The Paper Rebellion: Why Books and Newspapers Still Matter in a TikTok World

The other night, while doomscrolling past a cascade of cats dancing to '80s music and people cooking in bathtubs, a dusty first-edition hardcover on my bookshelf seemed to sigh. "Remember me?" it whispered, its spine creaking like an old man stretching after a long nap. "I contain multitudes — centuries of thought, inked revolutions, and timeless wisdom. That rectangle in your hand holds mostly memes, gossip and doom."

- WILSON LEE FLORES

Startled, I spilled brewed coffee on yesterday's Philippine STAR. A dark stain spread across the editorial, as if mourning our digital dependency.

Turns out my talking book isn't delusional — neuroscience confirms paper holds unique power. In our screen-hypnotized age, it's a quiet rebellion.

OUR BRAIN PREFERS PAPER
Science tells us that reading on paper boosts memory and focus. Why? Because our minds remember where things happen spatially — "Ah yes, the plot twist beside the coffee stain on page 47." Paper creates mental maps, not just scrolling amnesia.

Physical text is a fortress against distraction. No pop-ups, no clickbait, no TV series video clips, no ads for magic slimming tea interrupting your poetry. Just you and, say, Neruda or Du Fu whispering across centuries.

And let's not forget eye health. While smartphones and e-readers beam out blue light that messes with sleep, paper reflects soft light. Reading a book feels like moonlight meditation, not a laser to the retina.

NEWSPAPERS: SOCIETY'S SWISS ARMY KNIFE
Beyond delivering headlines and crossword puzzles, the humble newspaper offers practical magic: