Does the Brain Like E-Books

This entry marks the first of several that will comment on the New York Time's Room For Debate. 

The first column we will look at is Alan Liu, a professor of English.

It seems to me that Liu has it right, reading online is nothing like a book. And the two mediums should not be compared. I like his idea that reading online is a social experience rather than a singular moment experienced by the reader alone. 

I am not convinced, however, that he fully understood the questions outlined by the Editors. While I am guessing Prof. Liu has fiddled with a kindle and other e-reading sources before, I think he is referring specifically to Internet reading, rather than a Sony Reader etc. These devices, while not emulating books, provide more of the singular reading experience people want to engage in with certain content; difficult theories and fiction jumping to mind. Social reading is ideal for people familiar with the content or simpler ideas, but to truly comprehend a novel topic, one must read alone and be allowed to cross reference and take notes rather than think of the other people (perhaps thousands of them) who are reading as well.