« Digital Life: Confessions of an eBook Addict »

Much to my surprise, I have become addicted to eBooks. They are the heart of my digital life. Here's how it happened....

My eBook Conversion: Background

Before I provide the reasons for my unabashed eBook conversion, you should first know the eReader platform I use (the free Kindle for iPhone app) and what types of books I read most often (a mixture of literature and business books). I read my books on a 16GB iPod Touch purchased in 2008. I have not read a single subscription publication on my iPod Touch. I’ve replaced the printed newspapers I read with online editions that I read on my MacBook Pro. The same is true for magazines. The only exception is my cherished New Yorker subscription, which I have had continuously since 1986 and will not give up until they stop printing the magazine altogether.

My eBook Conversion: Reasons Why

1. Increased Time Spent Reading. I spend many more hours reading each day now that I have fully embraced eBooks. The reason for this is threefold: 1) I always have my book with me, as my iPod Touch is always with me in my purse; 2) I always have more than one book loaded on my iPod Touch, so I can pick and choose among several books to read; 3) I can read anywhere, including in a waiting room, during a New York City cab ride at night or in a darkened subway tunnel awaiting the restart of one of Boston’s red line trains. No more time wasted.

2. Improved Reading Selection Process. In the past, I thought libraries made it easy to find the right book, but they don’t hold a candle to Amazon.com and its Kindle Whispersync technology. I can be anywhere I have a broadband signal and connect with the Kindle Store (essentially Amazon.com). Then, not only can I search for books, but I can also access published reviews and reader reviews. With this added info, I rarely select a book that I do not finish. With libraries, I’d always take out two or more books in case my top choice did not turn out to be all I wanted it to be. Oh, and did I mention that books are downloaded directly to my iPod in a matter of seconds… with just one click? It’s the smoothest book selection/purchase process I have ever experienced.

3. More Active With My Reading. I can easily highlight text as I am reading. It’s just as easy to write notes as you read. No pens, paper or Post-It notes required. All highlights and notes are stored on my iPod for fast, easy reference. This process is so efficient and helpful it has become the number one reason why I no longer feel comfortable with printed books. I now actively look for text to highlight and take notes – all the time. This has helped make me both a better reader and a better writer. I often pull book notes and highlights from one of my Kindle books to help illustrate a blog post or article. I did not always do this in the past because the process was cumbersome.   

4. Enhanced Reading Enjoyment. I’m reading more. I’m using what I read more often and to better effect than in the past. And I can read in the dark without a cumbersome book light. Those are the keys to enhanced reading enjoyment in my book!