My wife went on a buisness trip. I went to the airport to see her off and her carryon weighed a $%\*#@$ ton. Turned out my avid reading wife stuffed 5 hardbacks from the library into the bag (and then had me carry them). 6 months later we moved and we had something like 20+ boxes of books. That Christmas I bought us his and hers Kindles.
We moved a lot when I was a kid, and my mom had tons and tons and tons of books. By the time of our last move, I was tasked with packing up and moving all the books. A single book, fine. A couple boxes, also fine. Dozens upon dozens of boxes, you may as well be moving a collection of bricks.
Anyway, I'm an adult now and only own a handful of books. The rest I check out from the library and read on my kindle. Probably not related at all.
Back when I was a teenager my family would go on vacation to stay at a family friend's house near the beach, My sister and I would pack 3 bags between the 2 of us. One bag each for our clothes and stuff and the third giant bag we filled with books for the week. It's a fond memory but I wouldn't trade my kindle for that experience again
Same, but I was the crazy wife! I finally decided to save my husband’s back, he had graciously carried my ultra heavy bags for years and was ever so glad when I changed to Kindle:)
i saw whoopi goldberg on tv talking about how great her kindle is and how useful, etc. she was my favorite actress when i was a kid. then, i thought the idea of a kindle sounded really cool. cuz you can change the size and font and you can carry so many books with you. i read mostly classics, for most of my life, and so i had essentially every book i'd want to read for free through the kindle store or project gutenberg. i've since branched out cuz my wife has gotten me into newer books, and we use libby or stuff from bookbub on sale to get newer books. other than my iphone (which would be my one gadget i'd never live without, cuz phone stuff, ios games, kindle app, and audiobooks too), my kindle is my favorite gadgety thing in the world. i wouldn't want to live without one now that i've had one.
I was never really a reader. It was never really accessible.
When I lived at my parents place there was never enough room to store books even if I wanted to. The library was out the question as well, it was mainly information/study books over fiction etc...
iBooks when it launched in 2010 changed that as I could have books all digitally now. I switched to the Kindle app after, something about it just appealed to me. I bought my first eReader in 2013, 2017 upgraded for light for night time and 2021 upgraded for the battery.
Christmas gift from my son a kindle keyboard at the time i was positive he wasted his money in no way in hell would i abandon physical books. Well its been ten plus years and i have read only 2 physical books and soon purchasing my 5th kindle.
Because it's convenient. As a working mom to an active middle school kid, I am both busy.....and bored 😅 There's actually a lot of waiting around and having a kindle in my purse is a blessing tbh. The battery is my fav part. I usually just need to charge it every 3 weeks.
Its thinner than a book so sometimes I just carry the smallest bag I own and I can take it out to read while waiting for kid to finish practice, playground(cause he's too big for me to hover but not big enough for him to go there himself), on the train, airplane, at the grocery line etc. The lighting works great too.... my husband havent complained about my 3am binge reading.
I can add my fanfiction reads on there. Make it’s feel much nicer to read them on there than on my phone. Also I like to read at night to help me sleep so the kindle paper white backlight is so nice!
Me too, getting a backlit kindle was a game changer! Just last night I woke up at 2am and couldn’t get back to sleep… just ten mins of reading on my kindle and I was out like a light again, my husband none the wiser!
I was in a phase of reading classic books (ie, in the public domain), and I was getting digital copies for free. I thought I might try a Kindle to save my phone battery. The e-ink screen amazed me. My first Kindle was the 5th gen basic, so there was no touch layer or light-directing layer in front of the e-ink. It was so wonderful, I could barely believe it.
I got smashed in the nose by a doorstopper. I switched to my phone after that. Then I got raging headaches. Switched to Kindle and et voila, the perfect solution to damned doorstoppers and raging headaches.
Oh no worries, I'm not a native speaker either. Doorstopper books (for some reason, literary fiction and fantasy are very prone to this) are massive tomes averaging 800 pages or more. I can't remember what book it was, this was more than 5 years ago, think it was a Wheel of Time book.
My girlfriend at the time received the first-generation Kindle Paperwhite as a gift. She wasn't using it because she preferred the "smell and feel" of physical books. I offered to set it up for her, and she brought it over, still in its packaging. I immediately fell in love with the Kindle as soon as I started using it. Intrigued, she took it back and decided she liked it too, I suppose. After we broke up, I bought my own Kindle and was immediately taken with the convenience of accessing any book within seconds. As some people in this thread have already pointed out, it's much lighter than certain hefty volumes—think "Les Misérables" or "It," for instance. I often read until I literally drop the book on my face. Fast-forward many years, and I'm now on my fifth Kindle, the Scribe model. While I do occasionally buy physical books—especially when electronic versions don't exist—about 90% of my library is digital. Unless I become incredibly wealthy and can afford the shelf space, I have no plans to revert to a primarily physical library.
Standing in the tube in London with one hand holding the rail the other a book and the third to flip pages made me realise to either grow another limb or buy a Kindle.
Money & space.
Started reading the Discworld series & like damn, I sure as hell would like to own that collection. Libby & buying ebooks on the cheap lets me read & saves me a lot of money/space. Granted now there's the issue of buying a myriad of cheap ebooks. But let's not talk about that.
The books I wanted to read were not accessible here, and if they were, they were too expensive because of conversion and importation.
I got into ereading before Kindle, when I was still using Java ereader apps on my Nokia phone.
My first kindle was a gift from my mother when I graduated high school and was sad about not being able to take my collection of books with me to college in 2013. and as i ended up studying abroad in college and moving abroad after graduating, I've never been without a kindle since
It was an unasked-for gift when I was in college a decade ago and I discovered I could download an unlimited number of public domain and library books from the comfort of my dorm.....and nobody had to know what I was reading (which was nothing that crazy, mostly a lot of embarrassing YA fantasy and dystopian, but still).
That kindle brought back my childhood love of books, and I've upgraded to a newer device but still prefer ereaders for the convenience and comfort.
