Reading is better

I haven't participated in the Weekend Engagement concept for a long time. But finally, I'm back.

I'm sure that most of the people over 30 years old will prefer to read books rather than to listen to them in audiobook format. I know that the main reason will be nostalgia for feeling the paper with their fingers and smelling the paper and other details that come with having a physical book.

Of course, all these advantages are lost when the book is only available in ebook format. Even so, I know they will want to read rather than listen.

I'm 29 years old (almost 30). I'm in the middle of a generation that knows how to wait and is more focused, and another generation that is more addicted to instant gratification. I have characteristics of both groups, but especially of the non-digital natives. Although my preference leans toward reading, I can mention other reasons that not exactly include nostalgia.

First, I have to mention that listening to audiobooks has its own advantages. The main one, I think, is that while you are listening to a fascinating story or an interesting economic theory, you can do other things at the same time, such as washing the dishes, for example. It is also a relief for those with low vision, or those for whom focusing their eyes is a real nuisance. Another small advantage is that wherever you go, you have a kind of express theater, where each character has their own voice and the narrator sets the right tone according to the moment of the story being told.

Now, living in a country that is barely a country anymore, I have my own reasons for reading, especially physical books. I prefer books that hide mysteries. They can be detective stories or horror stories, of course, with a touch of humor, because I really like to laugh.

If there are power blackouts almost all day long, how can I keep my cell phone charged enough to listen to my favorite novel? If my phone is stolen, broken, or lost, how can I continue learning about finance and other topics?

I don't need electricity to read a good physical book. I don't bother anyone with characters on speakerphone, nor do I need headphones to avoid disturbing others. It's just me and my book and no one else. Whenever I need to consult it, it will be there.

_{English isn't my native lenguaje. Text translated with DeepL}