Do you prefer ebooks over books? \ stacker news ~BooksAndArticles

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860 sats \ 32 comments \ @ek 6h BooksAndArticles

Today, I went to my local book store to order the third edition of Mastering Bitcoin.¹

The clerk said they couldn't order the printed version of the third edition, only the second edition, but they had it available as an ebook. I tried to hide my disappointment and only said, "Then … not. Thank you anyway, bye!"

While walking home, I remembered that I had also wanted to read How to Win Friends and Influence People for a long time.² So I walked back and asked if they could order it. The reply was the same: only the ebook was available (I also wanted the English version, not some possibly weird German translation).

While walking home again, I wondered if I'm being too altmodisch and if I should just get with the times and buy the ebook versions instead of bothering with the printed ones. Then I also wouldn't have to wait for delivery, I would always know where my ebooks are, I would never accidentally flip more than one page, I would spend less money, and a heavy book couldn't smack me in the face if I accidentally dropped it while reading in bed.³

I would describe myself as someone who has grown very skeptical of any technology, but especially of new technology. I think technology is turning us into something that following generations might not have a problem with, because they won't even know what they are missing out on, just like I don't know what I'm missing out on. I try to use technology very selectively and be aware of what it does to me, even though I wouldn't necessarily say I'm good at it. But I'm at least trying, you know?

Anyway, what do the stackers think? Do you prefer ebooks over books?

I've read the second edition of Mastering Bitcoin years ago, but the 2026 BOSS Challenge from Chaincode specifically mentioned we should read the third edition. Makes sense because of the major changes. ↩
I heard good things about it iirc, but is it really worth reading it? Can someone here recommend it? ↩
I'm assuming an ebook reader hurts less and/or is easier to hold. ↩

ebooks29.6%

books70.4%

27 votes \ 17h left

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2 replies \ @ek OP 6h

Oh, I forgot to mention: paying for the ebook version of Mastering Bitcoin might even be a scam, because it's available for free online.

67 sats \ 1 reply \ @optimism 4h

Paying for it is honoring v4v, I think. Can even just read the online version and then pay for the ebook as a zap.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @SimpleStacker 4h

i'd argue that depending on the format, the ebook may also offer additional functionality than the free online version. Having searchable notes has been a very useful feature for me with ebooks

221 sats \ 0 replies \ @Scoresby 5h

I used to have a twenty-foot tall bookcase that was full of books. I built it into my stairwell. I really loved those books. I had a very hard to find copy of the journals of a Tasmanian missionary who was also a jerk; I had every book by William Vollmann, I had several shelves of 1970s scifi; everything Steinbeck published; three copies of Catch-22; the complete collection of Robert E Howard; numerous journals of Arctic explorers; and a paperback copy of Wisconsin Death Trip.

I don't own any books now.

My conversion to ebooks happened in this way: I like the convenience of getting things right away and being able to access them instantly.

That said, I don't like ebooks as much as I like webpages.

123 sats \ 0 replies \ @optimism 4h

ebooks, because single page and dark mode.

100 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 3h

Also, it's interesting that even though you work in tech, you are becoming more anti-tech. I have a friend who said something similar. He works for Google and he says the longer he works in tech the more anti-tech he becomes...

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek OP 8m

Mhh, yeah, maybe it's related to how, when you see how the sausage is made, you no longer want to have the sausage? Even though, taken literally, in my case I did not enjoy sausages any less after I looked up how they are made.

Another example might be bitcoin's culture: I feel like the more I get involved with in it, the more of a normie I become again. It’s that repulsive sometimes … haha

256 sats \ 1 reply \ @SpaceHodler 4h

eBooks all the way. They're downloadable, searchable and extractable from with LLMs. And I can t2s them with Librera.

I don't need paper to take space and gather dust.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek OP 14m

Had to ask ChatGPT what t2s means, haha:

Great point! Extra sats for being the only one who brought this up.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @samhainsam 4h

This is such a difficult question! But I guess, it depends on the book. Ebooks are very convenient and are at available as soon as I want them but physical books are still irreplaceable, there's nothing like flipping through the pages and holding the book and when you finish it, looking at it like it just brought you to like, in my experience.

