---
title: "Print books vs. e-books: Which is better for what"
description: "Our recent e-reading report has received a lot of attention over the past week, and one section in particular that seemed to spark conversation was our “print vs. e-books” showdown. When does print win out over e-books (and vice versa?)"
date: "2012-04-13"
authors:
  - name: "No Author"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/04/13/print-books-vs-e-books-which-is-better-for-what/"
categories:
  - "E-Reading"
  - "Libraries"
---

# Print books vs. e-books: Which is better for what

Our recent [e-reading report](http://libraries.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/2012/04/04/the-rise-of-e-reading/) has received [a lot](http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/51359-e-book-consumers-read-more-books-says-pew-report.html) [of](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/04/national/a190057D90.DTL) [attention](http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/survey-finds-e-readers-are-spurring-consumers-of-books-in-all-formats/2012/04/04/gIQAo1T8vS_story.html) [over](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/04/ctech-us-usa-ebooks-survey-idCABRE8331DB20120404) [the](http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/one-fifth-americans-read-e-book-past-year-655772) [past](http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gvh21osSYszd1k8V6FSGkxFWEdMw) [week](http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2012/04/pew-survey-shows-how-e-books-are-changing-the-equation-for-publishers-readers101.html), and one section in particular that seemed to spark conversation was our “print vs. e-books” [showdown](http://libraries.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/2012/04/04/part-5-where-and-how-readers-get-their-books/):

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2012/04/Chart-1.jpg)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2012/04/Chart-1.jpg)

We asked people who read both print books and e-books in the past year which format they thought was better for a variety of situations. We found that people prefer e-books when they need a book quickly, when they want a wide selection, or when they want to read “on-the-go” while commuting or traveling. Print, meanwhile, is the preferred format for “social reading,” such as sharing books with others or reading with a child.

And when it comes to the time-honored tradition of reading in bed? The verdict was split: 45% say e-books are best here, while 43% prefer print.

Here are more links to interesting discussions we’ve noticed around the web:

- [E-book revolution: We're reading more than ever](http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2012/0405/E-book-revolution-We-re-reading-more-than-ever) [The Christian Science Monitor’s Chapter & Verse blog]
- [Rise in E-Book Readership Is Good News for Reading Over All, Report Says](http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/rise-in-e-book-readership-good-news-for-reading-over-all-report-says/35955) [Wired Campus, The Chronicle of Higher Education]
- [E-books spur reading among Americans, survey shows](http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/05/tech/gaming-gadgets/e-reader-survey-pew-gahran/index.html) [CNN.com]
- [Per the Latest Pew Study, the Most Social Way to Read Is Still in Print](http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/04/per-the-latest-pew-study-the-most-social-way-to-read-is-still-in-print/255496/) [The Atlantic]

What do you think? If you’re a “dual-format reader,” when does print win out over e-books (and vice versa?) How have e-books changed your reading habits—if at all? [Hop over to our Facebook page and let us know!](http://facebook.com/pewinternet/)