It feels weird to read a book on my phone while in a waiting room.
I’m reading a book on the Kindle app on my phone these days, but heading to Columbus for a day of sitting, I tuck a real book in my bag – paper pages, I mean. It seems weird to stare at one’s phone when surrounded by others, but okay to have a book open.
Any thoughts on this?
I have to say, if I saw someone intently focused on their phone for a long time I would have a different impression of them than if I saw them reading a book. Hm, interesting to think about now that you bring it up.
BTW, have you stumbled upon the new word “nomophobia” yet? So glad there is an official word to use now.
Had to look it up!
Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Read more HERE.
I vote for the *real* book. Paper books smell better than phones and are better for your eyes.
One day I sat in a crowded waiting room, reading Anna Karenina on my phone. The guy next to me kept glancing over my shoulder. Finally, apparently exasperated, he asked me, “What are you doing?” I hadn’t realized until that moment just how weird and antisocial that must have appeared to him. But, after I explained what I was doing – and what I was reading – he was cool with it. I never finished reading Anna Karenina, though.
And if the “real” book is that one of Nouwen’s that’s in the picture …. I vote for Nouwen (that book is in my top ten favorites of all books). Amy