150 sats \ 2 replies \ @StillStackinAfterAllTheseYears 6h

I prefer physical books, but for casual reading, I don't dislike ebooks (when I'm traveling, would much rather have a kindle with 50 novels on it than a bunch of larger and heavier items). But for reference books of any sort? Absolutely want them physically - I end up flipping back and forth constantly, and a PDF isn't the same.

71 sats \ 0 replies \ @WeAreAllSatoshi 6h

I agree with this. The one thing I really like about ebooks for reference is the ability to control-f search. Casual reading I prefer physical books, but I also don’t do much casual reading

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek OP 4m

when I'm traveling, would much rather have a kindle with 50 novels on it than a bunch of larger and heavier items

Great point! I usually bring one book with me, but then I'm not interested in reading that particular book.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @itsTomekK 5h

I prefer ebooks for convenience... unless there is lots of pictures, graphs, reference pages to which one needs to get back often - then paper wins

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @BlokchainB 3h

IRL books > Screen books

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @j7hB75 5h

Depends. If it’s a technical book that I will be flipping around in and referencing material frequently, then physical book is the way to go. Otherwise, casual reading is more convenient to have in ebook fashion.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @0xbitcoiner 5h

Physical books are always gonna be my jam, but I gotta admit, sometimes an ebook is better. This probably ain't a big deal for most folks, but you can't forget that a sweet physical book, especially if it's a hardcover, still holds some value, just in case you wanna flip it later. I don't recall seeing a secondary market for ebooks!

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @BITC0IN 3h

that's a hard No.

physical books are superior in every way.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek OP 2m

Really in every way?

50 sats \ 0 replies \ @SimpleStacker 6h

For the most part I prefer either ebook or audio book now. Part of it is simple space constraints: the house is already overflowing with too many books, I don't want to add to the clutter.

But even without that constraint, I still prefer ebook if it's something I plan to study, teach on, or write a review about. The search and note taking features are too helpful to pass up

10 sats \ 2 replies \ @DarthCoin 5h

are audio books considered ebooks? Because for my age and weak eye-sight, the audio books are the solution...

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 5h

Not going to zap anything you write until you re enable Bitcoin MoE on your SN account.

For gods sake participate in one of the very few global BTC circular economies available and stop being an arsemilking hypocrit.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek OP 19s

Mhh, good question. You reminded me I wanted to try audio books for a while.

55 sats \ 0 replies \ @orto 2h

Ebooks because:

☆No cutting trees ☆Multiple device reading option ☆ Screen quality is getting better every day ☆Cheaper books ☆ Easy internet search while reading

33 sats \ 0 replies \ @Hector_of_Troy 45m

Hmm... 🤔 Remember back a few years ago, when everyone said digital books were going to overtake physical books and there'd be no more bookstores? Clear case of the tech nerds getting ahead of themselves.

To answer your question: Absolutely not 👎 , but if you read a lot, ebooks are very helpful. They can expand your library far, far beyond what you can physically contain. I'm sure every bookworm would like to have the castle library in Beauty and the Beast, but a library of EPUBs will have to do for most. For the books you love, though, there is no substitute to a hardcover.

Just like the grocery checkout, a hybrid system is best, I find.

33 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 3h

I prefer physical books and even if I didn't I think there is value in not having another screen related activity.

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @winteryeti 50m

I prefer real books. My brain seems to get more out of them versus a digital copy. Plus, unlike digital versions, I can get most books I'm interested in at the local goodwill for less than $3 each. The same would be $10-30 online for a license copy. Kind of a no-brainer from that perspective.

21 sats \ 1 reply \ @rootmachine 2h

books would be and should be the preferred option for everyone. at least in my universe this is a thing.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @ek OP 2m

Why though?

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @OT 1h

Books are better, but ebooks on an e-reader is not too much worse.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @SwapMarket 1h

Only audiobooks for me.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Solomonsatoshi 5h

Like ebooks because they are usually available free. Prefer the physical substance of a real book but rarely buy them now. Would like an option to support writers while reading their ebooks. Ammous has the right approach in this regard.

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