Working offshore luggage was so weight restricted 2 paper backs was the maximum I could take, discovered a Sony ereader it changed my life and a couple of years later kindle became what it is now
Storage and upkeep of my library became difficult, and when I developed an allergy to dust mites, they had to go.
Paper books have become prohibitively expensive in my country, and public libraries don't offer current publications.
Kindle books and Audible companions are the best ways for me to learn English and other languages, and I can read the most recent book series without having to wait months or even years for translations.
My Oasis is more convenient for public transportation than a paper book because it is lightweight and weatherproof.
The Amazon Kindle store is fantastic. The selection is endless compared to a traditional bookstore. I love making a shopping list and then waiting for the book's price to drop to 0.99. There are no such deals where I live, and e-books are nearly the same price as paper editions.
And last but not least, I like to think that e-books have a less negative impact on the environment than paper books.
My wife got me a Kindle in Christmas of 2019 because I would go a visit my Mom on the train and I would take at least two books with me and over pack. Then the pandemic hit… but having a Kindle made me read more both physical and ebooks. Then I got ovarian cancer in 2022, the chemo made it hard to physically hold a book. So my Kindle came in handy. I have to take a hormone blocker to prevent my cancer from coming back which makes my joints hurt, having a Kindle helps.
A good friend on my Rheumatoid group told me about Kindles as I can no longer hold paperback books due to hand pain/weakness. Never looked back since!.
I bought a paperwhite for my youngest child, who (unlike her older siblings) hated to read. I thought maybe if we put books on an electronic device, maybe it would make them more fun! Yeah…no.. 😂 For two years I kept trying to get her to use it, and then I went on a trip and asked her if I could borrow it - it soon became MY kindle!
A few years ago, I was struggling with my mental health. I would scroll social media randomly throughout the day and it started affecting me negatively. I used to read when I was younger (going to the library to pick new books was one of my favorite things to do) and I had decided that I'd like to get back into reading. I wanted to do something that I knew would bring me joy again. We live in a decent size apartment, but I knew buying books wasn't something I wanted to do. I did want to be able to lay in bed and read though. Holding up a book and trying to get good light while laying down wasn't something I wanted to do either. So I looked into Kindles.
It was Black Friday and my husband wanted to go to Best Buy. I knew they had Kindles there and I wanted to actually hold one to see if I liked it. I also wanted to compare prices and whatnot. So we went. He asked me why I was looking at Kindles and I explained all of the above on why I was considering it. He looked on Amazon and found one, refurbished, for half the price and ordered it immediately for me. It was considered my birthday gift (which was a few days later) and he was so supportive of the decision.
Since I got it, I've fallen in love with reading again. I take my Kindle EVERYWHERE with me. It fits so perfectly in my bag and doesn't weigh anything at all. Also, I struggle with dyslexia and Kindle offers the dyslexia font! It has helped me tremendously lol. My mental health has been so much better and there are days where I don't scroll social media at all!
I got it because i moved to Australia some 4 years ago and honestly dont have enough space in my room for more physical books (i currently live with family) so i took the leap last year and its been nice!
I moved abroad and lost my easy access to English library books (and secondhand/thrift stores full of English books). I'd had a Kindle for a couple of years by then but had rarely used it - but now it's my go-to.
I saw an advert of someone reading in weird positions and being able to hold the kindle comfortably, and being able to read with one hand as you do other things, and thought, that’s me, I would do that!
And I liked the look of the screen and how it mimic paper and ink so well.
My first one was because I’m a speed reader and my mum had neither the money nor the space to feed my habit. My second one was more or less the same reason and my iPad wasn’t doing it for me
Moved to a country in which only the best sellers list is available in English. I can read in the local language, but I'm very slow at it. The Kindle means I always have things to read, bought it just before leaving the US.
I wanted to read almost anywhere and I obviously could not always do that with a regular book, it was too bothersome. I started reading on my phone but ofc I also use my only phone with different things so the battery life would be shorter especially if I read for hours on it. Got a dedicated e-reader instead.
i had a kindle when i was a kid !! it didn’t have a backlight though 😭 i’ve always been an avid reader, but i had a bad reading slump from like 8th grade when covid started to the end of 2022 basically. i found booktok and started reading the popular books on there (i bought the physical copies,) and then i saw the green kindle trending on tiktok and asked my grandpa for it because i really liked the idea of having my whole library with me on a small device. and i’d read a couple books on the kindle app on my phone already and sped thru them like nothing and that helped my confidence and motivation to read more. and the fact that books were kind of discounted on kindle !! also i just liked the aesthetic 😭 but i love having my kindle always with me instead of a bulky book. it’s much more efficient.
I resisted e-readers for a long time. My wife bought me a Kindle during lockdown, and I found that I was having a much easier time finishing books with it than with physical media. Now, I’m fairly addicted.
Really so I could easily take all my books everywhere and read anytime. Bonuses are it's generally lighter and I get instant gratification when reading a series.
Because I invented it.
Ok, not the literal Kindle, but back around 1985-ish, when I was barely a teen, I was learning to use a computer—one of those old Apples, using DOS and Basic or whatever it was called, and I remember the teacher speculating what computers would someday do, including predicting laptops.
Me, being a reader, thought up the idea of a mini computer that you could carry it around and all it would need to do would have a slot in the side that you could insert tiny little discs into that would contain a book, which would display on the screen. You could then borrow little book discs at the library or buy them in stores.
Teacher thought I was ridiculous. So take *that*, Miss Lazerick.
I got into Kindle because I love reading and wanted to find out if it lived up to the potential of the device I invented. Happily it does.
I remember when first news web became into existence, a lot of people were like "why would anyone want news on the internet, when I can buy a newspaper?"
It's the same mindset. Sad you were just a teenager and couldn't bring that device to life. E-readers could have been part of my childhood.
I read books in english while being non-native and living outside anglophone country, so my cheapest option is buying ebooks. I used to read on my phone for years but the screen got too unconfortable for me at some point. the pipeline here is very short and straightforward.
