Call it a problem of excess if you must. If you told someone even a few decades ago that you’d be overwhelmed with too much entertainment, too many choices, too many possibilities, they’d envy your charmed existence. We literally have the entirety of human knowledge at our fingertips. Even before you can choose where to begin, you must first select the format. And as much as I’ve been trying to read more lately, I’ve also had to think about the best way to read a book. Is there even a best way?

I read 33 books last year. I’m quite proud of that, honestly, especially since the original goal was only one book a month. And when I say “read,” that includes all three major formats: physical, digital, and audio. Some people might say that listening to an audiobook isn’t really reading; I’ll leave the semantics up to you to decide.

The People Have Spoken

Having consumed nearly three dozen books across these various formats, I couldn’t really decide which was the best way to read a book. I mean, they all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Curious as to what other people thought, I ran a quick Twitter poll. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of responses went to the physical book. I was taken aback, though, that the tablet/smartphone garnered nearly a quarter of the votes.

I was surprised by that observation because, at least for me, reading is a means of escaping the glowing displays that surround our lives. Like so many other people, I spend much of my waking hours either staring at my phone, my computer, or my television. These screens are everywhere. No matter what I choose, the best way to read a book for me does not involve an illuminated display.

Well, that’s not completely true either. I have a Kindle Oasis (2017), and its display does indeed light up. The excuse — and I feel it’s a very valid one — is that the e-ink display is far easier on the eyes. The light is softer and doesn’t have the same kind blue wavelength light as a regular LCD. It also means it’s far more convenient for reading in bed at night.

Book Format Comparison

If you follow me on Goodreads, you’ll see that I often have at least a couple of books on the go at any given time. What you don’t see is that each book is likely in a different format. I’ll have one physical book, one Kindle book and one audiobook, for example. That’s because I read each of these book formats under different circumstances.

Physical Books

I’m not going to waste your time by waxing poetic on the indescribable joy that comes from the physical feel and smell of the printed page. Book lovers will agree there’s something special there, even if it defies logic.

For my part, children’s books and graphic novels in particular are best consumed in a physical format. Pictures come alive on a printed page in a way that an illuminated screen can’t replicate. Physical books are likely the least convenient of the bunch, though they’re also the most accessible.

Ebooks

If you enjoy the Sunday Snippet series on this blog, then you’ve already reaped the benefits of ebook reading. Aside from the ability to carry literally thousands of books in one hand, another big advantage to the Kindle is that I can highlight a section of text. At any point, I can then send all that highlighted text to myself via email. This is great for reference, like when I want to pull a quote for a blog post.

Ebooks, though, aren’t nearly as good for any non-sequential reading. When studying, you might flip back and forth through a textbook. You can do that with an ebook reader, but it’s not quite the same experience. Graphics and pictures don’t render very well on a black-and-white e-ink display either.

You can counter that by reading your ebooks on your smartphone or tablet. This has the added advantage of convenience, as you already carry your phone everywhere… but it takes away the “easier on the eyes” advantage of an e-ink display.

Audiobooks

Given how aggressively Amazon promotes Audible — by sponsoring podcasts and YouTube videos, especially — I’m honestly quite surprised that only 5 percent of votes went toward audiobooks in my informal Twitter poll. To be fair, audiobooks probably aren’t the best way to read a book if you enjoy the physical act of reading a book.

But, audiobooks are fantastic for when you’re doing something else. Listening to an audiobook during your daily commute, at the gym, or while doing housework is incredibly convenient. This, however, lends itself to a more passive reading experience. I often feel compelled to do something else while listening to an audiobook. As a result, I can feel less engaged with the material.

Another big consideration is that you need a good narrator, ideally a professional voice actor, to have a great audiobook experience. I thought Ready Player One, read by Wil Wheaton, was tremendous. Some other audiobooks? Not so much.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Honestly, it really depends on the context, the content, and the motivation behind your reading choice. As my choice to read more books is a deliberate attempt to “get away” from “screen time,” reading on a tablet or smartphone just isn’t for me. I love the convenience of the Kindle, but it’s far more affordable to borrow physical books from the public library.

I recently discovered the Libby app by OverDrive. This grants me access to audiobooks by way of my local library too. The borrowing process is much the same as an actual physical book, with three week loan periods, hold requests, and all the rest of it. Unfortunately, the audiobook selection is nowhere near as expansive as actual books at the actual library.

So, long story slightly less long, I’ll continue to read my books across multiple formats. And, usually with at least a couple on the go at the same time. What about you? What do you feel is the best way to read a book? Do you prefer to listen to audiobooks while driving? Curling up with a paperback under a tree at the park? I say as long as you’re reading, that’s a good thing.