If you’ve not taken the plunge into the world of eBooks, there’s probably a lot of reasons why. Maybe you prefer the feel of physical books, and no one can deny how good a full bookshelf looks in your sitting room. However, maybe now you’ve been thinking about checking them out and catching up with current technology.
If you’re looking for reasons why you should make the switch, look no further. Below are the top reasons why eBooks are the future of publishing.
- There’s thousands to choose from: Whichever store you choose to buy from, you’ll find thousands of titles right at your finger tips. Whether you’re looking for the latest blockbuster or a classic title, they’ll be right there and always available for purchase. You can be reading any title in a matter of minutes. Nook lists the bestselling eBooks in its dedicated online store, so it’s a great place to get started.
- It’s easy to download a book: No matter what device you use to read, it’s so simple to find and download any title you want. Simply search for the book you want, or browse through the store. Once you find the one you want, click ‘buy’ and the title will be downloaded to your device. It really is as easy as that.
- There’s multiple ways to read: If there’s a device you like to use, there’s probably a way to read eBooks on it. You can buy a dedicated e-reader, or download the app on your smartphone or tablet. EBook Friendly notes that if you currently own a device that you feel you aren’t using to its full advantage, using it to read eBooks could be the answer.
- There’s a wealth of free books available: Browsing through an eBook store, you’ll find that many classic titles are being offered for free. If you’ve always wanted to read the works of Charles Dickens or Jane Austen, now’s your chance. There’s also often free books being offered by new and emerging authors, so if you want to try something new, it simply couldn’t be easier or cheaper to do so.
- Carry your whole collection in your pocket: EPublisher’s Weekly states that eBooks are hugely portable. An entire library’s worth of files could be held on just one DVD or USB drive. If you like to have a few books on you at all times, then eBooks are a much easier way of doing so. It’s also easier on your bag and your shoulders.
- They’re great for students: High school and college students will know the pain of lugging around large textbooks every day, as well as the pain of paying for them. EBooks solve the problem by being cheaper to buy and much more portable. As a bonus, students can use their e-reader to highlight passages or make notes on their texts, making assignments a breeze. If you know a student just entering the academic year, an e-reader could be a gratefully received gift.
- Change your preferences on the fly: If you struggle to read small text in regular books, or read text against the traditional white background, eBooks could be the answer. You can change text size or color to suit your needs, making reading much easier with little effort.
- They’re good for the environment: You probably hadn’t considered this, but eBooks are much better for the environment than physical books. Success Net states that eBooks basically eliminate the need for trees to be felled for books, saving whole forests in one fell swoop.
- They take up much less space: As mentioned earlier, it can be satisfying to decorate your home with shelves full of well thumbed books. However, not everyone has the luxury of space to display their favorite tomes. Until you win the lottery and buy the country manor of your dreams, store all your books on one small device, and save that space for the essentials.
- E-readers are designed for ultimate readability: If you buy a dedicated e-reader, you may not notice straight away but they’re designed very cleverly to be the ultimate reading machine. Snarky Nomad lists ten design features that help the reader out, including the lack of page curvature, the ability to read a book one handed, and the inclusion of a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words. You probably didn’t even know you wanted these features until you had them in your hand.
If you weren’t convinced before, you probably are now. EBooks are the ultimate in portability, choice, and ease of use. When you put it like that, what are you waiting for? Take the plunge now, and discover a whole new world of fantastic literature from the comfort of your own home.
eBooks have many advantages, and most people are familiar with some of the key benefits: affordability, instant gratification, large print capabilities, audio capabilities, educational interaction, and saved space, to name a few. However, many people remain unaware of the very important and unique advantage eBooks have concerning the environment. To learn more about how eBooks may actually help care for the environment, try taking a look at the information below. Many people are at least a little surprised to find out how great of an impact eBooks may have on the world around them – both intellectually and physically.
Going Green with Plastic?
The Role of eBooks in Environmental Responsibility
The “go green” movement continues to sweep through the nation with much success. People are starting to realize that planet Earth cannot be treated thoughtlessly. As a result of this, many industries are becoming more conscientious about the products they manufacture and the way in which they manufacture them. Consumer demand is more and more about ethicality than about quantity. Therefore, traditional publishing companies are beginning to produce more and more eBooks in an effort to reduce the number of trees cut and amount of paper used during traditional printing processes. A lot of consumers have jumped on board with the digital over paper campaign; however, many who are reading this article may be a little skeptical about the concept of eBooks as environmentally friendly items. Both plastic and paper are poor for the environment, so what is the difference? Can the world really be improved if more plastic is being used than ever? In this case, many individuals state that choosing the lesser of two evils is the way to go. Preserving the many trees that are being cut down during mass deforestation endeavors is one of the most vital aspects of the environmental enthusiast campaigns today. Endangered animals are dying and entire people groups are being cornered due to the lack of forest left from mankind’s ravaging of resources. eBooks save trees, and this fact cannot be denied.
Paper Problems
Over 300 million tons of paper is consumed across the globe on an annual basis. Since paper is not a necessity in such a technology driven world, it causes concern among those who are environmentally conscientious. eBooks solve the paper problem by providing a way for individuals to get the same information without using a slew of natural resources.
Energy Waste
The amount of energy needed to mass produce printed books in the publishing industry is astonishing. It does not take a lot of imagination to think of how much power is burned on a regular basis at any given book manufacturing plant. The energy needed to run large equipment and machinery, heat bind pages, etc. may leave a larger carbon footprint than people had previously realized. Those who are concerned about “leaving no footprints” may want to consider whether or not buying brand new books is environmentally responsible or not. A recent news story highlighted the horror of mass publication when it reported that an entire publication of new books was pulped due to previously unnoticed typos.
Pollution
Everyone enjoys having a package show up on the front porch; however, having that new book set shipped to home may actually be a cause of pollution. Most people do not stop to consider the fact that books arrive via transportation – a.k.a. gasoline burning vehicles that leave a gigantic carbon footprint. When possible, avoid shipping physical copies of books. Instead, visit a local used bookstore or order an electronic copy of the bestseller you have been waiting for. Reading said bestseller on a Samsung Nook is just as satisfying as reading it via printed paper – maybe even more so.
Ink
The use of ink is a major concern of environmentalists. The problem is easily evidenced by the 350 million cartridges that end up in landfills on an annual basis. If homeowners use this much ink on a regular basis, then how much more ink must the publishing industry use for the mass production of traditionally printed books? The thought should be alarming to those who are concerned about about the tons of plastic discarded as ink cartridges are thrown away, or those who feel uncomfortable about the use of certain chemicals within common printing inks. Take action and protest the use of environmentally disrespectful items by purchasing eBooks instead of traditionally printed and published books.
Many people today are interested in “saving the planet;” however, very few people actually take the steps and make the actions necessary to make a difference. Even one person can make a difference by choosing more earth friendly alternatives in day-to-day living, such as the use of eBooks instead of the “norm.” Books and newspapers may seem totally normal and “in place” to citizens around the nation, but that should not be an excuse for the current lack of concern about paper waste. The prevalence of a problem does not make the problem okay. Take the time to choose which aspects of life ought to be changed in order to live in a more earth friendly lifestyle. Grab an eBook and curl up on a Fair Trade beanbag. The effort it takes to make these simple decisions is well worth it in the end – the world itself is at stake.
