Comic Weighs in on the Debate Over Reading Online

Do prefer to read real, physical paperbound books over electronic devices? Or are you one of the Kindle, iPhone, or even laptop reading converts? Debate over whether or not ebooks provide a satisfying reading experience has been going on for years, long before the Amazon Kindle ever debuted. But with the popularity of modern ebook readers, the discussion around this topic has exploded.


Courtesy of BoingBoing, I discovered this amazing comic from artist Lucy Knisley. As someone who, like me, grew up reading on computer screens, Lucy brings up some really interesting points from a younger generation of readers for whom ebooks don't seem so strange. She calls the comic 'Downloading Optimism (Pessimism Virus Detected)'.

Whether or not you agree with her about ebooks, I think she points out one thing that is often overlooked: the experience of reading online can be just as rich and nostalgic as with an actual paper-and-ink book. I know many die-hards will disagree, but I'm siding with Lucy on this one. She respects and even loves ebooks without ever feeling the need to disparage or abandon print. As she puts it, 'I'd just rather not expend all my energy worrying over how my words are delivered, and instead concentrate on the quality and content of the words.'

Now isn't that a sentiment we can all get behind? Let us know what you think in the comments. And this weekend, curl up with your favorite book, delivered in whatever way you see fit.