so great about each. Please remember that there isn’t one right way to read and your reading life doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s! Use these thoughts as a springboard to help you think about your own reading life.

Physical Books:

1. Pros: I think one of the greatest benefits to reading physical books if you’re a parent is that you’re modeling reading for your kids. When you read on your phone or tablet or even a Kindle, or if you’re listening to an audiobook, your kids (especially young ones) aren’t going to understand that you’re actually reading because those devices are all used for other things. I have also found that I’m more likely to finish certain books (especially nonfiction) if I read the physical form. Physical books can also be shared; I love being able to finish a great book and pass it on to someone else who will enjoy it. My oldest daughter also loves to pick up my books and read them.

2. Cons: Physical books are harder to take on trips and make packing light difficult, especially if you read a lot while you travel. Most of us also don’t carry physical books with us all the time, so it’s harder to make use of small pockets of time to read (like waiting at the doctor’s office or in your kid’s school pickup line). Physical books are also usually more expensive than digital versions.

Digital Reading:

1. Pros: Digital books can be read anywhere on the Kindle app on your phone. There are also small kindles that fit easily in a purse or diaper bag if you prefer the paperwhite screen. Digital reading also allows you to take advantage of subscriptions like Kindle Unlimited and Scribd to read more for less money. And if you do have to buy a Kindle version of a book they are almost always cheaper than the physical copy.

2. Cons: Reading on a phone can lead you to get distracted by notifications and other apps. Many believe that the huge amount of time we spend scrolling the online world is causing us to no longer read for depth but instead jump from article to blog post to instagram reel. This is definitely true of digital books, as well. I also find it harder to finish books on my phone. Digital reading lacks the aesthetics of a physical book: the smell of the pages (yes, this is a real thing!), the feeling of holding it in your hands, the visual arrangement of illustrations and text, even the paper choice for the pages can contribute to the overall “feel” of the book which is very much part of the reading experience for many of us.

Audiobooks:

1. Pros: If you find you have very little time to read, you can listen to audiobooks while folding the laundry, cooking dinner, or driving. There is also research that shows that we better remember what we read if we are doing something with our hands while listening to the story (this is why my kids are always involved in some sort of drawing, coloring, or other hands-on activity while I read aloud). If you and your spouse both like to listen to audiobooks you can share an Audible account and get more bang for your buck.

2. Cons: Audiobooks can be expensive and your best bet is probably to make use of an Audible subscription. It can also be difficult to listen to stories if there are any distractions (and by this I mean children 😉) around; your child needs urgent help with something and the next thing you know you missed the last several minutes of the story and have no idea what is happening. Bad narrators can also ruin the audiobook experience for some of us.

If you’ve never taken the time to pay attention to how you best like to read, I encourage you to do so now. I’ve found the easiest way to learn about myself as a reader is to track your reading. Don’t make this complicated: I literally just keep a running list on my phone in the notes app of all the books I’ve read this year. You can always get a cute reading journal or make a spread in your bullet journal later if you find this is something you enjoy. As you pay attention to your reading over time you will start to notice patterns. For me this has looked like realizing that I rarely finish digital nonfiction books, so while I will sometimes start one on Scribd I inevitably buy the physical version to finish it. I also have noticed that I don’t listen to entire audiobooks, so that lets me know to not spend my money there. I’ll sometimes listen to a chapter or two of a more difficult classic novel on Scribd (usually one we are reading for book club), but even with those I always go back to reading my physical copy. After a while of tracking your reading you’ll be able to build your reading life in the way that works best for you and you’ll know what type of reading to prioritize.