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I had hoped that this reaction was restricted to two-year-olds, but apparently adults have the same issue.

A study at Ohio State University showed that people begin to feel a sense of ownership for something that is not theirs after holding it for only 30 seconds.

And once our brain starts to feel ownership of an object, it gets instantly harder to part with that thing.

So when we stop by the Apple Store, pick up an iPad, and play with it, it’s a bit harder to walk out of that store without having bought one than it would have been if you’d never picked it up.

It struck me that this study relates to our conversation about whether people put aside a book they’re not enjoying.  It turns out that for many people, it’s easier to stop reading an ebook than a paper book. 

And it made me wonder, do we get more attached to books we actually hold than books we read on ereaders?

I think that I do.

It’s certainly easier for me to put down an ebook and move on than it is to do the same with a paperback.

What about you?

Do you feel more connected to an actual book you hold, more than reading an ebook?