People act like books are just words to read, but the fact is that handling a well-made artefact of any kind stimulates different neural pathways into your brai

People act like books are just words to read, but the fact is that handling a well-made artefact of any kind stimulates different neural pathways into your brain than just looking at it. Books can have heft. They can be pleasing to touch. The feel of each page as you turn it is part of the book's user experience, and different choices of paper, binding, and finish all affect that. Reading a physical book generates more "input" to your brain, and if you're going to go to the trouble, it can be stimulating and pleasurable to pick a book that adds physical joy to the experience of reading.