Screen and books.
Much like the obvious difference between listening and reading, reading books on a screen as opposed to an actual book have various qualities that cater to the distinct experiences.
Scrolling has become a default state. The nature of scrolling is like information foraging. There is an interesting non-committal aspect to it. Whereas we look for things to grab us but do not let them hold us too long because we want to see what else is available.
Criminally absent attention spans, diminished short term memory and depleting dopamine reserves can all be blamed on the act of endless, insatiable scrolling.
We are reminded of this when we click an article that interests us. Most of the time we look to the right to see how big that scroll bar is. This fools us into calculating how much time it will take. Density, ads, spacing, are all hidden in the size of the trickster scroll bar.
Reading on a screen has made us impatient digital content snobs. Rightfully so. Time is our most precious resource, and we don’t want to waste it on dodging ads or reading boring material. But it seems that we’d much rather spend our time in the search than in the actual act of reading. Like finding the best apple on the tree, taking a bite and toss it over our shoulder and leave it to rot for the scavengers.
This is not a sustainable way to read. For one it takes the magic out of enjoying the great work that is out there. We can argue that the quest of scrolling leads us to better things that fit our interest. But it is important to mention the difference between optimized learning and the simple joy of reading.
This is where we can come to appreciate the nature of books. The physical realm engaging our senses; the feel of the old yellowing pages, the enchanting aroma, and the weight in our hands as the scale of progress thickens from right to left. Aside from the physical and sensual experience of a book, there is the fact that book is in of itself a thing that has a measurable number of pages and words within it.
When you read the book, you are doing just that, which means your attention is encapsulated in the unique experience offered in those pages.
The physical aspect of books is also one of its great limitations. During my friend’s first tour in Afghanistan, he returned with 60 pounds of books. Upon his second deployment, he fit his kindle in his bag.
The screen offers unlimited options for what it can display. Our minds respond differently to the screen because we do so much else with it.
There is no substitute for holding a physical book in your hand. The digital world allows us to hold all the great works in our hand on the same screen, but it comes at the cost of being grounded in the physical realm, for better or worse.
The subtle difference is one of attention as much as physical and aesthetic. Discriminating the experiences of scrolling, skimming, and immersing yourself in a book allows us to become more present with what we are doing.
Rushing through the things we want to enjoy is a symptom of scrolling. Screens are intended to enhance our lives, not speed them up so it passes by without us being aware. When comparing reading on a screen to reading a book, consider the pace as an integral part of the experience.