Paper or E-Book?


It is very difficult to find chess books nowadays. I have noticed that even in large bookstores, chess books are becoming rare. Usually, chess books can be found at the hobbies section. But now however there seems to be a dearth of chess books.  Perhaps, the publication of chess books has been affected by the advent of “e-books”.

With the dawn of e-books, are we seeing the end of paperbacks and hard bounds including our beloved chess books?  With this digital revolution, the journey of the paper book is facing the toughest challenge to its existence. Who can imagine that the real book, invented thousands of years ago is now in the brink of extinction with the arrival of the “e-book”?

I can still remember the time when selling chess books was a lucrative business. Usually, in tournaments, I can see different kinds of chess books on display for sale.  Now, it is rare to see chess books being sold.  I think "chess e-books" are now preferred because in just one gadget hundreds, if not thousands, can be stored. E-books are far more convenient to carry and cost less compared to printed books.
  
The “great debate” between the paper book and the e-book has been raging for years since the first e-book has been introduced almost a decade ago. The question of which is better between the two is indeed relevant at this time. Book lovers have different opinions about e-books taking over paper books. Some say that we cannot fight change and we got to accept the inevitable that libraries (except those who have gone digital) are about to turn into museums of hardbound and paperbacks. But, is it? Are we really seeing the end of the real book? What will happen to chess publications? If other “best selling books” are now in their most challenging stage, I can imagine what chess books are going through right now.

Despite the great convenience of the e-book, there are reasons why I think paper books are here to stay and would survive for several decades more.

(    (1) Paper books are “real” (period!). Whatever convenience the e-book has brought, nothing can substitute for the real thing. Holding a real book or a chess book and feeling the paper through your hands is an experience that can never be equaled by an e-book.
 
(2)  Paper books can be read without fear of being away from a charging station. The perennial dilemma of e-book readers is their gadget losing power while reading somewhere away from the power plug. With a real book on hand, you can read anywhere as long as the light permits.
 
(3)  Paper books can be left at the table without, more often than not, being stolen. Unlike those expensive gadgets, it is not a good idea to leave them at the table with confidence that it would still be there when you get back.
 
(4)  Paper books are better reference materials compared to e-books. It is easier to refer back to the pages of a paper book and check the facts.
 
(5)  Paper books can be opened simultaneously on the table or on the floor while studying for a major exam. This thing cannot be done with a gadget even if you have a smartphone and an iPad.
 
(6)  Paper books being tangible are better gifts than e-books. At the back of the paper book, you can write your dedication and actually put the book in a box which is something impossible to do with an e-book.
 
(7)  Paper books are less stressful for the eyes to read. While technology is getting better in “recreating” that paper book experience in gadgets, the technology is far from perfect. No matter how you adjust your gadget, reading e-books is hard on the eyes compared to a real book.
 
(8)  And since paper books cause less eyestrain compared to e-books, the former are more relaxing to read. This makes paper books a great companion when you want to fall asleep while reading.
 
 



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