The European Adventist Youth Congress (AYC) provided not only an opportunity for young people to sing their hearts out, led by a cosmopolitan and extraordinarily gifted team of musicians, or to learn from international theologians and preachers of the calibre of Ivana Mendez and Damian Chandler, but also — drum roll — to read a good old-fashioned physical book!
Perhaps you would not think that printed books would be popular among Gen Z and millennials, two generations who have grown up surrounded by screens and with almost unlimited access to digital content. Yet physical books are finding their way back into the hands of young readers. For some, the appeal is precisely what digital life lacks: a break from notifications, scrolling and glowing screens.
The return to paper is part of a wider interest in more intentional, offline experiences. Concerns about screen fatigue, combined with growing awareness of how digital platforms collect and use personal data, have also prompted some young people to reconsider how and where they consume information.
To satisfy this appetite for something tangible, both Safeliz, the Spanish Adventist publishing house, and Stanborough Press, based in the United Kingdom, had stands in the AYC exhibition hall. The publishing houses also hosted book-signing events, where attendees could ask personal questions about topics such as grief and leadership directly to the authors, turning what could have been a simple transaction into an opportunity for analogue connection.
At a meet-up with German theologian Frank Hasel, young people asked questions on grief, grace and gratitude, themes explored in his latest book, “Love Is: A Journey of Grief, Grace and Gratitude” (Safeliz).
Then, on Friday, 8 August, English pastor David Neal welcomed questions about biblical leadership and signed copies of the book he co-authored, “Today’s Leader: 50 Timeless Leadership Principles” (Stanborough Press). To Neal, trust and integrity are at the core of leadership always, but especially when connecting with young adults.
“Leadership is never simply about holding a position or carrying a title. It is about reflecting the character of Christ… From what I have seen here at AYC, today’s young adults want someone whom they can trust. Because they have grown up in a world where trust is fragile, they value authenticity. In Jesus they find someone they can truly trust and follow,” he said.
A POSTDIGITAL GENERATION OF READERS
But what draws young people who have grown up in a digital world back to paper? At AYC, the answers were as varied as the readers themselves.
“There were a lot of books that I didn’t see in my church because they are not translated. So, I was very happy to get some,” shared Timi Bahun, who travelled to AYC from Slovenia and spent some time at the book stands.
For Bahun, the appeal was also practical. “It feels better [to have a physical book], the screen light is not good, especially when you wake up or when you go to sleep, and these are the times when I usually read books.”
For others, the choice of format is shaped by accessibility. “I have difficulties reading because I have dyslexia, so personally, I prefer audio format,” shared Alīna Vanaga, from Latvia. Despite this, she visited the book stands at the exhibition hall because “I wanted to add an English Bible to my Bible collection, one that would be comfortable for me to read, since the font size and spacing can make reading and processing the text a little easier.”
“When I read it, I enjoy not only God’s Word, but also the whole process itself,” she added. “The feeling of touching the Bible, the smell of the pages, and turning them one by one. This process is special and personal to me. I never feel such a deep sense of connection [with God] as when I read the Bible.”
For Roberts Geide from Latvia, the choice is even more straightforward. “I favour physical books because I don’t feel sick after reading for several hours. I also prefer reading without notifications interrupting me.”
For Neal, the enthusiasm surrounding physical books also says something about the way young people are choosing to make time to engage with ideas. “In my world, reading a printed book is about making a space in time to think and reflect. It is where I get ideas, where my mind is stretched. It is my thinking place. Seeing young people engage with books too is inspiring.”
