I had hoped that this reaction was restricted to two-year-olds, but apparently adults have the same issue.
A study at Ohio State University showed that people begin to feel a sense of ownership for something that is not theirs after holding it for only 30 seconds.
And once our brain starts to feel ownership of an object, it gets instantly harder to part with that thing.
So when we stop by the Apple Store, pick up an iPad, and play with it, it’s a bit harder to walk out of that store without having bought one than it would have been if you’d never picked it up.
It struck me that this study relates to our conversation about whether people put aside a book they’re not enjoying.  It turns out that for many people, it’s easier to stop reading an ebook than a paper book.Â
And it made me wonder, do we get more attached to books we actually hold than books we read on ereaders?
I think that I do.
It’s certainly easier for me to put down an ebook and move on than it is to do the same with a paperback.
What about you?
Do you feel more connected to an actual book you hold, more than reading an ebook?
I can get lots of free ebooks that I might or might not turn out to like. I’m more likely to be connected to a physical book that I own, or I wouldn’t own it. However, when I pick up free dead-tree books that I might or might not turn out to like, they have no greater power over me in terms of starting/finishing them. Ebooks are light, inexpensive to make, and eco-friendly. So, I prefer them. No browning pages! No heavy massive lumps to cart around! My Kindle is a treasure.
I do really like the fact that ebooks don’t use up paper, don’t take up room if I throw them out, etc.
I do that somewhat too, but I do so love my Nook (and I recently won a Kindle). These books take up less space & they read just as well. I do truly love my ‘real’ books, but I am so very thankful for ebooks as well (and the freebies are awesome)!!
I always wonder who wins those kindles in giveaways! It’s never me! 🙂 Congrats!
I like having my real books at home as they are family, I have those that my grandparents had on their shelves, collections that my mom would send to me as gifts to take me away from the realities of being in a combat zone. Even when I travel with my iPad I always carry a book or two just in case the battery goes out and I can’t charge it. Those books I leave at places where they can be passed to another reader.
Your comment has so many beautiful things in it! books from grandparents, books as an escape from realities of combat, leaving books for others. Just lovely! And it does make me a little sad that none of that can be done with ebooks – or at least a lot of it can’t be done quite as well.
Yes! Thanks for this info. I never stopped reading a book in my life until recent years. I even slogged through “War and Peace”! I noticed that I am now putting books aside from time to time. I had lots of theories–getting older, cheaper books on ereaders, free books on Kindle Unlimited–but I think you have found the real answer. Certainly if I have less invested moneywise and I lack the emotional investment your article describes, then I feel more free to set aside poor writing or a book that fails to grab my attention.
Same with me. I used to ALWAYS finish books. Now, if I’m not enjoying it, I tend to drop it and move on. ANd for pure convenience sake, almost everything I read these days is an ebook. I do think there’s a relationship between the two!
No. I have vision issues, legally blind now, so the kindle for pc the one with the audio plug in plus narrator and speakonia is what I use. I go through 10-20 books a day, plus reviews on at least amazon, goodreads, bookbub, and the one site that gives review copies if that is where it needs to be posted, oh and also any aussie/brits they get posted on amazon uk and au.
I have quite a few books from before the vision issues, but am attached to them not because they are physical books or before can’t read that way anymore, but because of what they are…Tom Baker’s Who in the World is Tom Baker, ALL and do mean ALL the Tolkien books, ALL the Agatha Christie books including omnibus of her most 2 famous detectives and their short stories, The omnibus to HHGTTG, etc. I probably have at least a full room of bookcases, tall ones, of books have gotten and kept over the years, and with a few minor exceptions where lent them out and never got them back {something wouldn’t have to worry about with .mobi etc, and why don’t loan out physical ones anymore}, that’s more than most people have, and more than most bother to ever go back and read {which I do occasionally. when the wind is right and my vision is good enough for a bit}.
That is a lot of reading, and a lot of reviewing! I’m impressed!
They took the time to read them, and overall even with the very recent rating system change on amazon {which it usually flips to most of time if having to edit something} not too bad. Besides, I don’t give a run down of the plot, that is what the blurb and reading the book is for; may give something about whether on kindle unlimited, if that is how I got it, and then try to list all the current books out by the writer or at least that particular series, something like that. Ended up getting some ARC/advanced review copies and things that way, not that was angling for those, and primarily .mobi for kindle versus physical although have a few of those coming in from what my email notifications said.
Have ran in to a couple that posted it was basically soft porn, not romance, and at any rate the supernatural part was listed first and it was barely more than a few lines of description, then bad romance and even worse soft porn. My review was better reading than the ‘book’ and ‘writing’, to use that term as loosely as possible.Stated in review wished could give 0 stars.
