A survey conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Oxfam found that most people still prefer paper books, with 2/3 saying they always pick paper books over digital ones. The researchers gathered 2000 participants from the United Kingdom to find out their thoughts.
Reasons why people prefer paper books
Of the respondents, 46% said that they liked turning paper pages, while 42% said they liked the feel of a paper book in their hand. About 1 in 4 liked the smell of books, 32% became more immersed in the story when they read a paper book and 16% were reminded of libraries.
Other participants liked paper books because of their aesthetic, with 35% displaying them in the background on zoom meetings. About 16% of the respondents preferred digital books, and only 8% chose audiobooks.
According to Dr Elena Touroni, the co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic and a consultant psychologist, paper books are preferred. They give the reader something more grounded and tangible. Dr Touroni also states the importance of reading as it provides us with an escape and an avenue to learn new things and expand our minds.
When asked about why they read, about 46% said it gave them a break from reality. Another 58% said it helped them relax, and 39% said it made them happy. Another 3 in 10 said that reading helped them learn new things.
Because of the movement restrictions caused by COVID-19, more of the participants (45%) said they have been reading. As the limits lift, about 84% plan to take their books with them on vacations.
Americans prefer second-hand books
About 75% of the participants plan on donating books they have read so far. Another 72% buy second-hand books. The study shows that books are one of the items people don’t mind buying second hand. When asked why they prefer to purchase second-hand books, some said it was better for the environment (52%), while others said they were cheaper (71%). About 18% admitted to liking the texture of the books, while the same percentage liked their smell, and 45% liked to imagine where the used books might have been before they bought them.