I bought the first Kindle when I was pregnant with my second child. My experience with my first child had taught me that I could hardly read in the first few months after birth if I did not organize myself to do so even in uncomfortable positions and situations.
I had a lot of travelling planned for the year, both private and for work and I didn't want to lug a book with me and potentially have to buy another heavy book for the travel back.
I did get a Kindle fire because I also used to watch some netflix in foreign countries, as they had access to a different catalog.
I had an iPad and was using the Kindle app with no problems. But... I planned on taking a cruise. The idea of bringing an expensive tablet out of my room, plus the fact that it was a pain to read in bright sunlight had me looking at Kindles. I bought a refurbished one for cheap to see if I liked it. It worked great! I was looking forward to reading it on my balcony, or by the pool on my cruise... in April of 2020.
Ah well, it's been great at the local waterpark anyway.
For me several reasons:
The main reason, I would never take books out with me incase the covers got trashed. I’m very fussy with the condition of my books, and having a curled corner or too many creases on the spine sets off my OCD.
Also, I can hyperfocus on books, which means I will go to a book shop, buy too many books, because I think the covers are pretty, spend almost £100 sometimes more, and then never read what I pick up. So a kindle helps curb that a little and the prices are so much more reasonable.
And honestly, I’m a numbers girlie, so the time left in the book keeps me trudging on. Seeing my % helps me decide up how I want to read. Sometimes I go off chapters, sometimes I set a % goal. I’m a slow reader due to dyslexia (another reason I find the kindle helpful). So this helps me, as I challenge myself to keep me motivated especially if the book isn’t what I was expecting.
The compactness. The portability. As a reader who went backpacking when I was a young person, I carried about 4kg of tree with me everywhere. Now when I travel any book I care to take weighs just a few g. Only downside is - when I finished a book I could swap it with a fellow traveller - some magical moments. Not so easy from a kindle!
The main reason I got mine was because I was running out of room to store books physically
and also I realized that no matter how good i took care of my books, after awhile the pages would start to come out.. Now i’m fully digital
Lack of room and ease of getting English-language books instantly while living in Europe.
Edit: My first e-reader was the Kindle Keyboard (also called 3rd gen), which I got in 2010. Still works, though I use my Oasis 3 mostly now.
Two main reasons. I was running out of shelf space, and I didn't have an easy way to read on the go (most of the books I read and heavy and bulky so I don't like carrying them around). The kindle solved both issues
I spent a couple years moving between 3 countries and had to give up books every time or they were a hassle to move. Nowadays, I need to get back into ereading more because I've run out of shelf space. I love my kindle for travel.
I was young and super into reading and needed something to be able to read easier into the night (I hated reading lights!). I also think my parents were spending too much on books since I went through them so fast, and with Kindle I could get them for cheaper or for free if they're public domain.
I had some money left from when I got sacked from a job in one hand and Wallapop (a Spanish second-hand portal) in another. That's how my Kindle 4 (hopefully my mom's Kindle 4 tomorrow since I got a Kindle 10 last night and will probably arrive tomorrow) arrived to my life.
Also living in a rural area doesn't help to get physical books and I already have two shelves full of books.
Edit: I had a ass cheap and shitty 7" tablet with the Kindle app installed in it before, but the battery decided to go west.
Started traveling more so that also meant weighing down my purse with books. I had an iPad but hated reading on it. Up until 2014, I had no desire whatsoever to buy a kindle. I hated the bulkier form on the earlier models.
Around 2014, I started noticing more and more people with kindles on the plane. A guy that I sat next to had either the first or second gen Paperwhite and I was somewhat intrigued.
I bought the latest Paperwhite at the time but when the voyage was released, I had to have it! Luckily, it ended up being a birthday/early Christmas gift.
Over the 9 year time period of using kindles, I've had...
-2012 Paperwhite
-2014 Voyage
-2017 Oasis (traded it in for the 2019 version)
-2018 Paperwhite
-2019 Oasis (traded in Voyage and '18 Paperwhite for this)
-2021 Paperwhite
-2022 Basic.
Needless to say, I've been obsessed. If I do purchase a physical book, it's usually a reference or coffee table book. I've tried reading a physical novel only to hate it and end up with the kindle version of it instead. I never knew how much I loved and missed my kindle until...
-Realizing I couldn't tap on a word for its Wikipedia or definition to appear.
-Toting around one heavy ass physical book when I could have thousands of books at my service without feeling I had a boulder in my purse.
Joined a book club whilst living in South America in 2014 - had to read the books using the kindle app on my laptop. Went home (to the UK) for a short visit and picked up a kindle while I was there so I could read my book club picks more easily. It was life changing!!!
I have ADHD and keeping myself occupied in 1 book at a time is a task. But I can read 4-5 at a time and keep everything straight. Rather than carry 6 books at a time, my mom got me a kindle.
I stopped reading for over ten years and wanted to start reading again. I didn't want to carry paperbacks or hardcovers with me. I also didn't like using the Kindle app on my phone because let's face it I have an attention span of an ant and if I got through a page of my book something would draw my attention away i.e. text message, calls. I also like the fact the lighting is much more gentle on the eyes on the Kindle and you can adjust how bright or dark you want the screen to be. Unlike my phone it's really bright or way too dark.
I moved abroad and couldn't bring my library of over 1,000 physical books with me. Since the home I moved into was much smaller, I bought a Kindle and started replenishing my stock with e-books. I also fell in love with the simplicity of carrying a selection of books on a device that would fit easily into my handbag, suitcase, or rucksack.
Pretty sure my mom had one and I got her old one and we shared an account and then when I went to college I got my own Amazon and that’s when my ebook reading *really* took off
My grandmother died, leaving behind the Kindle my eldest brother got her as a gift - to replace her old Kindle. My other cousins were scared to take it because they said it would be haunted, lol. I renamed the device after her, Arsenia.
