Harris Interactive recently released a report that 15% of Americans use e-readers, and another 15% of those who do not already have an e-reader predict they will purchase one in the next six months. With these impressive statistics, it seems useful to take a moment to reflect on how we are adapting to the shift to digital. Here are three readers’ perspectives.
Patricia Murphy is a Senior Lecturer at Arizona State University where she teaches creative writing.
What genre(s) of writing do you primarily read?
I read fiction, creative nonfiction, short stories, memoir, literary novels, and recently I’ve been reading a lot of Food Writing, since I’ve been teaching a course on that. So some Michael Pollan, Anthony Bourdain, and Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Vegetable Miracle.
What platform(s) are you reading on?
I have a cat problem. That is to say I have a 16 year old cat with sore muscles so she must sit on me at all times. This makes it hard to read a paper book. I do still read them and I own over 1500 paper books and I haven’t stopped buying them. But I have really enjoyed reading mostly on my iPhone since it’s so easy to do even with a cat on me. I can read in bed without a light on, I can pull out my iPhone while waiting at the doctor’s office or at the movies or for a student. I love that it can also synch with my iPad and my MacBook Pro so it keeps my page no matter what device I pick up. I read on the MacBook Pro a lot when I’m composing because I like to alt-tab between my favorite books and my own writing to compare techniques like figurative language and narrative pace. I own a Kindle, but I prefer the interface on the Apple products. I read eBooks on both Kindle and Nook, and I would say I like Kindle better because I use my Amazon account more than my Barnes & Noble account.
What do you like/dislike about your chosen platform?
Some Kindle books still don’t give real page numbers. And when I read on the iPhone it can sometimes seem to take forever to read a book. There are some books that just don’t translate well. I do prefer to read poetry in paper form.
How do you foresee your reading style changing in the future?
I would really like to read more literary magazines in digital format. I hope that more books become available electronically. I recently ordered a used copy of a book that was hard to read because it was printed so long ago. I would have preferred having it in digital form but it was not offered.
Brett Ruffenach is a political science student.
What genre(s) of writing do you primarily read?
I read a lot of novels, nonfiction, and textbooks. Right now I’m in the middle of Bob Woodward’s Obama’s Wars.
What platform(s) are you reading on?
I read primarily on my iPad 2. I also have my textbooks for economics, geology, and empirical political inquiry on my iPad, which I read regularly.
What do you like/dislike about your chosen platform?
I like the iPad because it is just as immersive as a regular book, but much more functional and compact as a device. Apple has done a great job in iBooks in creating a graphic user interface that is similar to reading an actual book. I definitely can say that I miss the feel of holding a book in my hand, rather than a cold, glass and aluminum device. I think maybe the Kindle does a better job of simulating the feeling of holding a book. My textbooks have a new functionality that really comes in handy when reading. I can now instantly look up any word in the dictionary, Google any concept, and search the entire textbook for one specific thing that I’m unable to locate. My geology book, Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geography from Prentice Hall, has the most functionality. Whenever there is a reference to a figure, you can select it and it will take you right to where that figure is. You also can access the glossary at any point in the book, without having to leave your page. The book is streamed from the internet, but you have the option to download a specific chapter for offline reading if necessary. Since my other textbooks run on different programs, I would say that my Geology book seems to be the gold standard for how a textbook should function on a tablet.
How do you foresee your reading style changing in the future?
I think the biggest change coming to my reading style in the future is how I choose what to read. I usually pick up a book based on personal recommendations or critical acclaim. Now, browsing the iBookstore, I will be coming across more books, based on different criteria – popularity, customer reviews, whatever is put under the “What’s Hot” section, etc. I also think how I read textbooks will change to some degree. I notice myself not reading as in depth now, but instead skimming the concepts covered and finding more information on the internet.
Dillon Head is studying fiction and screenwriting.
What genre(s) of writing do you primarily read?
I’m mostly reading a lot of contemporary fiction right now.
What platform(s) are you reading on?
My preferred means of reading is still hard copy. I’ve been considering purchasing an e-reader for a while; the technology has really come a long away. My only real perceived drawback is that there are a lot of titles that still aren’t available. This will likely change as the technology becomes more prevalent.
What do you like/dislike about your chosen platform?
There is something to be said about having a physical book in your hand, but I think that’s mostly based on familiarity. I like being able to look at my bookshelf and see my books. Hard copy can be a pain because of how much space it takes up. A reader really allows you to carry around a near limitless number of titles because of wifi or even cellular network download capabilities.
How do you foresee your reading style changing in the future?
The only real reason that I don’t read digitally is because I haven’t gotten around to purchasing a reader. I got close once, but it was around the time that the iPad was coming out and I was worried that dedicated readers might be phased out, possibly resulting in a loss of company support for my device. I really believe that I and most other people are going to eventually make the transition to digital readers. I don’t believe that print books will ever completely be phased out, but their role is definitely changing.
