Which Is Better: Book vs. Ebook vs. Audiobook?

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. 

The pros and cons of paper books

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

• The experience of focusing on one object, without the distraction of other apps
• Learning can be enhanced by the tactile experience of highlighting, underlining, or even just turning a physical page
• No exposure to blue light
• No reliance on electricity to use
• Can be decorative as well
• Accessible in places where technology is limited
• Easily giftable, especially for kids

Cons

• Take up more physical space and weight than many electronic devices, particularly impacting storage and travel
• Less environmentally friendly than digital or audiobooks
• More easily damaged
• Often more expensive than ebooks

The pros and cons of ebooks

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

• Conveniently accessible on everyday electronic devices
• Easy to copy and paste for note-taking or research
• May have interactive elements such as links to sources
• Often cheaper than printed books
• More environmentally friendly than printed books
• Easy to travel with, assuming you have a power source

Cons

• Exposure to blue light
• Requires electricity
• Less tactile than a printed book
• Less decorative than a printed book

The pros and cons of audiobooks

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

• Frees up your hands and eyes as you read, allowing for multi-tasking
• Beneficial for auditory learners
• Can include inflection, tone, and sound effects to enhance storytelling
• Ability to engage as a group by listening together with family or friends

Cons

• Requires a quiet environment or a headset
• Requires electricity
• Less tactile than a printed book
• Less decorative than a printed book
• For illustrated or visually-reliant books, clarity is lost

Which format is best for you?

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.