The following will hopefully answer your most frequent questions but please use the option below to ask any questions not answered.
Thank you for your interest in illumiBook Publishing and the illumiBook app.
To install the illumiBook app from Apple’s AppStore, go to this website (www.illumibook.pub) on your iPhone or iPad and select the install button at the top of the Home page. This will take you to Apple’s AppStore and present you with the illumiBook app installation page. Select Install in the usual manner and follow the instructions presented.
Alternatively, open the AppStore app on your device and select the search option. Type in illumibook in the search field and select Search. This will take you to the illumiBook installation page where you can follow the instructions above.
Once the illumiBook app is installed, open the app. The first thing that will happen is the app will display some basic help screen to help you get started. While this is happening we are also updating your view of the illumiBook library on your phone.
With the Guide pages displayed, to move back and forward through the Guide pages, swipe Right or Left. The page count at the bottom of each page will show where you are in the Guide.
Once you reach the last page in the app guide, swipe left will close the guide and leave you in the app. To revisit the guide at anytime, select the ? button shown on the top right of the app’s Home Screen.
To close the guide before you reach the end, simply drag the Guide page downwards and it will close automatically.
It is obvious that with iPads, Kindles and other electronic devices the electronic book is delivering experiences beyond the printed page. However, there are less obvious benefits obtained from reading a real book. Our aim is to allow readers to experience those benefits but still experience some of the advantages of electronic books by linking multimedia content to the printed page, adding extra value to the reader.
What are some of these less obvious benefits of printed books.
1. They help children become better readers.
A study of young children between the ages of three and five revealed that kids had lower comprehension of the story when their parents read to them from an e-book as opposed to a print book.
Researchers theorise this arises because children get distracted by the electronic device and have a harder time focusing on the story itself.
2. You absorb more information.
Readers of print books absorb and remember more of the plot than readers of e-books do, according to a study that was presented in Italy in 2014. In an earlier study, print readers also scored higher in other areas, such as empathy, immersion in the book, and understanding of the narrative. Scientists believe this effect is related to the tactile sensation of holding a book in your hands.
Seeing and feeling how much progress you’ve made in the story can help readers feel like they’re unfolding the story—both literally and figuratively. Plus, with a print book, it’s easier to go back and confirm information you may be unsure of without losing your place and having to scroll or click back on your device.
3. They’re easier on the eyes.
Considering that many jobs require you to stare at a computer screen all day, it’s wise to give your eyes a break whenever you can. Electronic books can cause screen fatigue, which may lead to blurred vision, redness, dryness and irritation. With print books, you don’t have to worry about any of that.
4. They can help you sleep better.
When you’re winding down for the night, reading from a screen or scrolling through a social media app on your phone are bad ideas. Study after study has shown that the blue light from your screen can toy with your melatonin levels and circadian cycles, making it harder for you to fall asleep and making you feel groggier when you wake up.
In general, though, the engagement and brain activity that come with reading can help you drift off to sleep when you’re having trouble. So if you’re hoping to get a good night’s rest, stick with print.
5. You’re less likely to get distracted.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, people who read e-books tend to get sidetracked more easily, but not just because the internet is right at their fingertips. Digital readers tend to spend more time scanning for keywords than actually processing what they’re reading. And with a print book, there’s no chance of getting distracted by links or getting sucked down an internet rabbit hole.
6. Having a library at home is linked to higher academic achievement.
Students who have books at home are more likely to score higher on tests, according to a study of readers from 42 countries. It doesn’t matter how many books you have, but each additional book helps children perform better in school.
This is especially true for children from disadvantaged families. Researchers believe this is because having books at home encourages children to read for fun and talk to their parents about what they’ve learned, which only stands to benefit them in the classroom.
7. They amplify the joy of reading.
One recent study of college students in the U.S., Slovakia, Japan, and Germany showed that 92% of participants preferred actual books that they can hold and touch and leaf through whenever they please.
Slovakian students in particular said they enjoy the smell of books. Indeed, scientists who have analyzed the chemical composition of old books found that the pages contain hints of vanilla (from lignin, a similar-smelling component in paper) as well as grassy notes.
In this sense, taking a whiff of an old book is a little like the enjoyment one gets from smelling perfume or flowers. Studies have also shown that books can make us happier, inspire us to travel, and encourage us to make life-changing decisions.
So don’t feel guilty the next time you spend a little more than you’d planned at the bookstore: Science says it’s good for you.
Many studies have shown that when people read on-screen, they don’t understand what they’ve read as well as when they read in print. Even worse, many don’t realize they’re not getting it. For example, researchers in Spain and Israel took a close look at 54 studies comparing digital and print reading. Their 2018 study involved more than 171,000 readers. Comprehension, they found, was better overall when people read print rather than digital texts. The researchers shared the results in Educational Research Review.
Reading print improves comprehension far more than looking at digital text, say researchers. The Guardian!
Studies show that reading a physical book is more effective than reading the same book on a digital device. Research also shows that reading a book is more effective for most than listening to an audio book.
Listen here to some of that research discussed on the BBC: What’s the difference between reading and listening to books
* Only available in UK
You may purchase a book supported by illumiBook in any book shop or online bookstore stocking the chosen book. One of the unique benefits of illumiBook is that a ‘special’ printed version of the book is not necessary. You may even have the book already in your collection bringing extra value without extra cost. Even old, out of print publications are useable as long as they are supported.
Where possible we also make books available to purchase through the app. Select the cart icon in the book detailed page where available to order the book online.
We also link to books supported by illumiBook in the Amazon online stores in US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Japan and Sweden. You can access these books from the App Library as well online here.
Contact us if you are unable to purchase a selected book where you live.
illumiBook can assist in publishing your book although our primary activity is including existing, published works into the illumiBook Library. We publishing in conjunction with the Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing service and charge 20% of the revenue paid by Amazon per book sold. An example, for a softcover book with a cover price of £8.99 this would equate to 6% of the book price (£0.55) with 24.42% of the book price paid to the author (£2.20).
According to the Society of Authors, royalties from publishing houses typically amount to 10% of book price (hardcovers), 7.5% for softcovers. ( reference ). For a softcover book with a cover price of £8.99 this would equate to a royalty payment of £0.67 per book.