Summary

The author went from reading sparingly to significantly increasing their reading pace by switching to e-books via the free Kindle App on their iPhone, aiming to read 40 books in 2021 compared to the previous goal of 10.

Abstract

The author recounts a personal journey of rekindling their love for reading after a decline during their university years, attributed to competing interests such as streaming services and social media. The turning point came when they were unable to find physical copies of the Bridgerton series and decided to try e-books using the free Kindle App. This change led to a dramatic increase in the author's reading, with them reading four times as many books as before. The author highlights the convenience of e-books, such as the ability to read discreetly, utilize spare moments, and benefit from features like night mode and an integrated dictionary. The ease of access and cost-effectiveness of e-books have not only revitalized the author's reading habits but also prompted them to set a higher reading goal for the year and consider purchasing an e-reader.

Opinions

The author initially held a strong preference for physical books, considering reading an experience that involved the tactile sensation of turning pages and building a physical library.
They express surprise and delight at the increased reading pace achieved through the Kindle App, which they attribute to the convenience and features of e-books.
The author believes that the privacy of reading on a phone eliminates the self-consciousness associated with reading certain genres in public.
They appreciate the multitasking potential of e-books, such as being able to read while cooking, due to the phone's ability to stay open without manual support.
The author values the portability of having reading material always available on their phone, which encourages reading during otherwise idle moments.
They find the backlight and night mode features of the Kindle App particularly beneficial for reading in low-light conditions without disturbing others.
The instant definition feature of the Kindle App is seen as a valuable tool for understanding and learning new words while reading.
The author notes the immediate availability and lower cost of e-books compared to physical books as significant advantages, making it more feasible to read extensively without financial strain.
The shift to e-books has been so impactful for the author that they have increased their reading goal and are considering buying a dedicated e-reader device.

How I Quadrupled the Number of Books I Read With One Simple Change

I went from struggling to read ten books in a year to whizzing through four books in a month.

I used to be a voracious reader in middle school. My parents joked they struggled to support my expensive reading habits and my shelves were stuffed with books of every genre. I went through a novel a day and was always hungry for the next book, desperate to get my hands on a new story as soon as possible.

But somewhere between high school and university, my passion for reading dwindled. By the time I finished my degree in 2016, I read mainly for school and then primarily for work. I did not like this new change, but there were so many other pursuits competing for my time.

Some were legitimate — there were papers to read for university, reports to edit for work, hard-hitting journalism articles to delve into with friends over wine. But, let’s face it, an embarrassingly large chunk of my time was spent streaming entertaining but vacuous Netflix sitcoms.

It’s not just me though — a news piece by Kantar revealed that 49% of adults in the United Kingdom did not read a single book in 2019, with 51% claiming they read at least one book.

And things look only marginally better across the pond with 24% of adults in the US admitting they did not read a single book in 2019.

While the statistics seem startling, one only has to consider the number of social media and streaming apps competing for our attention nowadays to understand how easy it is to never look at a book.

And so my reading habits dwindled until a serendipitous moment earlier in January.

Like everyone else, I binged Bridgerton on Netflix and was desperate to read the books but could not find any of them in stock. Even Amazon was quoting a three-week delivery window. Being of a generation that demands instant satisfaction, this delay would simply not do.

So I did something I never thought I would. I downloaded the free Kindle App on my iPhone and it changed my life.

You see, before that day, I was a staunch supporter of the physical book, turning my nose up at Kindles and e-books as a whole. Reading was supposed to be an experience. It was not just about the story, but about turning the pages, holding the book and physically feeling your progress. It was about putting the book away on your own bookshelf and watching your library grow before your eyes.

Enter the free Kindle App

Because I was desperate to find out what happened to the Bridgertons next , I decided to finally experiment with e-books on my phone. After all, no way was I investing in a Kindle if I ended up absolutely hating reading my books from a screen.

I downloaded the free Kindle App for my iPhone and fell in love with reading all over again.

I was shocked by the increase in reading which happened seemingly overnight. It was like a stale love affair rekindled. Here I was, pouring over stories while drinking my coffee, juicing oranges, searing steaks for dinner (resulting in a somewhat overdone steak).

And the fact that the story was delivered via a phone screen rather than paper did nothing to detract from the immersion experience.

But why exactly was I able to go from barely finishing a book a month to whizzing through a book in a week in no time? Here are my main observations:

Nobody can see what I’m reading so there is no guilt associated with holding a raunchy paperback romance.
My phone stays on without me having to hold it open. This means I can cook dinner and read if I want to, pausing only to swipe to the next page.
Because my phone is always on me (unlike a book), I can open up the app and I read whenever I have a free moment. I tend to go to my Kindle app now rather than scrolling through social media while waiting for my shot of morning Nespresso.
I don’t need additional lighting to read at night. I can be on the sofa in the evening with my boyfriend watching TV and I can open up the Kindle app and use the backlight on my phone to read.
Equally, I no longer worry about bothering my boyfriend when I read in bed at night. The Kindle App has nightmode, where it changes the background to black and the text to white. It’s easier on the eyes and doesn’t distract sleeping partners.
I love, love, love the dictionary feature! If there is a word I don’t know, I simply tap it and a definition comes up instantaneously. It makes reading those racy Bridgerton books even less of a guilty pleasure — at least I’m expanding my vocabulary.
Speaking of instantaneous, I no longer have to wait for my books to arrive before I delve into them. I buy what I want and the book appears in my library right away.
E-books are so much cheaper than physical books! Some cost less than £1 and some are free. I see this as more of a longer-term benefit. As I’ll be reading so many more books now, it’s a relief to know that I won’t break the bank as a result.

For the first time in ten years, I’ve adjusted my reading goal on Goodreads to include more books, not less.

In January, I set an original goal aiming to read 10 books in 2021. This has now been revisited. With the help of e-books, I’m hoping to read 40 books this year.

I will also be investing in an actual e-reader later this year. I am now officially a convert.