Even though technology plays a huge role in young people's lives, NBC reports that 92% of college students would rather read more serious material in a good, old-fashioned book.
According to a study conducted by Naomi Baron, an American University linguistics professor, college students prefer to read paper books over electronics like laptops, tablets, and e-readers.
Baron spoke about her study in an interview with The New Republic:
"There are all kinds of reasons students will give—"I have a sense of accomplishment when I finish a book and I want to see it on the shelf." They care about the smell of a book. In the Slovakian data, when I asked what do you like most about reading in hard copy, one out of ten talked about the smell of books. There really is a physical, tactile, kinesthetic component to reading."
The magic of paper books is truly undeniable.
Baron wrote about this research in her new book, Words Onscreen: The Fate of Reading in a Digital World.
