If you had asked me this question a few years ago—"Would you rather sit with a pile of books and dive in or go digital with e-books?"—I would’ve answered without hesitation: give me the pile of books. I used to love it when i could flip through physical pages, especially when studying or reading something deep. There’s a kind of peace that comes with sitting down, book in hand, and just diving in without any distractions from devices or notifications.
But that was before university happened.
When I got into the university, everything changed. Suddenly, the whole reading culture around me shifted. Physical textbooks became harder to get, and most of the notes shared by lecturers or classmates came in PDF format. It started slowly, just downloading a few files here and there. But over time, I realized I was reading more on my phone than from actual books. My phone literally became my bag of books. Whether it was lecture slides or past questions, everything was sent digitally. If you weren’t used to reading from a screen, you'd fall behind fast.
Now, I’m more on the digital side than I ever thought I would be. It’s not that I don’t still love real books—I honestly do. But I’ve come to appreciate the convenience that comes with digital reading. Carrying five huge textbooks in a backpack just can’t compete with carrying hundreds of books in a device that fits in your pocket. It's lighter, faster, and honestly, a lifesaver during exam season.
One of the best things about e-books or PDFs is how easy it is to search for a specific word or topic. Instead of flipping through hundreds of pages looking for that one definition or line I highlighted weeks ago, I just type in a keyword and boom—there it is. Highlighting, copying notes, and bookmarking pages—it all just happens with a tap. It’s efficient, especially during those late-night study sessions. When i want to read and I don’t want to disturb anyone in the room by switching on the light. During this period, my phone’s screen became my personal study lamp.
Another thing is storage. In a small student room where space is a luxury, having fewer physical books helps a lot. Plus, I’ve come to appreciate apps that let me organize my PDFs by subject, course, or semester. It makes studying feel a bit more structured.
That said, I still get nostalgic about physical books. If I want to fully disconnect or enjoy a lazy weekend read, a real book is still my go-to. There's no temptation to open WhatsApp, TikTok, or check Instagram when I'm reading. It’s just me and the story, no distractions.
So, what would I rather do? These days, I balance both. I still enjoy reading real books, but I can’t deny the practicality of digital ones—especially as a student. PDFs have become a big part of my academic life, and honestly, they’ve made things easier.
In the end, it’s not really about choosing one over the other. It’s about choosing what works best for the moment. And for now? PDFs and e-books are holding it down for me.
Thanks for reading.