I have “dropped uncompleted” three books in the past ten years or so, all of them hardback print versions. I have begun using the look inside feature on Amazon to check out the first page or two and as a result have set back two thirds of the books, frequently with a shudder.
The entry level for an eBook is so low not even the limbo champions can come close, but wrong words, misspelled words, sentences without a verb– some people read those stories with glee.
As for being more attached to hard copy than text files?
Yes. The book is the first working time machine. It allows a man to talk to and explain a subject to someone born a hundred years after he died. That has its own attraction.
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I love the Look Inside feature too. Has saved me some money!
Now that you mention it, I am much more attached to paper books than ebooks. But I am hugely attached to my tablet – which is what I’m actually holding. Fascinating!!!
I don’t know that I could read well on a tablet. I’m too distractible. I’d probably keep running off to check email or something. I can do ebooks on my kindle since there’s nothing to do there but read. (A reason why I don’t want to upgrade to a fancy kindle that does more!)
I never leave the house without my Kindle tablet but I think the reason I have a harder time leaving a paperback or hardback book and not finishing it is that it is a visual reminder that I have not finished it. With my tablet, I can delete it so it is out of sight, out of mind.
Yup, me too. It’s easy to cover up the evidence of quitting! 🙂
I agree that people get some sense of ownership with things they repeatedly handle. Having said that, to me it makes no difference if it’s a hard cover, paperback of e-book. If it’s good then ITS MINE! I have a wonderful iPhone 7+ which is ideal for book reading and can fit just as easily in purse or pocket. Thousands of books at my fingertips. What could be better? – Judith
I’m 66 years old and have been reading SF and Fantasy since I was twelve — and collecting books seriously for over 50 years. Of course I love the real thing vs. the e-book, and have over 12,000 books & SF/Fantasy magazines to prove it. But my wife bought me a Kindle 4 years ago, and while I’ve only finished 1 book on it since then, I have hundreds loaded, which I expect to move on to when I can no longer hold printed books comfortably.
Im somewhere north of 50 (let’s leave it at that). I spent a decade resisting e-books and have a library with shelves 2 books deep that are on every wall of our large finished basement, so I know where you are coming from. Having said that, when I finally gave in and accepted an e-reader gift (it was a nook) I got totally hooked by the convenience, at least when away from home (though I eventually converted to kindle as it’s selection is so much larger). Then, once I got my iPhone, my conversion became total. The ease and convenience factor – never having to worry about forgetting a book at home and always having my library at hand if I get some unexpected “off” time to read – are just too dramatic. So much so that at this point I actually resent it when any of my beloved “old friend” books aren’t in e-book form! – Judith
you two together might have more books than the tiny public library in my town! 🙂
Yes, I am very possessive about my actual books. And if I read an eBook that I really love I will order the hardcover/paperback version. That being said, I love having so many books on my iPad that would never fit in my house and I rarely leave my house without my iPad.
There are very few books I cannot finish, but I don’t think it matters if it is an eBook or a physical book. There have been physical books I haven’t finished (and eBooks that are sometime as expensive or more expensiveth than the printed version) and it is really disappointing when I have spent the money on a book that seems to have promise only to disappoint.
That’s interesting that if you like it, you want it in paperback. I think I’m the same way! ebooks are alright, but for a book I really love, I’d like to see it sitting on my shelf so I can pick it up and read it whenever I want to!
First, to your analogy of the iPad, I believe that is why certain stores (like the Apple store and Best Buy) allow customers to play with/test the technology before buying it. As to books, I used to be that way — maybe I still am — but I don’t buy physical books anymore due to the fact that I can no longer read the print in them. I own an eReader because of that fact. So, I probably would still feel that way if I could read them.
the convenience and special perks of ereaders really is a big deal. I recently got a book from the library, and the print is so small, it’s killing my eyes (and making me feel old!) I’ve had reading glasses for a while for tiny print on stuff, but this was the first paper book that gave me grief. I do wish I had it on ebook so I could just enlarge the text.
I never really thought about it before, but now that I did, you are right! I can part with an e-book much easier than an actual book. The author still plays a part in it though. For instance, Mercedes Lackey writes many different types of genres. Some I can’t get into. ( alternate reality history) it was YEARS before I stopped getting her books just because they had her name on them. Some I have never read past the first few chapters. Ebooks don’t feel as personal and with a limited budget I get a lot of mine from KU. There really is a disconnect there because they aren’t mine.
oh, interesting! I’m not in KU, but I can see how the fact that it’s a rental would make it seem even less ‘yours’.
