Yesterday, while enjoying my weekly sojourn into the happy environs of Woman’s World Magazine, I came across a fun tid-bit on reading. Before jumping into that, I’d like to make a little plug for Woman’s World.
Fun, uplifting weekly read.
My sister introduced me to the publication a few years ago, and while I don’t read it either for the weight loss miracles splashed on the front cover, or for the gooey, yummy, sure to create 3,000 calorie recipes consistently taking up seven to eight pages inside, I find myself smiling more and feeling positive after reading through. Most articles are very short, and packed full of happy-talk. There’s a new issue every week, and I appreciate that in this world of constant reduction in creative writing opportunities, Women’s World still produces a short mystery and romance story every week. How cool is that?
Anyway, in an article entitled, Your Hands Hold the Key to Less Stress, Better Brainpower, and More Happiness, author Maria Lissandrello, had this to say about reading a book:
“In a recent study, people who read a book on an e-reader had much more difficulty remembering plot points than those who read the same story on paper. Researchers say that simply turning the pages and watching “the pile of pages growing on the left and shrinking on the right” helps sharpen your focus as you eagerly anticipate getting to the end of the novel.
Boost the benefit . . . by reading a mystery! Reading a mystery delivers big brain benefits, enhancing your memory as you recall clues while trying to solve what whodunit!”
This seems plausible to me. I remember when email was still new. I printed out several of my messages because my eyes seemed to “hurt” while trying to read the screen in those olden days. I also seemed to miss a lot of the message in the effort. Several of my friends at the time expressed feeling the same way.
Which do you prefer?
Today, with better screen resolution, and a couple of decades’ experience, I don’t print so many missives and don’t complain about the headachy feel to reading on-screen. But I do notice more of a “dyslexic” feel to my reading. It’s easier to skim over words and mis-read them or not see them at all.
I read both on an e-reader (iPad), and in the traditional form. Have to admit there is something more substantial feeling about reading a book. I love the smell of the ink on the page, the sound of chapters turning over under my fingers, and the satisfaction of flipping back and forth and all around (especially in books with several sub-heads and graphics). You just don’t get that full reading experience on a tablet.
YET, e-readers are terrific too. If you’re reading in bed, you can turn out the lights and still read. If the text starts to blur late at night, you can change the size and keep on going. If you’re comfortable laying and reading on one side, you don’t need to roll over as you try to read the other side of the page.
Retention? Hmm. When I was young, I could “picture” words and facts from the reading I did, so that while I didn’t ever finish my professors’ reading recommendations, that which I did consume stayed in my head at test time.
Today, as I look things up more and more on-line, I find I have to read them three, four, or more times before something sticks. I thought I was just getting old (well, that I am), and my brain was fading (no blue-hair jokes please). Maybe this lack of sharpness has something to do with the idea that I’m not as physically involved in reading with electronic reads. At least that will be my excuse for today.
What do you think? Is e-reading hurting or supporting a good reading experience in your life?
Wishing you a great week. I’m off to go find a nice, printed-on-paper book.
