The author answers your question in the article: "In the real world the physical book has a meaning of its own: it's the book your wife gave you as an annivers

The author answers your question in the article: "In the real world the physical book has a meaning of its own: it's the book your wife gave you as an anniversary present, it's the book your late father got part way through and you dare not remove the bookmark he left in place, it's the children's book read and read until the pages are torn and worn. These physical remnants augment the book with personal meaning."