Friction
I’ve been conflicted about my ebooks lately.
Not conflicted about reading. Just how I'm reading.
I want to implement more reading into my routine, but I’m struggling with the friction of opening a physical book. And I’m starting to understand that I read more books when they’re digital.
And that pisses me off.
Because nothing is better than going to a book store, perusing a shelf of novels, and plopping myself down on the floor in front of it and cracking open a few books. Carrying my find around the store before finally purchasing it. Finding it a home on my own shelves.
I get none of that experience with ebooks. Click and download. Read immediately. Or immediately get forgotten.
I’m never passing an ebook in the hall, or sending it glances wondering if I should pick it up next. Ebooks go forgotten in apps that get shoved into phone folders.
I’m angry that when I do pick up an ebook, I fly through it. I’ve lost the friction of the heft of the book, the smell of the pages, the stiffness of the binding. It’s just so much faster and easier to swipe the pages, reading so fast that my brain doesn’t fully comprehend what I just read.
But when I pick up a physical book, that friction is back.
The friction that makes my brain pause and ask, “can I find this as an ebook?"*
What the fuck, man.
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I’m an absolute advocate for ebooks, audio books, physical books, whatever you need to do to get yourself reading again. But I’m frustrated that the experience that I used to love has been degraded.