According to the results of the 20th National Reading Survey, in 2022, 81.8% of mainland adult citizens read comprehensively by media, 59.8% read books, and 80.1% reached digital reading. According to the 10th National Reading Survey, in 2012, 76.3% of mainland adults read books through various media, 54.9% read books, and 40.3% were exposed to digital reading.
Bill Gates once predicted that e-reading would completely beat paper books within a decade.
To this day, however, paper books still occupy an indispensable place in our lives.
From a global perspective, the transmission of knowledge has gone through the stages of oral transmission, handwritten copying, and printed dissemination.
This evolution has both increased the speed and accuracy of knowledge dissemination.
Printed books, as a perfect combination of these two characteristics, have been precipitated for thousands of years.
Although e-books make knowledge more accessible, their virtualization also poses a significant problem: the ease of knowledge tampering.
Historically, China has ensured the accuracy of knowledge by carving stones and other means.
Paper books, a form that can stand the test of time, have a quality that is difficult to be replaced by e-books: stability and trustworthiness.
Because of this, paper books will stay with us for a long time and become an indispensable part of our lives.
In the era of "screen reading", why do you insist on reading paper books?
Reason 1: A unique reading experience
Paper books offer a unique reading experience that e-books can't replace.
The tactile feel of the paper, the slight smell of ink, and the rustling sound of the paper when turning the pages combine to create a traditional, warm reading atmosphere.
Paper books allow readers to make annotations and write notes on the actual pages.
This interactivity makes the reading process more personal and in-depth.
Paper books don't require electricity, so they can be read at any time in any environment, regardless of battery power or network signal.
The bookish fragrance exuded by paper books is a unique and profound charm, which lingers on every page of paper, and is a characteristic that cannot be replicated by other electronic products.
Every time you turn the page, the unique aroma wafts softly, and it is like an old wine, which makes people intoxicated.
Between the lines, there are whispers of wise men, who may be literary giants, educational pioneers, or explorers in the field of science.
Their wisdom is like a trickle, moisturizing things silently, pointing the way to every seeker of knowledge.
The bytes in the book, beating like musical notes, sing the melody of knowledge, are fascinating.
Paper books bring not only the transmission of knowledge, but also a kind of spiritual sustenance.
It is not limited by time and space, and can provide us with a quiet space for thinking at any time and place.
Compared with e-books, paper books do not need to be recharged, which is more environmentally friendly, and can be picked up and put down at any time.
This simple and natural way of reading is a true portrayal of the charm of books.
Reason 2: Protect your eyesight and reduce fatigue
Staring at an electronic screen for a long time to read can easily make the eyes feel tired and even lead to vision loss.
In contrast, paper books are less irritating to the eyes.
According to relevant studies, paper reading puts much less pressure on the eyes than electronic screens, helping to protect vision and reduce eye fatigue.
Paper books also allow readers to better adjust the focus of their eyes, thus reducing the burden on their eyes.
The damage to vision caused by electronic screens such as mobile phones, tablets and computers is mainly reflected in blue light radiation, visual fatigue and the potential risk of myopia.
Staring at these screens for a long time, especially small screen devices such as mobile phones, requires the eyes to constantly adjust the focus, which can easily cause eye muscle fatigue and affect vision.
Blue light radiation emitted by electronic devices is harmful to eyesight.
Scientific studies have shown that prolonged exposure to blue light may cause damage to retinal cells, increasing the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
Blue light may also interfere with a person's sleep cycle because it inhibits the production of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep.
Especially in a dark environment, staring at the mobile phone screen for a long time can easily lead to retinal detachment.
The light and contrast generated by electronic screens can put pressure on the eyes, causing them to be dry, painful, or blurry in their vision.
One study found that people who used electronic devices for more than 3 hours a day had a significantly increased incidence of symptoms of visual fatigue.
Students who use electronic devices for a longer period of time each day have a significantly higher incidence of myopia than those who use electronic devices for a shorter period of time.
This may be due to staring at the screen at close range for a long time, which makes the adjustment muscles of the eye in a state of tension for a long time, which in turn affects the normal development of the eyeball.
The damage to vision caused by electronic screens such as mobile phones, tablets and computers cannot be ignored.
Reason 3: It helps to think deeply and understand
Reading paper books often requires more concentration and composure, which helps readers think deeply and understand the text.
Unlike e-books, paper books can't quickly find information with a simple search function.
Therefore, the reader is required to read and understand word for word.
This way of reading encourages readers to think more actively and digest what they read, which improves their comprehension and memory of the text.
Paper books do provide readers with a superior concentration and depth reading experience, largely due to their unique physical characteristics and reading environment.
One significant difference between a paper book and an e-book is its physical presence.
Paper books occupy a certain space, with texture and weight.
This allows readers to focus more on the content of a book when they pick it up.
In contrast, electronic devices are often accompanied by a variety of functions and applications, which may become potential sources of interference, such as incoming calls, information pushes, etc., which can easily interrupt the reader's reading thoughts.
Secondly, the layout and binding design of the paper book also provides readers with a better reading experience.
The page layout, font selection, and paper quality of a paper book are all carefully designed to make the text and images present in the best possible way for the reader.
This unique typography and binding not only makes reading more comfortable, but also helps the reader better understand the content of the text, which in turn promotes deep thinking.
In addition, paper books are not able to turn pages or search for keywords as quickly as e-books, which forces readers to read and understand the text word for word, allowing them to think and digest what they read more deeply.
Reason 4: Cultural inheritance and aesthetic value
As a carrier of cultural heritage, paper books carry the history and culture of mankind.
They are not only written records, but also testimonies of human civilization.
In addition, the design, layout, and binding of paper books all contain artistic aesthetic value, which cannot be replaced by e-books.
Many beautiful paper books are a work of art in their own right, giving readers a pleasurable aesthetic experience.
Each book has its own unique rhyme, showing both the power of words and the beauty of form.
With ingenuity in design, a book becomes a work of art.
Looking at the evolution of book binding in the East and the West, all reflect the exquisiteness and ingenuity.
In the East, there is the elegance of butterfly and folded binding, and in the West, there is the luxury of painted manuscripts.
The cover is painted and inlaid with inlays, and the edges of the pages hide the paintings, and the beauty of art jumps on the paper between flipping through the pages.
The aesthetic is constantly changing, technology and materials are constantly evolving, and the book binding is becoming more and more refined.
Looking forward to the future, the beauty of paper books will surely reach a higher level.
Reason 5: Collection value and emotional sustenance
Paper books are highly collectible.
For book lovers, owning a precious paper book is like owning a piece of art or a historical artifact.
At the same time, paper books can also become emotional sustenance.
Many people read paper books with memories, associations, and emotional resonances.
This is an emotional experience that cannot be replicated by e-books.
People who love to read, especially paper books, tend to be keen on collecting books.
The rich collection of books at home is like a treasure trove of one's knowledge, reflecting his profound learning and cultivation.
A well-educated person can always win the respect and admiration of others.
For those who are truly obsessed with reading, books are like a road to the ocean of knowledge, which makes people indulge in it and forget to linger.