I seem to be unfortunately allergic to whatever organisms grow on books (foxing) and it can lead to throat infections and itching skin. Can’t keep books here as the humidity and temperatures allow for the growth occur quickly. Can’t read physical library books unless they are new. Got a kindle and never looked back!!
I was a broke college student and at the time e-books and a Kindle were cheaper than physical books. This was over 10 years ago and at the time Amazon let Prime members borrow one free book a month.
My family shared a lot of books and my sister was going out of state for school. Kindle was the easiest way for us to continue to share books with her.
So, waaaaaay back in the early 00s, I had a Palm Pilot knock-off called a Handspring Visor. A company just called eReader was selling ebooks which ran on the PalmOS compatible systems, so I started buying and reading them on the bus. It was great, because I just had this pocket-sized device to read instead of carrying a book back and forth to work.
Eventually, Amazon came out with the Kindle, and I switched over. Sadly my old Palm books wouldn't carry over, though the company eventually got bought out by Barnes & Noble to pad out their Nook service.
I'm a science fiction geek from way back, also a computer geek. I always expected less paper-intensive ways of reading to be part of the future.
When Baen Books (an SF publisher, primarily military SF) started offering e-books I read them on my laptop computer and later on a Palm Pilot before Kindles became widely available. My first Kindle was one of the black ones with the physical keyboard.
Also, as I've gotten older my paper book collection has grown and I've moved several times. That stuff gets really heavy. And if it's in boxes in a storage unit, I can't get at my books to read them.
As a kid I used to carry a separate suitcase of books with me when we traveled; I read a lot and was relatively speedy.
Nowadays that’s a no thanks. Additionally, I got pulled in back in when ebooks were standardly much cheaper than print, widening the gap, and finally it’s just a balling space-saver. I already have an actual library, a whole room for bookshelves, and it’s full up. This way I can kindle the type of books you don’t need to have forever copies of and keep my more treasured books and acquire the formats that I prefer in print (cookbooks, art books, graphic novels, etc)
Kindle is not my only e-reader, but ebooks turned out to be pretty awesome.
I was so ready to read Crime and Punishment only to find the font so dishearteningly small. Bought the kindle specifically for books over 500 pages and that kick-started my reading streak.
When i was 15 my sister bought me my first ebook because my parents didn't allow me to buy any more books. It was such a bad ereader (an old used papyre which buttons rarely worked) that i ended buying a cheap kobo in a trip to spain. After that, 10 years later my mom gave me an oasis because my kobo wasnt working nicely anymore and had tons of scratches
I like the convenience of having so many books in one small spot. I have the paper white one and I don’t care for the way the bookmark works, it’s a weird little thing but it’s annoying enough for me to want a different kindle
Similar reason. I wanted a book that was too large to be printed physically (the SCP collection). I got a kindle so I could read it & it went from there
I was on a trip and brought my tablet so I was reading off that and I liked the convenience but when I came home I went back to reading physical books.
Then I got into requesting ARCs (advanced reader copies) which I was more likely to receive digital. My friend got one, highly recommended it so I made the purchase and I love it, I take it everywhere
I had a fairly big house but not big enough. I had books on every surface. I had to stop buying books, let my house look like "Hoarders" or buy a Kindle. I chose #3.
I'm French. And I wanted to read in English. Books in English are expensive over here.
So I got myself a US Kindle account and started purchasing cheap ebooks. I first read on the Kindle app. After a while, I realise I prefered ebooks to paperbacks, so I bought a Paperwhite. That was 10 years ago.
After a while ebooks in English were more readily available on Amazon France, so I switched back my account. Haven't looked back.
Oh and it allowed me to declutter my shelves. I sold a lot of books.
So much easier to read at night. I’m also someone who reads multiple books at a time so it’s nice to be able to instantly switch back and forth between books.
I read extensively, was always travelling from school/college/work/extracurriculars and my school stuff and uniforms were heavy enough but I was allowed to use my a digital copy - which became my kindle - at school (dyslexia accommodation) so I didn’t have to carry my personal books, school books/plays and documents separately.
I had to if I wanted to keep reading without unnecessary pain. My wrists & fingers were hurt when I knitted too much some years back. Ever since then, holding books open and flipping the pages became too painful if I read more than 30mins.
Also, buying physical books where I live is too expensive and the delivery times don't satisfy my impatience.
I have Amazon Prime, and one bored day at work, I noticed “Prime Reading” was a benefit of it. I saw all the ebooks they offered, and it made me realize that no, I dont have to pay $10 for each book.
So I got a Kindle paperwhite, discovered Libby, and have been devouring books like never before.
I can read more books I can bring more books with me unlike an iPad there's no eye strain when reading Amazon has a much larger selection than anyone else take your pick
I was traveling a lot for work. And this would mean every week I had three books with me - the one I was reading, the one I intended to read next, and an extra just in case. It wasn't super convenient, of course. I had worked for B&N through high school, so I sprung for a Nook gen 1 ( I guess in 2009, though I thought it was earlier). B&N annoyed me when they decided that Nook book would no longer get their membership discount - and this was in 2011/12 right around the time when the Kindle Paperwhite Gen 1 launched; so I jumped ship, got a Paperwhite. Upgraded to the Gen 3 a few years later, and that Gen 3 Paperwhite is still sitting next to me with a few thousand books on it.
I have always been a reader, but what sparked my curiosity is that I love gadgets. When the very first Kindle was announced, I was like, “Ooh, new toy. Shiny.”
It's hard for me to sit down with a book and read. But only because my work schedule makes it hard. Alot of my time at home is after midnight and I don't want the lights on in the house keeping people awake. So I got a Kindle and the Kindle app in order to read more easily and not to disturb my wife and kids trying to sleep
I’ve always been into reading on my computer. Fanfiction really gripped my interest and my mother had a kindle she didn’t use, she got it during a timeshare meeting, and I ended up taking it to read hunger games. Never looked back. I always preferred reading on a screen, the fact I can make the letters big is my selling point to keep me away from physical.
