I have 500 words to tell you why you should like ebooks.

I’m not sure I can do that with 5,000 words.

I’m running up against your lifelong love affair with real hands-on books, something so deeply rooted that the idea of having some techno-THING take the place of a beloved book — a digital “improvement” that has all but killed bookstores — is, well, ridiculous. Even profane.

But I would like you to at least consider allowing ebooks to co-exist with your “real” books.

Like you, I’m part of that generation to whom books are sacred, as deeply embedded in my soul as they probably are in yours.

But I also enjoy ebooks. I’ve learned that they offer some unique propositions that “real” books can’t match.

Here’s a quick list:

• Find a character, place, date or word, and let the ebook’s search capability automatically show you wherever it appears in its pages. Imagine tracking any character in “War and Peace,” helping you remember who he or she was, and their place in the epic.

• Research any word or phrase by clicking on it. A dictionary pops up with a definition or a translation.

• Click on a place or historical event, and your ebook summons a dictionary, thesaurus or Wikipedia to help you understand its meaning. I remember recently reading a biography of Napoleon, and actually understanding the people and events in context through the use of this function.

• Set a bookmark in the ebook on your tablet, then read the same book on your smartphone automatically updated to that page.

• Adjust the type size, fonts page margins, even the page background color to customize your reading experience perfectly.

Probably the greatest feature of all is the sheer number of books you can carry with you. I’m estimating that I have well over 700 eBooks in my various online libraries (Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo Books), and I can summon any/every one to read instantly simply by scrolling down my book lists and opening one. I no longer have every corner of my house filled with boxes of books I’ve read or have yet to read. And no trees have died for my reading habit.

My living room has a beautiful bookcase filled with regular books; they’re strictly decorative because I’ve duplicated most of them in my eBook collection.

I’ve read more books, new arrivals and classics alike, than I ever did as a standard book reader. My books are all so very accessible.

And here’s an unexpected benefit. I’ve rediscovered the public library, or more accurately, the several local public libraries that I can borrow from. I’ll say more about them in my next column.

I’m sure I haven’t convinced you. But I’m asking you to just see what ebooks are about. Open an account with any online book company, find a free classic book — they all have them — try the various ebook app features and see if you enjoy the experience. Then let’s talk.

Skip Ferderber is a technology writer and editor. A former Los Angeles Times staff writer, he has written locally for Alaska Airlines Magazine, GeekWire.com, Seattle Business Journal, Puget Sound Business Journal and Crosscut.com. Contact him at sferderber@gmail.com.