Originally published at The Curator Magazine, January 2, 2009.

The Amazon Kindle and iPhone apps like Stanza are beginning to make inroads in the e-Book market. But nothing will ever really replace paper books. Why, you ask?

10. No need to wait until the pilot gives you permission to use personal electronic devices.
9.  It’s OK if you forget to charge your real book.
8.  Unwrapping a download is so anti-climactic.
7.  Speaking of which, it’s hard to wrap a download.
6.  Eye strain caused by too-small font is way better than eye strain caused by too-few pixels.
5.  You’d look silly burying your head in your iPhone.
4.  Real books give you tactile pleasure; e-Books give you carpel tunnel.
3.  You can’t judge an e-Book by its cover (because it doesn’t have one)
2.  A real book will dry out and still be functional if you accidentally drop it in the toilet.
1.  Curling up with a cup of tea and your e-Book reader is completely uninviting.