Some thoughts now that I have gone back to reading actual books (in paper format).
I won’t talk about the intimate experience of reading a real book and about the connection with the object and the smell of the paper etc… I basically went back to reading offline because I needed to get offline. Here are the thoughts:
FOCUS: Reading on a tablet or laptop or phone is quite distracting for me, because I always find myself interrupted by one thing or another, always multitasking, always in an agitated state of mind: here, there, and everywhere at the same time, and agitation that was both addictive and counterproductive. Sometimes the mind needs to calm down!
CALM: It’s such a calming effect to only be focuses on one thing at a time!
REFLECTION: Since I am focused and calm, my mind can wander into a state of uninterrupted reflection and thinking without being bothered by electronic signals.
LMA: Leave Me Alone: somehow, if you are actually reading a paper book people are less likely to disturb you than if they see you on some electronic device. I think it’s because the etiquette of reading is pretty much established, while we’re still working on our e-etiquette.
TIME LAPSE (NOT): Time stretches out and moves at a more natural pace – things take the time they need no more no less.
PERSPECTIVE: Rereading some stuff that I read years ago, with the perspective of today’s me is an awesome experience, it’s like reading something new altogether.
ONE LAST THOUGHT: Somehow I found that non-electronic reading was a better springboard for creativity, thinking, and emotion than its e-counterpart.
ContraPolitica 
Yes…it is an altogether different experience reading from a real book. in fact last week I actually bought two books, and I find I am reading more slowly and processing every word without the constant need to click, click, to the next page. And my clip-on light works so much better on a book!
Last week someone made an interesting observation which you may have read: he asserts that browsing in a good bookshop but then going home to order on line was akin to theft! What do you think?