I travelled home my freshman year of college for Xmas break with a duffel bag stuffed with books so I could change out the books over break. Got my first e-reader because I didn't want to do that again, didn't want to decide which books to be so far from all the time, and my mom had a discount code.
That e-reader wasn't great so when it stopped working I got my first kindle. Upgraded to Paperwhite after a couple years so I didn't need a separate booklight. Have stayed with Paperwhite but upgrade every few years for battery life, water resistance, capacity, etc.
I love that every book I read is the size and weight of a paperback. It fits in every bag I carry. I can read in any lighting situation and it doesn't matter that the cat likes to perch between me and the lamp. It lasts for weeks on a charge so I'm never scrambling for batteries for my booklight so I can finish the chapter or book because the light died just as it was getting good. It charges pretty quickly so I'm not tethered very long to a cable and I can get a decent charge in the time it takes to shower or walk the dog or something. I can look up words in text (and sometimes disappoint myself by attempting that on a paper book).
Sometimes I change the page by accident but I can't drop the book and lose my bookmark and have to go searching for where I was. I can use my phone as a backup device if I forget my kindle and have it remember where I was (this is only used in emergency situations though).
The only thing that is somewhat annoying is map graphics but they're easy to navigate to and back to the page I was reading and I don't rely on them much anyway.
I'm not as much of an avid reader as I used to be, but I live overseas and move house every now and then and so shifting hundreds of heavy books every time is just stupid when I can have more books than I could read in a lifetime in the palm of my hand.
Honestly, I can read much faster and with one hand. I live in a major city so it’s nice to have on crowded public transport. I also enjoy the one handed reading when I’m taking care of my infant sun.
TikTok made me buy it! I was scrolling along and a video about Kindle came up describing all the features and I headed straight to Amazon to check them out. Being able to adjust the text size and read anywhere were the biggest reasons for me. Got my first Kindle and haven't looked back. I love my Kindles! Barely watch TikTok anymore.
I had the very first kindle because “my mom was sick of my books being everywhere”. So she got it for me for my 18th birthday. I was the kid who never left home without at least 2 books. I still buy books, but they are all non-fiction and for work
I had already converted to Google Play Books to do most of my reading on my phone and computer. Reading on my phone was always my idle phone activity.
First trip to the beach was a no go in sun that bright. Ordered a Paperwhite that day!
Sort of annoyed with whispersync though, haven’t been able to get it to sync progress to/from my kindle in months.
I decided to invest in Kindle ebooks because I believed Amazon stood the best chance of staying in business long term. Also am able to remove DRM to back up my enook collection in the event Amazon was to fail someday.
Kindle reader quality was decent and have been improving over time. Not compelled to upgrade reader hardware.
In comparison all of my ebooks based on DRM'd pdfs and on Microsoft's old ebook systems are no longer supported. Thankfully I was eventually able to repurchase these titles in Kindle format.
As for eBooks vs. physicwl books: I ran out of room to store my physical book collection 15 years ago (sob). So for now, I prioritize keeping physical books that are not available in used books stores or are not available as ebooks and buy titles in ebook only with few exceptions. Exceptions include high quality photography and art books where kindle's limited image quality sucks.
honestly thought they look uber cool than reading on your phone & hardcopy. asked my mum to get me one for my 18th birthday and i’ve been a loyal kindle reader for 10+ years !!
Not wanting to pack two Game of Thrones books with me on a trip - so purchased the Barnes and Noble Nook.
Updated to a Kindle when they added backlight.
Aside from not needing to carry around large books, it's now the built in dictionary, note highlighting, and backlight that I find indispensable.
Got as a gift, but I use it for same reason as many: take many books everywhere (I travel often for work) and cheaper books.
I still buy a lot of paper books, but usually items I consider special (as Barnes and Nobles leatherbound editions or Harpers Collins collections) or a series I like... I even got paper books after reading the books.
I love the feeling of holding a book, etc... But Kindle is just practical. And cheaper, as well.
My husband has a hard time sleeping while I have my night light on. A few minutes isn't a problem, but a few hours because I couldn't put my book down is not ideal. I bought an ereader for evening/nighttime reading, but am using it all the time now. It's just so much more comfortable than physical books!
Had to spend a month at the National Training Center (aka big Army exercise area in the middle of the desert and little to no cell service) and spend 9-10 months on a deployment in the Middle East with zero clue about whether I’d even get decent cell reception.
The 15-20 minutes of reading through a stack of e-books on my Kindle before going to bed is what helped me maintain my sanity through both, and was a helluva lot more compact than carrying a stack of books around.
We lived in Chile for three years. This was pre-kindle times. I came back to the US and dragged hundreds of thrift store books in duffle bags back to Chile. Just as we decided to move back, the Kindle came out. Bought one and never looked back. A miracle. If only I'd had one in Chile. Just a note, books are not easily available and are expensive in Chile.
Pretty similar.
I kept buying books saying I was going to read them but remembering to bring them with me would mean they didn't get read. All that money wasted.
I bought a Kindle and !now read multiple times a day 😁
Stephen King's The Dome. Heavy book. That book sucked me into the story but I couldn't see myself carrying it to and from work for a week.
Now I don't buy many bestsellers. Love my Kindle unlimited sub.
So many good, free books on Libby and Hoopla that aren't available in print at the library so I thought I would give it a try. Had a regular Kindle, which kinda sucked, so ended up getting a Paperwhite which is so much better. I do also read regular books as well but find myself picking up my Kindle more often. So convenient-- I can read in bed without a light, make the font larger so I don't need my reading glasses, and carry many books all at once.
I have used mine occasionally but the main reason was a light (and cheap) reader to bring on the go and to use in low-light places: at night in bed and on trains, planes and automobiles. I also didn't want to worry about losing it or having it stolen because it is fairly cheap, unlike an ipad.
