Why You (May) Read Faster on an E-Reader

In my last post, I talked about people generally reading faster on an e-reader as opposed to a print book. This time I'm going to explore why this may be the case. I can't speak for all readers of digital books, but I will share with you some of the reasons why I probably read faster with my Kindle:

• I can adjust the font size.  I love that I'm not restricted to the publisher's font size. I can choose a size that's comfortable for my eyes to read. I can also choose a serif or sans serif font, if I'd like.
• I can read in dark mode.  If you're not aware of this, dark mode puts text in white against a black background. This makes it easier on the eyes to read in low-light situations. It's an eye-saver for me to use dark mode to read in bed at night.
• It's lighter to hold than a print book.  My Kindle weighs far less than most books. Also, I don't have to hold it open or even hold it at all (I actually have a triangular pillow pad on which to prop it).
• I can get a book anytime.  If I finish my book outside of library hours, I don't have to wait for the library to open to get my next read. I can get it at 11 p.m., 6 a.m., or whenever.

Not too long ago, someone who prefers reading print books told me I went over to the "dark side" and "drank the Kool-Aid." I replied that the dark side is pretty nice and the Kool-Aid tastes good. Not everyone may agree with me regarding the use of e-readers, and that's okay. I will say, however, to be open to different things because you just never know if you may discover something new to enjoy.

Wishing you delightful refreshments to accompany your reading from the perch.

With What Do You Read Faster?

Do you read a paper book faster or an electronic book? That is the question for today since I stumbled across this article claiming we perceive that we read faster on an e-reader.

When I first started reading ebooks on my Kindle during the pandemic, I admit that I had to adjust to reading on a screen and swiping across it to advance rather than turning a physical page. However, once I grew accustomed to using an e-reader, I was like a fish taking to water. It indeed felt like I was reading faster on a screen than a printed page. I thought that must have been my imagination. Did I really read more ebooks than print?

To get to the bottom of things, I went to my LibraryThing page to see how many print books I read throughout 2019 (my last pre-pandemic year of reading strictly print) versus how many ebooks I've read this year (post-pandemic) so far. Surprise--I listed 10 books in all of 2019 compared to 19 books in 2023 and there are still 3 MONTHS left in the year! I actually do read more on my Kindle than in print! Who knows how many books I'll have read by December 31?

According to a blog called Simone and Her Books, 66 percent of people say they read faster on an e-reader, while 34 percent say they read slower. Wow! Bear in mind that Simone didn't do a scientific study; she got these percentages from people who responded to her topic-related question on Bookstagram. If it's true that people read faster on readers, it would be interesting to ponder why that's the case, something that's best left for another post.

Do you feel you read faster on an e-reader or in print? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads (electronic or in print) from the perch.