Is the paperback dead?

Not a chance.

Every few years, someone tries to declare the paperback dead. And yet, my local bookstore is still packed. And I may or may not have just spent $100 on books I’ll likely never read but will look f*cking fantastic on my coffee table.

The truth is, while e-books and audiobooks have changed how we consume stories, the paperback isn’t going anywhere. It’s just evolving—because some things can’t be replaced by technology. And yes, I will die on this hill.

Paperbacks are all about the smell, the feel, the ritual.

You can’t dog-ear a Kindle. You can’t crack the spine of an audiobook. And no one has ever inhaled the scent of a freshly downloaded PDF and sighed in contentment (I don’t think). Paperbacks are an experience, not just a medium.

There’s a reason why indie bookstores and secondhand bookshops are still thriving. People love the tangible, tactile ritual of reading. It’s about more than mere words. It’s the weight of the book in your hands, the satisfaction of flipping pages, and the quiet defiance of unplugging in a hyper-digital world.

Books are a status symbol (even if you never read them).

Not to call anyone (or myself) out, but let’s be real, some books exist purely for aesthetic reasons. A well-styled bookshelf is truly the ultimate home decor flex. Extra points if you’ve buried yourself into each and every one, of course. Hardcover classics, oversized coffee table books, and curated “intellectual” collections signal taste, personality, and (sometimes) a level of pretentiousness we all secretly admire. Meanwhile, a Kindle is just… a Kindle. No personality. No vibe. Yas queen, give us nothingggg.

Digital may be convenient, but it’s just not the same.

Sure, e-books are great for travel. Audiobooks make multitasking easier. But do they replace the real thing? Not at all. Studies show that people absorb and retain information better when reading physical books compared to screens. Actually, it’s said that retention is up to six times better. There’s also the attention span factor—on a Kindle or phone, notifications are just a swipe away. A paperback asks for your full attention and, in return, offers a kind of mental immersion that digital media struggles to replicate.

Despite being the “digital generation,” Gen Z has embraced physical media in unexpected ways—vinyl records, film cameras, and yes, paperbacks.

Maybe it’s rebellion against screen fatigue. Or maybe they just know that books look better in a #shelfie (sorry). Either way, younger readers are helping keep bookstores alive, proving that paperbacks still have cultural currency.

The paperback isn’t dead. It’s just becoming more than a reading tool. It’s a comfort object, a design element, a piece of nostalgia that technology can’t quite replicate. So, while e-books and audiobooks have their place, there will always be a demand for physical books—whether we read them or just use them to make ourselves look smarter.

Long live the paperback.

-Sophie, Writer