It was around tax return season, and e-readers were getting really big. I didn't have a lot of books, but I wanted to get into reading again and didn't want the loads of books as I just didn't really have the space. I searched Amazon and found the Kindle Keyboard which had just come out the previous year, so I decided to get it. It's probably the best investment I ever made. It got me into reading again, and I could search for tons of books right at my finger tips. I didn't have to worry about going down to the local bookstore only to be disappointed that the book I wanted wasn't in stock. I now have an Oasis and I still love it!
Ran out of shelf space, had to import my favorite books (third world asian country), cost of importing ( WoT collector's edition costs 100k+ before tax)
Money. And the Libby app. I can check out almost any book for free. Then I don’t feel bad if I don’t finish it. And I have so many choice available. I still go to the library (and take my grandkids) and browse book stores, but he kindle is so darn convenient
Chronic pain in my hands and especially in the mornings when I primarily read, paired with 1200 page chonkers by Sanderson was enough to convert me. I travel for work now and back home to see family and it’s nice to have an entire library in my carry-on.
I'm already very chaotic and trying to keep the amount of stuff I own somewhat under control, english ebooks are so much cheaper than printed, translated books in Germany while I don't even like translations and Amazon is an absolute goldmine when you enjoy classics 😄
Travel, convenience of all those books in one slim device even in town.
It doesn't replace physical books for me, it just gives me another option to read and is invaluable when traveling.
I was a huge reader as a kid/teen then by the time I graduated high school I totally stopped. Then I met my husband, was working, we had kids, and basically, never made or had the time to get back into it. This year I made a promise to myself I’d get back into reading and do something for ME.
So of course, TikTok started recommending booktok content and the amount of kindles I saw basically influenced me into wanting a kindle. And with kids, I’m always scared they’re gonna rip them up or lose my page or just somehow get into my books. So I figured kindles are just convenient and practical for my life as a mom. But I seriously just wanted to have a kindle, decorate it, make it “aesthetic” and my husband bought it for my birthday in June and I am so happy with it. I love it, I read 6-10 books a month, I can change out the stickers and case, it’s just so much fun honestly. No regrets here
I got one cause it is so much easier to carry 100 books in a Kindle, than carry 100 books LOL.
Mood reader, so I like having a bunch of books to pick from when I finish a book.
I joined the peace corps in 2018 and got my first kindle so I didn’t have to lug around a bunch of books. It actually took a while for me to get used to paper books once I came home. I still use my kindle almost everyday and try to rotate a paper book in every now and then
I didn’t have any space left for books (and I never had much) plus I really like to read in bed before sleeping. Getting an e-reader just made total sense to me.
I used to read a lot as a kid. Would come home from school and go straight to the library and then stay up reading late every night. Reading became less cool when I went to a boarding school and I didn’t want the other girls to think I was weird and then I just stopped for so long. Then my friend invited me to her bookclub which is pretty casual biweekly meet ups and I realized how easy it is to borrow ebooks and keep track on goodreads and it made me a bit more excited to read like I used to.
I moved around a lot and I got sick of moving huge boxes of books back and forth so I asked for one for Christmas. Once I got one I ended up reading a lot more because it’s small and I can throw it in my purse.
As my vision got worse, print books were becoming unreadable. I can enlarge the print on my kindle and phone. This long time book reader is now able to read any book without straining to read. Kindle and ebooks in general are my sanity savers.
I had debated on getting a kindle for awhile. Then in 2011 my sister gave me my first kindle for xmas a 4th generation. My husband gave me a paperwhite 7th gen for xmas 2016. It was great to have a back lit kindle. First kindle no longer with us but still have the paperwhite 7. This year i purchased a paperwhite 11. They are so ingredibly long lasting.They were also a blessing during covid when everything was shut down.
Everytime I would go to my local library they would never have the books I wanted and I would have to order them from other branches and that would take 7-10 days. They also have a VERY poor selection when it comes to AA literature and finding books by AA authors in my local library was like finding a needles in a haystack, made my experience absolutely awful and I asked would they consider a section for AA literature they said "well a lot of patrons feel like that's segregation (I really wanted her to look up the definition of segregation) I didnt have the energy for it so I bought a kindle. Here i am 12 days later and I LOVE it
I got into e-reading because life is expensive and I don't have room for physical copies of all the books I read. I've always got titles on sale + if you're willing to take a chance on unknown or first time authors you can find a surprising amount of Kindle books for free (first in a series usually). I still buy physical copies of books, but only if it's a story I really like or if I'm hunting for a limited edition/exclusive copy.
convenience. i only read physical books when necessary or i badly want the copy of the book to add to my collection. otherwise it will only accumulate dust. i live alone so i dont have much time to sort and clean. my fave design books are on display though :))
Convenience and cost-friendly.
Convenience because it's easier to carry a thin piece of technology than to lug (as you said) two large/heavy books or don't read at all. I can't not read at all! I can slot my Kindle into my hand ag, my backpack, my laptop sleeve, anywhere pretty much.
And cost-friendly because I can find ways to download free eBooks or eBooks at a more affordable price. Compared to buying physical paperbacks or hardbacks which eat into my finances. And because I read a lot, I'd end up spending boat loads of money when I don't need to.
We moved and I could no longer take my precious beautiful physical collection cross-states 😭 I’m happy I got the kindle though, Libby is amazing and I have more bookshelf space for physical books that I only want to collect/keep. Haven’t stopped using my kindle since.
I live in a small one bedroom council flat with my fiancée and I'm limited to one narrow bookcase. My partner also has OCD so I'm not going to get away with stuffing books into nooks and crannies like I would if I was on my own so I was kind of forced to. But I've grown to love my Kindle and have become very attached to it. I now own the Paperwhite and the new Basic and I don't go anywhere without one
When my daughter was born, and the only time I got to read was during the night when I rocked her to sleep, or during her feeding - turning pages with a tap was very convenient...
Actually, I read on my phone for a year at that time because I maintained that ereaders won't feel the same before finally buying the kindle... Can't imagine going back to the tiny fonts on the physical books though
I became an avid reader BECAUSE of Kindle! I didn’t realize I loved reading because I hated having to lug a book around or even just having to remember to bring said book. I hated paying for physical books that I’d only read once. I hated the clutter from owning books. I hated having to make trips to the library to get and return books. I enjoyed the actual act of reading, but everything about acquiring books was enough to make me not read.
