Even if you’re loyal to holding a hardcover spine in your hand or flipping the crisp pages of a paperback, there’s still joy to be found in digital reading.
Whether you’re listening to an audiobook, reaching for a large-print edition or sharing stories on a screen with a grandchild, books have changed. And that’s a good thing for readers whose abilities may be changing, too.
Let’s take a look at the advantages of books in all forms for all kinds of readers, and get some tips for making different ways of reading work for you.
Open Book, Open Mind: Advantages of Digital Reading and Tips for Trying It
Read With Your Ears
Do you struggle with vision problems or headaches from looking down at a book? Or maybe you’re looking for more shut-eye time. Audiobooks have you covered. Sit back, relax and press play to be transported to the world the author has created.
There is a whole different level of understanding, enjoyment and discovery when a book is read in the author’s voice or in an actor’s unique tone and inflection. It brings something special and magical to the page that reading a hardcover may not.
Read On the Go
Woke up to a midnight call and can’t fall back asleep? Shuffling grandkids from point A to B? Trying to get more steps in? Enter: digital books. They go with you! Whether you’re at home or on the go, your book is there, too.
Plus, books can be heavy and make your bag hard to carry if you’re trying to travel light. That’s when e-books or audiobooks can help. Most books are available for download in a number of places, including your local library’s online branch and your preferred entertainment streaming service (Libby, Audible, Spotify, etc.).
Read Along Together
Many readers love the feel of a real book, but you can still enjoy the audio version, too. And if you follow along with your hard copy, you can find the corresponding page and place a bookmark where you stop the audiobook to see a visual representation of your progress. Most audio books are time-stamped to make for easy tracking.
Tip: Want to read with your grandkids but can’t get them to sit still? Next time you’re tasked with driving them to and from soccer practice or picking them up from school, find an audiobook you can all listen to—and discuss—together.
Many audiobook lovers enjoy tuning into a book during their commute, but just be sure to always practice safe driving habits while on the road. Remember: distracted driving is more than just texting.
The Wellness Benefits of Reading—However You Read
Now that you have some inspiration for different ways of reading, consider these time-tested health benefits of getting lost in a good book.
Keep Your Memory Sharp
Engaging in frequent cognitive activity—like reading—has major benefits, and can even reduce the rate of decline by 32 percent for later in life. Even if you or are a loved one are already in the early stages of a memory loss diagnosis, keep reading. It’s never too late, and the benefits still apply.
The best part? You don’t have to read a scientific journal to reap these benefits. In fact, choosing the kind of book that really draws you in is best because leisure reading helps build episodic memory (comprehension and context) and working memory (focusing on the act of reading), according to research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Reduce Depression and Anxiety
Do you find yourself awake at night with worry or stuck at home with social anxiety? Or maybe you’re coping with grief or seasonal depression? Try reading a book rather than doomscrolling online, counting sheep while tossing and turning or turning on late night TV. Often, those blue screen activities disrupt natural sleep cycles, according to researchers.
Audiobooks can be a peaceful way to slow down racing thoughts or help fall asleep, especially listening to readers with a soft tone of voice or gently soothing accent. Some streaming platforms even offer short stories specifically for bedtime.
Stay Connected Through Reading
Feeling isolated and lonely can lead to depression and increased anxiety. Social disconnection is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia for older adults.
But not everyone wants to be out and about, especially if you prefer cozying up at home with a good book. If that sounds like you, consider starting or joining a virtual book club via Zoom to discuss books with friends near and far. You could also meet a friend or neighbor at your local library—libraries often offer a robust calendar of social events, too—usually at no cost.
If you want to improve connection with your grandkids, near or far, find out what they’re reading and pick a date to talk to them regularly about what they’re reading or what’s on their TBR (to-be-read) lists.
3 Ways to Access Digital Reading
Here are some simple ways to download electronic versions of books from a variety of sources.
- On your phone or tablet: You may prefer a tablet, Kindle or Nook for the ease of zooming in or making fonts and types clearer, but there are a number of apps available for download that can be used on your smartphone or tablet. For example, apps like Spotify are known for music, but they do audiobooks too! If you’re listening in the car, remember: safety first—you may want to choose a book that has autoplay options (no need for advancing manually or turning the digital page), whether you’re listening through your car’s CD player or a plugged in phone.
- Without WiFi: If you’ll be traveling or finding yourself without a reliable internet connection, download your books ahead of time. Public WiFi networks, like at hospitals or hotels, are often unreliable or inaccessible. Streaming services typically provide options for downloading an entire book – just make sure you have enough storage space on your phone. Just note that you may have to opt for a higher monthly membership fee to unlock this benefit.
- From your library: Check your local branch to learn about their options for borrowing digital books and audiobooks. If it’s hard to get out to your local library, head to OpenLibrary.org—open 24/7/365. Millions of books are available for free, and you can organize your books and track your yearly reading goals, too. For more inspiration, check out these 20 places where you can read books online for free.
A Timeline of Books, Then to Now
Imagine the thrill of storytellers who documented their material to ink parchment scrolls and cave walls. Picture the joy of Johannes Gutenberg holding the final product in his hands after years of intense labor, craft and care. Below is a look back at some of the earliest experiences of reading from around the world.
600 B.C.E.: First Gold-Bound Book
The Etruscan Gold Book is considered to be the world’s oldest printed book. It was discovered in the late 1950s in a tomb along the Struma River in Bulgaria.
1455 A.D: First Book Printed on a Press
The Gutenberg Bible was printed around 1455 A.D. after a nearly 5-year process (records are unclear regarding the exact publication year).
1731: First Library Opened Its Doors
The first public library is generally considered to be Ben Franklin’s doing—founded in November 1731 in Philadelphia.
1932: First Audiobook Recorded
The American Foundation for the Blind established a recording studio where the first recordings of books were created on vinyl records starting in the early 1930s.
The company Audible took things further in 1995, making it possible to download books onto desktop computers; in 1997, the company released the first portable digital audio player.
1950s: First Paperbacks Published
The early 1950s ushered in the “paperback revolution,” though Penguin Books did publish some paperback titles—originally known as pocket books—in the prewar era.
2007: First E-book Reader Available
The Kindle e-book reader was launched by Amazon in 2007, around the same time as the Apple iPhone. Barnes & Noble released the Nook in 2009, and library patrons were able to borrow e-books via the Overdrive digital network, a partnership between public libraries and Sony.
By the end of 2013, the Association of American Publishers announced that e-books then represented 20% of all U.S. book sales.
Once a Reader, Always a Reader
Books have been on journey since 600 B.C.E. But what hasn’t changed is the enrichment, escape and empowerment that readers of all ages find between their covers. Whether you’re scrolling on an iPad, pressing play on a CD or tracking Braille pages with your fingers, you’re a reader! And there’s such joy in getting to experience all the benefits associated with a great book.