Nope. If I pick up something thats not mine, I feel like I’m borrowing it, not that it’s mine.
Ebooks however I find way more convenient than paper ones, as my ereader app of choice also does txt to spech, so I can read so far normally, then listen in the car as well.
THat’s a great thing for an app to do! I may have to find that and use it!
Kindle (Android, iOS) (Free)
Moon+ Reader (Android) (Free)
and there are more, some not free, not familiar with ios phones at all just android, and not overly familiar with which android phones/tablets have audio ability thru which book and/or if someone has to buy the whispersync or whatever, however, Kindle for PC with Audio plugin NOT just the regular kindle for pc download, has the ability to read anything that kindle can read as well as with narrator which is available at least for my pc and with free to download but no longer supported speakonia customizes narrator even more and in more ways, I use it all the time, and the books can still be pulled up on the cloud reader just haven’t played with it enough to see if can get it to customize more
ooh, thanks!
I use Cool Reader, which has various versions.
If I like the book, I can read it regardless of format. Saying that, I delete from the devices faster than getting of a good tangible book. Now, if I LOVE the author and the series, i will go out and buy the physical books to add to my library. Before I had to downsize for my move 11 years ago, I had 572 vampire novels. I kept my absolute favorites including those no longer in print. Now, I am redesigning my room to add bookshelves to hold my physical books.
572 vampire books! That’s a lot of long teeth! We’re working on ways to fit more bookshelves in our smaller home too, lately.
No, it isn’t easier to put down an ebook. I carry my phone everywhere and read everything on it. Maybe not completely through all at once, but it will get read! I have only ever not read one book on my phone because it was wayyyy too raunchy for me. I had paperbacks that I donated just because I couldn’t read them. :/
Funny, once someone told me they read raunchy books on their ereader just so they didn’t have to hide the cover. 🙂
As I told a friend of mine who writes ‘raunchy’ books — I know how to have sex, I don’t have to read about it.. 😀 She is still laughing weeks later..
I don’t think I’m more attached to a print book than I do to an eBook. I finish both regardless of how much interest I have in either one. I finish each one completely. I just love to read. I can’t remember a time I didn’t finish a book. I might set one aside for awhile but I always go back and finish it at a later time.
That’s impressive to me!
I love my paperbacks but nowadays it is much easier to have my phone or kindle that a book. I still feel like I have to finish the book and post a review either way
Me too. And we’ve downsized houses so we got rid of a LOT of bookshelves. I just don’t have room for paperback any longer!
I bought a house a couple of years ago and haven’t finished the remodeling and all of the items are in this one room. As soon as we are ready to us it for something other than storing all of the stuff for remodeling I am adding shelves. I have to have somewhere to put my signed paperbacks.
That’s fascinating. We’re told in car sales, to get you into the vehicle and have you drive it, telling you the entire while the awesome features of “your new car”. I guess I really never thought about it in that way before. And regarding to the ereader, it’s so much easier to just click off the book rather than put the actual book down. I always feel bad when I put a book down, LOL
in one of the articles I read about this, they mentioned car sales! How much more you want a car after you’ve test driven it. 🙂
And yes, I feel bad too putting down a book. Good point about how easy it is to click off an ebook.
Yes. I have found I’m more likely to read an actual book then an ebook (though I have several downloaded). I also don’t read books online on my computer often because I can’t get connected as easily.
ooh! Good point! I can’t read books on my computer at all! I can do ebooks on my kindle, but somehow I don’t have the concentration for it on my computer.
For me, sometimes I read better on my Kindle while other times I read a paperback easier. If I can’t get through a hard copy I try the ebook version and vice versa.
That’s interesting! I’ve always assumed if I didn’t like a book, I just didn’t like it. Haven’t ever tried one in a different format.
I would rather hold the book to read and carry it around with me than read the ebook if I have the choice
Me too. I think I primarily do ebooks out of convenience.
I definitely prefer the actual book. I will read an ebook but I am less likely to finish it, unless it is a book I really wanted to read and I haven’t bought a physical copy yet. I love books and an ebook is just not the same.
I prefer actual book too. I just find myself getting ebooks out of convenience. Someone needs to invent an ebook that feels like a real book. 🙂
I have similar reactions to both; for instance, EBooks & paper books I have not read in either collections. My preference now depends on genre or if it becomes a fave book I wish to own physically in paper. Also, love eBooks for their portability with less weight to carry multiple books wherever I am depending on my mood on what to read. I love both types.
I love the portability of ebooks, too. Love that I can just slip it in my purse!
an extra special session spanning most of the morning and into the afrotnoen. It was super fun, and Baby Sierra and her adorable sister Alana were in prime