This might actually sound very odd coming from someone who really values knowledge and learning, but I’ve never really been a fan of flipping through stacks of books. And it’s not because I’ve grown much older or maybe become overly busy. Honestly, right from my secondary school days, I just never had the patience to actually sit through an entire textbook or even my subject notebook.
Back then, I had my own system of reading. I would try as much as possible to listen very closely in class and figure out the areas of concentration from my teachers and that was because I made sure to befriend every one of them. Then I would focus on just the key points. I wasn’t the type to read every single word on every page. No, I simply couldn’t afford that kind of time or energy. So, I made it work for me by trimming the fat and getting straight to the substance and I got so used to that method.
After secondary school, I thought it was time for me to grow up, advance in knowledge and become a reader of serious books; I mean the ones that would motivate you to think that you’re the only unserious person on earth and strive to beat Elon Musk. I mean, everyone was reading them, right? They promised personal growth, success, and even transformation. But the truth is that I don’t think I even made it past chapter two in most of them. And it’s not because I didn’t want to improve, but because the format was just giving a boring vibe. These days, holding a book is almost like a lullaby to my brain. Within a few minutes, I’m fast asleep as long as I’m holding a book. Books have somehow become my sleep inducer.
But I get a whole different vibe when you hand me a PDF version of that same book. You’ll definitely meet a different version of me. I’ll just get so engaged, too alert, and you’ll see me flipping through digital pages as if I’m chasing the ending of a thrilling story.
There was even one time I got so obsessed with Chinese fantasy novels; you know those long, dramatic stories filled with action, magic, and emotional thrillers. Some of them had over 5,000 chapters (oh yes, you read that right), and honestly, I finished multiple of them in just two months. If those books were in physical form, I tell you, I probably wouldn’t have read past chapter five. But on my phone? I couldn’t get enough. I even read some of them repeatedly.
I think, for me, it boils down to comfort. Reading on a screen just feels so easier and more natural to me. I can zoom in, highlight, search for specific lines, and carry a whole library in my pocket. I like the glow of the screen, the portability, and the way I can adjust my environment to match my present mood.
Sometimes I wonder how I’ll convince my kids in the future to actually read when I can’t even show them an example. Like how do I preach the gospel of “read your books” when my own books are tucked away in my iCloud? I think I’ll have to find a balance between showing them the value of content, regardless of the format.
At the end of the day, it’s not about how thick the book is or how beautiful the cover looks. It’s about what works for you. For me, PDFs have always worked and I think they always will.
All images are mine
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