Physical vs Digital Reading

Comments debate the experience of reading physical books versus digital content on phones and computers, discussing factors like eye strain, focus, distractions from social media, and overall effectiveness for deep reading.

➡️ Stable 0.7x Other
3,022
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#9018
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
4
2008
20
2009
62
2010
105
2011
84
2012
93
2013
126
2014
110
2015
115
2016
93
2017
163
2018
183
2019
221
2020
222
2021
207
2022
279
2023
245
2024
337
2025
316
2026
39

Keywords

TV OP reading books book reading books read screen phone paper phones physical

Sample Comments

wredcoll Nov 8, 2025 View on HN

Why not just... read on your phone then?

bobcat9 Dec 28, 2017 View on HN

Start reading books instead of consuming digital content piecemeal.

crispyalmond Jun 30, 2022 View on HN

I'd like this too, I'm not one to read a physical book, but I'm constantly reading on my phone & computer

andrelaszlo Jun 11, 2019 View on HN

Just out of curiosity, would you have preferred reading it on paper? Long reads on screens are not so fun imo.

nine_k Dec 30, 2021 View on HN

If reading from paper and reading from a screen are materially different to you, could you outline the difference?

funcDropShadow Dec 15, 2024 View on HN

Because many people will read different content than in physical book form.

readthenotes1 Jul 22, 2024 View on HN

Heh Maybe reading a good physical book for the same time would work as well??

interestica Nov 21, 2020 View on HN

I'm wondering if it's due to a shift in where the reading occurs (eg paper vs screen)

vetinari Nov 5, 2015 View on HN

Not everyone is reading on the computer all the time.Try using phone and you will get his point.

kansface Nov 27, 2024 View on HN

Why not just read a book or two?