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Source : https://felicitygreenwrites.wordpress.com/2017/09/02/e-books-vs-printed-
books-an-argumentative-essay/

Are Printed Books Better Than E-Book?

INTRODUCTION

Despite the growing technology our world can offer, it is statistically proven that there is
90% of the people who are still reading printed books (Perrin, 2016). Printed books, specifically
those that are part of book collections or series of a main story, are given more satisfaction from the
readers due to the short content that comes with it (Knight, 2016). In addition, reading printed
books can help long-term memory, since the readers are open to the opportunities to physically
highlight these texts and such (Riordan, 2013). Meanwhile, eBooks (or known as electronic books)
are more convenient than printed books. Readers can gain information immediately by downloading
the file online, plus taking up less physical space compared to printed books, since the file can be
accessed in our daily gadgets (Sasson, n.d.). Rather than having to travel to a bookstore to buy a
book, it is more favorable to buy an eBook online and download it. Moreover, they are also
environment friendly since the eBook readers are recyclable, since you can read countless books
through one electronic device. “Electronic readers, which are cleaner to start with, are also the
ultimate in recyclability: consumers can read countless of books on the same e-reader.” (Industry
Insights, n.d.). Therefore, eBooks should be more encouraged than printed books in the publishing
industry due to their accompanied convenience and environment friendliness. Although, in
perspectives concerning psychological matters, printed books can be healthier and more
educational.

I. DEFINITION
According to The Wall Street Journal (2010), “an electronic book (also e-book, ebook, digital
book) is a text- and image- based publication in digital form produced on, published by, and readable
on computers or other digital devices.” These are books that we have access to in our mobile phones
or tablets, and we can find these books in websites like ePub, iBooks store, and many more.
Meanwhile, printed books are defined with a collection of printed pages bounded inside a cover
(Ingram, 2011). While eBooks are accessible in electronic gadgets, printed books can be attainable in
bookstores or in libraries.

II. CAUSE AND EFFECT

A positive effect with the use of eBooks is that people do not need to travel to a bookstore
to get a copy of the book (Gómez-Borbón, n.d.). EBooks are less hassle to obtain compared to
printed books, since the press of a button on a gadget to download the file is more preferable than
having to go out and spend to reach to a bookstore. Although, the use of eBooks can negatively
affect your health, even if reading has many positive effects for our brains. There have been
performed studies wherein reading eBooks can affect how readers retain information, unlike in
reading printed books. “A recent survey concluded that students fed on eBooks didn’t perform well
when compared to the ones reading classical versions.” (Positive and negative, n.d.). The reason why
reading printed books can retain information more compared to reading eBooks is because readers
can physically highlight the important words or phrases.

Through reading printed books, there are positive and negative sides that comes along with
it. The positive side is that printed books are better for retaining information in the long run. There
have been experiments from scientists that have found results that those who read digital texts had
to reread them multiple times until it was understood, unlike those who read it in printed text
(Riordan, 2013). However, on the negative side of it, printed books cost more due to more resources
needed in order to have them printed (Ebooks VS Printed, 2012). These are the resources like leaves,
ink, and the many of the like.

III. COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Unlike printed books that occupy physical space, eBooks are very portable and easy to use,
as we can access this from our daily electronic devices (Campbell, 2013). Likewise, they are also
more environment friendly compared to printed books. “Aside from the 16 million tons of paper it
consumes each year, leading to 32 million fallen trees annually, the industry’s carbon footprint is
enormous.” (Industry Insights, n.d.). On the other hand, printed books do not need batteries for it to
operate. You do not need to charge or worry when it is low on battery since this is not electronic,
unlike the eBook devices, which means that you can start gaining information without needing
electricity before reading the file (Campbell, 2013).

Even if eBooks are more convenient, they can affect your privacy. This is in such a way that,
according to the article entitled “E-books: The good and the bad of digital text” (2010), “With many
e-book platforms, the company that sold you the book has the capacity of logging your actions
within the book and could even use the annotations you add to the text for other purposes such as
marketing.” Meanwhile, printed books are more costly than eBooks. This is due to the demand for
more resources as the books are being printed, unlike in eBooks, when the price of the book is
cheaper since it does not include the production cost (Ebooks VS Printed, 2012).

CONCLUSION
To restate my stand, eBooks should be more encouraged than printed books in the
publishing industry as this can not only help our mother environment, but it can also benefit people
from its given conveniences, like the cheaper cost and the less physical space that it brings along. In
different perspectives, although, printed books may come out as beneficiary if matters like the
readers’ health and the use of electricity are concerned in the situation.

References :

(2010). The Definition of An eBook. THE HUFFINGTON POST. Retrieved from:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/05/the-definition-of-an-eboo_n_487834.html

Campbell, I. (2013). Print vs. Digital: Advantages and Disadvantages. BOOKWHIRL.COM. Retrieved
from: http://www.bookwhirl.com/blog/print-vs-digital-advantages-disadvantages/
E-books: The good and the bad of digital text. PENNLIVE. Retrieved from:
http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2010/03/e-
books_the_good_and_the_bad_o.html

Ebooks VS Printed Books: Which Is Preferred Now?. spreeder. Retrieved from:

https://www.spreeder.com/ebooks-vs-printed-books-which-is-preferred-now/

Gómez-Borbón, P. (n.d.). Ten Advantages of E-book Readers. Lifehack. Retrieved from:

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/ten-advantages-book-readers.html

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS. GreenPointPublishing. Retrieved from:

http://www.greenpointpublishing.com/insight_html/reason-love-Ebooks.html

Ingram, Matthew. (2011). What Is a Book? The Definition Continues to Blur. GIGAOM. Retrieved
from: https://gigaom.com/2011/04/22/what-is-a-book-the-definition-continues-to-blur/

Knight, R. (2016). 16 Facts about eBooks & Print Books. UPAUTHORS.COM. Retrieved from:
http://www.upauthors.com/16-facts-about-ebooks-print-books/

Perrin, A. (2016). Book Reading 2016. PewResearchCenter. Retrieved from:

http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/09/01/book-reading-2016/

Riordan, L. (2013). The Benefits of Printed Books. SENTINEL PRINTING COMPANY. Retrieved from:
http://www.sentinelprinting.com/blog/bid/267575/The-Benefits-of-Printed-Books

Sasson, R. (n.d.). The Benefits and Advantages of eBooks. SucessConsciousness. Retrieved from:
http://www.successconsciousness.com/ebooks_benefits.htm

Positive and negative effects of eBooks. My Essay Point. Retrieved from:

http://myessaypoint.com/positive-negative-effects-ebooks