Enter first the Kindle app, then an actual Kindle. I love it! I’ve read 32 books so far this year, on top of a full-time job, graduating from a masters program, and planning a wedding (as well as attending bachelorette trips and bridal showers and other social events). That means I’ve made the time to read 3-4 books a month, which is way more than I’ve read since probably college ten years ago. I could not have developed this love of reading without the flexibility of having at least my Kindle app, or without my library’s excellent ebook catalogue, as well as my KU subscription. I have another 3 books waiting to read now (soon!! My return date is coming up), as well as 10 holds at the library. I am now almost constantly reading because I can!!
At the time I could get books faster from the library as an ebook. Now I think it is still more convenient to check things in and out from the comfort of my couch rather than making a trip.
I had heard that having a Kindle makes reading convenient and you didn't need a light on at night. I got a Paperwhite as a Christmas gift that year by someone who knew I enjoy reading.
I'll be completely honest
I can't use my phone at school, and I already carry like 10lbs of books and I didn't want to add even more. I got a kindle for Christmas and I was blown away by the fact that I can read fanfic on it, so now it never leaves my side.
Also, since I don't have the school's wifi nor does the kindle have a camera, no one can say anything 😏
Started reading a lot on my phone, was killing my eyes, before that I was a purist paper-only type (wish I’d shaken that sooner, spent years lugging a thousand paper books on trips/reading the same books over and over just ‘cause it was tough to get more) and then got a paperwhite in 2015. Best thing I ever bought, though I’ve upgraded since, and passed mine on. Don’t regret it.
I was traveling in a foreign country and while I could speak the language fairly well, reading it was tough. I was staying in a pretty rural area with no commerce nearby and ran out of reading material. I plowed through the 4 huge novels I brought with me, and was left with nothing new to read. I re-read the books I brought with me but bought a kindle when I got home and vowed never to be without reading material again!!
My wife went on a buisness trip. I went to the airport to see her off and her carryon weighed a $%\*#@$ ton. Turned out my avid reading wife stuffed 5 hardbacks from the library into the bag (and then had me carry them). 6 months later we moved and we had something like 20+ boxes of books. That Christmas I bought us his and hers Kindles.
We moved a lot when I was a kid, and my mom had tons and tons and tons of books. By the time of our last move, I was tasked with packing up and moving all the books. A single book, fine. A couple boxes, also fine. Dozens upon dozens of boxes, you may as well be moving a collection of bricks. Anyway, I'm an adult now and only own a handful of books. The rest I check out from the library and read on my kindle. Probably not related at all.
That is so sweet!
Back when I was a teenager my family would go on vacation to stay at a family friend's house near the beach, My sister and I would pack 3 bags between the 2 of us. One bag each for our clothes and stuff and the third giant bag we filled with books for the week. It's a fond memory but I wouldn't trade my kindle for that experience again
Same, but I was the crazy wife! I finally decided to save my husband’s back, he had graciously carried my ultra heavy bags for years and was ever so glad when I changed to Kindle:)
I ran out of shelf space.
Me too! And yet, I keep buying books 😂😂
Wrists hurt from carrying fat chonkers Eyes hurt from small fonts and dim lighting Pockets hurt from buying expensive paper
Same, same, and also same! Add in no room for books, and there you go!
[удалено]
Ouch! Culture hit hard!
how you treating that concussion? That book is a weapon. [😂](https://emojipedia.org/face-with-tears-of-joy)
It broke my glasses.
Ow!
i saw whoopi goldberg on tv talking about how great her kindle is and how useful, etc. she was my favorite actress when i was a kid. then, i thought the idea of a kindle sounded really cool. cuz you can change the size and font and you can carry so many books with you. i read mostly classics, for most of my life, and so i had essentially every book i'd want to read for free through the kindle store or project gutenberg. i've since branched out cuz my wife has gotten me into newer books, and we use libby or stuff from bookbub on sale to get newer books. other than my iphone (which would be my one gadget i'd never live without, cuz phone stuff, ios games, kindle app, and audiobooks too), my kindle is my favorite gadgety thing in the world. i wouldn't want to live without one now that i've had one.
One of my favorite writers is a classic one (Vicente Blasco Ibáñez) and I love to have his books for free in Kindle.
I was never really a reader. It was never really accessible. When I lived at my parents place there was never enough room to store books even if I wanted to. The library was out the question as well, it was mainly information/study books over fiction etc... iBooks when it launched in 2010 changed that as I could have books all digitally now. I switched to the Kindle app after, something about it just appealed to me. I bought my first eReader in 2013, 2017 upgraded for light for night time and 2021 upgraded for the battery.
Christmas gift from my son a kindle keyboard at the time i was positive he wasted his money in no way in hell would i abandon physical books. Well its been ten plus years and i have read only 2 physical books and soon purchasing my 5th kindle.
Because it's convenient. As a working mom to an active middle school kid, I am both busy.....and bored 😅 There's actually a lot of waiting around and having a kindle in my purse is a blessing tbh. The battery is my fav part. I usually just need to charge it every 3 weeks. Its thinner than a book so sometimes I just carry the smallest bag I own and I can take it out to read while waiting for kid to finish practice, playground(cause he's too big for me to hover but not big enough for him to go there himself), on the train, airplane, at the grocery line etc. The lighting works great too.... my husband havent complained about my 3am binge reading.
I'm taking care of my grandpa so I understand you!
I can add my fanfiction reads on there. Make it’s feel much nicer to read them on there than on my phone. Also I like to read at night to help me sleep so the kindle paper white backlight is so nice!
Me too, getting a backlit kindle was a game changer! Just last night I woke up at 2am and couldn’t get back to sleep… just ten mins of reading on my kindle and I was out like a light again, my husband none the wiser!
