I love books. I love to read in bed. I love to fall asleep reading.
It took me a while to get used to reading books on an iPad. Now I read books on my iPad...in bed.
Right before the launch of the iPad, I wrote a fun piece questioning the idea of cozying up with an iPad. I ask:
“Will these new electronic readers be the demise of the demure book?...I am sure it will be love at first touch…The rise of the handy Kindle and the soon to be cuddled iPad (sigh), have already had an adverse impact on newspapers, textbook companies, publishing houses and magazines. While these companies are working hard to catch up with their own technologies, many will expire trying…Although a bit star-struck, I am ready to put my selfish love of new tech toys aside for the strong tactile love of books.”
Dah, I did no such thing. So how did I, and zillions of others, fall head over heels for the backlit screen?
In typical 3-step flip-flop fashion (good thing I’m not a politician), the course of events played out in my mind like this:
1. The nerve of those people who banish books in favor of electronic devices! 2. Embracing well-designed computer technology can not be a bad thing! 3. I loooove the convenience of downloading books and reading on my iPad…and what an oh-so sexy traveling companion!
And now, here’s the latest flop: I've been having trouble sleeping (A middle-age malaise?)...and then I read this:
"The new iPad may be a great way to store and retrieve the world’s great books, but sleep experts warn against settling in with this virtual page-turner before bed. That’s because the light emitted by the iPad (and by cell phones, TVs and other back-lit devices) inhibits the body’s ability to secrete melatonin, a brain chemical that signals the need for sleep...For this reason, many neurology and sleep experts suggest that we avoid interacting with most types of electronic gadgets directly before bedtime."
Hello, dreamy dear old friend...my local bookstore.
Photo via Linen and Lavender