Page 12 - IFV Issue 11 December 2024

Estate News

INCLUDE PAPER BOOKS IN YOUR

READING DIET

n this digital age where screens dominate daily life, the idea of in the brain, mapping what we read visually to a particular page.
reading a physical book, magazine or newspaper may seem Just as consistent, healthy eating is key to physical well-being,
Iold-fashioned. The Paper Manufacturers Association of South regularly reading paper books cultivates strong mental habits
Africa (PAMSA) suggests that reading paper-based material can such as concentration, memory and critical thinking. Eating isn’t
be compared to maintaining a healthy diet. just about nourishment; it’s also about savouring taste, texture and
Jane Maloney, executive director of PAMSA, says that just as a smell. Reading paper books appeals to our senses in a way that
balanced diet is vital for our physical health, so print and paper digital books fail to do. It has something to do with the sensation
provide benefits that nourish the mind in ways that digital of running our hands over a beautifully illustrated or embossed
formats can’t. “Reading paper books feeds the mind through a cover, or leafing through the pages. There is also the appealing
more captivating experience, where readers can absorb ideas and smell of a new novel, or even yellowed ageing parchment.
develop a deeper understanding of the material,” she explains.
Digital platforms are notorious for their distractions such as Paper books are an ‘organic’ choice
adverts, hyperlinks and notifications that draw our focus away Paper books store carbon and since paper is derived from wood, it
from the core content. In contrast, paper books provide an acts as a carbon sink, storing the carbon dioxide absorbed by trees
uninterrupted reading experience, allowing for deep engagement during their growth. This sustainable cycle continues as harvested
with the content. People benefit from the more deliberate trees are replaced with new saplings, ensuring that wood and
pace of reading paper-based material, which enhances the paper remain renewable resources.
understanding and retention of information. This is attributed to Digital devices are often considered ‘eco-friendly’, however
reduced distractions and the physicality of paper, which enhances e-readers and tablets require significant resources to produce,
spatial awareness and allows for pen-to-paper annotations. An and irresponsible disposal contributes to electronic waste.
article in Psychology Today entitled The Case for Paper: Books vs Additionally, the energy used to power and recharge digital
E-Readers, states that turning pages in a book creates an ‘index’ devices can add up over time.

10 • Issue 11 2024 • The Villager