I really love holding dirty books in paper. There’s just something more powerful about actually owning a filthy book. It shows commitment and it shows affection. It shows that you’re not embarrassed, not ashamed, and completely connected.
Also, it’s a whole lot more fun sharing a dirty book when it’s made out of paper.
On a side note, when you buy an e-book you’re really just licensing it. Which means Amazon or B&N or whomever can simply take it back at any point. You don’t really own a damn thing. It’s convenient and it’s easy, but it’s always good to remember that it’s also pretty ephemeral.