The earliest known books were made by weaving together the stems of papyrus plants. Since then, the format of books continues to change gradually as technology develops and as literacy grows.
Today, the main options are paper books versus ebooks versus audiobooks. Which is better? Which do you prefer? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.
Since the invention of the printing press around 1436, paper books have been a staple. Many of us love the look and feel (and even smell) of a paperback or hardback book.
There are pros and cons to reading printed books versus digital or audiobooks though.
Pros
Cons
Although the first ebook was created in 1971, electronic books were not widely available until the early 2000s. This relatively new format for reading is very popular, especially because many people have easy access to ebooks now, even if only on their phones or computers.
Pros
Cons
Audiobooks have been around since the 1930s, developing from vinyl records to tapes to CDs to being largely app-based as they are today. With the rise of podcasts, it may be that audio content will continue to be in higher demand, fuelling the popularity of audiobooks.
Pros
Cons
While some of us will be staunchly for a particular book format, it’s likely many readers will select different formats based on the book they are reading, their season of life, or the cost. Sometimes we might be reading a printed book while we’re at home, listening to an audiobook on our commute, and turning to an ebook when we go on vacation. All book formats have their place!
As a publisher, we recognize this reality and offer most books as both printed copies and ebooks. Many books are also available as audiobooks, sometimes read by the author. When you purchase a printed book from us, you also receive the ebook with it immediately for free.
MBWUpmEH