Page 36 - Intra Muros January Issue 2025

LIFESTYLE

INCLUDE PAPER BOOKS IN YOUR

READING DIET

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

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