I found this fact to be very interesting. Phones and cuneiform tabletsw are obviosuly extremely different, but they have their similarities. Throughout histroy, there has always been a cry for small, compact books. 5000 years ago, it was cuneiform ,now its a smartphone. This shows how, in a way, history repeats itself.

This is ironic because the author prefers reading the old novels on the phone, whereas he previously said he purchases new books at his local book store.

divided

Phones offer different ways to become engaged with the reading.

This idea shows that the type of book doesn't matter, it's the readers ability to turn off distractions and focus on the material.

Though it is not the same as reading a book, I have used my phone to teach me Spanish, and now French. When I first began, I did not think I would get very far, due to the distractions of my phone, but I find that I practice more. Since I am so into the language lessons, I hardly realize I am on my phone at all.

I disagree with this fact. I personally scour the internet looking for ebooks so that I can keep all of my textbooks neatly in my laptop. i know many of my friends also do this same thing because it is much easier to tote around a laptop than worry about locating six different large textbooks. Not to mention, the online version is typically a fraction of the cost.

Though they're convenient, phones lack the aesthetically pleasing aspects of print books.

I have never read War & Peace, but it seems like the dialogue of the novel was very real. He described war scenes how he saw them and brought to light the realities of war. Thompson links his rants to words used in affiliation with technology.

If the writing and imagery is good enough, readers from all generations will find something to connect with. Even though the reader had no connection to the war in Russia, he was able to link it to other wars that were more recent.

Novels were never meant to be read in one sitting. Even great authors like Edgar Allen Poe and Tolstoy admitted to requiring multiple sittings to finish novels. Also, even in a world without social media and cell phones, it was difficult to keep one's attention on the reading for a long period of time.

There are ways to manipulate the phone to create a calmer environment with less distractions.

However, this multitasking is different. Yes, he was not 100% focused on the words of the novel, but his research was for the betterment of his understanding of the book. I often read novels in Spanish and, whether they are in print or on my phone, I still find myself using the internet to research a historical event of do a quick Google translate of a word I did not recognize.

the phone's down fall is also its upside

Phone screens, which are often looked down upon for the small size relative to paper novels, also are beneficial for this same reason. The small, compact size is great for travel. On the subway, like in this example, it is much easier to turn on a phone, rather than open and carry a dauntingly large copy of War and Peace.

As I read this paper, it reminds me of how my parents felt when I decided to tale the majority of my classes online. They did not think I would get as much out of the classes, if I was not sitting in a lecture hall. However, I feel that I am even more motivated to learn because I am doing so at my own pace. I disagree that electronics deter from intensive learning.

It certainly depends on the reader; however, I feel much better when reading online. For example, I become much more stressed when holding a paper book and knowing that I have to read a set number of pages, rather than having a book online that I can navigate one page at a time.

Although print books are more traditional, many readers, like myself, prefer reading on a screen, as it is portable and something we always carry.