I was in a phase of reading classic books (ie, in the public domain), and I was getting digital copies for free. I thought I might try a Kindle to save my phone battery. The e-ink screen amazed me. My first Kindle was the 5th gen basic, so there was no touch layer or light-directing layer in front of the e-ink. It was so wonderful, I could barely believe it.
I got smashed in the nose by a doorstopper. I switched to my phone after that. Then I got raging headaches. Switched to Kindle and et voila, the perfect solution to damned doorstoppers and raging headaches.
Sorry, English is not my native language, so I'm not sure - what is a doorstopper in this context?
Oh no worries, I'm not a native speaker either. Doorstopper books (for some reason, literary fiction and fantasy are very prone to this) are massive tomes averaging 800 pages or more. I can't remember what book it was, this was more than 5 years ago, think it was a Wheel of Time book.
I had one of these (a Santiago Posteguillo book) and I had to use a backpack because no purse would fit that monster.
I dont even want to consider anything iPad/tablet like because of similar problem. What do you think hurt the most, a really thick book or an iPad?
Book’s worse
My girlfriend at the time received the first-generation Kindle Paperwhite as a gift. She wasn't using it because she preferred the "smell and feel" of physical books. I offered to set it up for her, and she brought it over, still in its packaging. I immediately fell in love with the Kindle as soon as I started using it. Intrigued, she took it back and decided she liked it too, I suppose. After we broke up, I bought my own Kindle and was immediately taken with the convenience of accessing any book within seconds. As some people in this thread have already pointed out, it's much lighter than certain hefty volumes—think "Les Misérables" or "It," for instance. I often read until I literally drop the book on my face. Fast-forward many years, and I'm now on my fifth Kindle, the Scribe model. While I do occasionally buy physical books—especially when electronic versions don't exist—about 90% of my library is digital. Unless I become incredibly wealthy and can afford the shelf space, I have no plans to revert to a primarily physical library.
Standing in the tube in London with one hand holding the rail the other a book and the third to flip pages made me realise to either grow another limb or buy a Kindle.
You realize the third hand would be more useful in so many situations? That would be my preferred choice. /s
Why stop at three? I agree, more hands would infinitely be the better choice. I'll ask evolution to make note of that.
Started reading on my phone and after a couple of books decided to get fancy
Money & space. Started reading the Discworld series & like damn, I sure as hell would like to own that collection. Libby & buying ebooks on the cheap lets me read & saves me a lot of money/space. Granted now there's the issue of buying a myriad of cheap ebooks. But let's not talk about that.
The books I wanted to read were not accessible here, and if they were, they were too expensive because of conversion and importation. I got into ereading before Kindle, when I was still using Java ereader apps on my Nokia phone.
My first kindle was a gift from my mother when I graduated high school and was sad about not being able to take my collection of books with me to college in 2013. and as i ended up studying abroad in college and moving abroad after graduating, I've never been without a kindle since
It was an unasked-for gift when I was in college a decade ago and I discovered I could download an unlimited number of public domain and library books from the comfort of my dorm.....and nobody had to know what I was reading (which was nothing that crazy, mostly a lot of embarrassing YA fantasy and dystopian, but still). That kindle brought back my childhood love of books, and I've upgraded to a newer device but still prefer ereaders for the convenience and comfort.
I moved countries and left all my books behind. They were just taking up space anyway. Then I got a Kindle.
Same
Working offshore luggage was so weight restricted 2 paper backs was the maximum I could take, discovered a Sony ereader it changed my life and a couple of years later kindle became what it is now
Storage and upkeep of my library became difficult, and when I developed an allergy to dust mites, they had to go. Paper books have become prohibitively expensive in my country, and public libraries don't offer current publications. Kindle books and Audible companions are the best ways for me to learn English and other languages, and I can read the most recent book series without having to wait months or even years for translations. My Oasis is more convenient for public transportation than a paper book because it is lightweight and weatherproof. The Amazon Kindle store is fantastic. The selection is endless compared to a traditional bookstore. I love making a shopping list and then waiting for the book's price to drop to 0.99. There are no such deals where I live, and e-books are nearly the same price as paper editions. And last but not least, I like to think that e-books have a less negative impact on the environment than paper books.
I totally agree with everything you said!
I read on my phone on the kindle app a lot so decided to get a kindle.
My wife got me a Kindle in Christmas of 2019 because I would go a visit my Mom on the train and I would take at least two books with me and over pack. Then the pandemic hit… but having a Kindle made me read more both physical and ebooks. Then I got ovarian cancer in 2022, the chemo made it hard to physically hold a book. So my Kindle came in handy. I have to take a hormone blocker to prevent my cancer from coming back which makes my joints hurt, having a Kindle helps.
A good friend on my Rheumatoid group told me about Kindles as I can no longer hold paperback books due to hand pain/weakness. Never looked back since!.
I bought a paperwhite for my youngest child, who (unlike her older siblings) hated to read. I thought maybe if we put books on an electronic device, maybe it would make them more fun! Yeah…no.. 😂 For two years I kept trying to get her to use it, and then I went on a trip and asked her if I could borrow it - it soon became MY kindle!
Moving to a flat on the 5th floor with no elevator. Then moving again. I have approximately 2k+ books. They are now in longterm storage.
A few years ago, I was struggling with my mental health. I would scroll social media randomly throughout the day and it started affecting me negatively. I used to read when I was younger (going to the library to pick new books was one of my favorite things to do) and I had decided that I'd like to get back into reading. I wanted to do something that I knew would bring me joy again. We live in a decent size apartment, but I knew buying books wasn't something I wanted to do. I did want to be able to lay in bed and read though. Holding up a book and trying to get good light while laying down wasn't something I wanted to do either. So I looked into Kindles. It was Black Friday and my husband wanted to go to Best Buy. I knew they had Kindles there and I wanted to actually hold one to see if I liked it. I also wanted to compare prices and whatnot. So we went. He asked me why I was looking at Kindles and I explained all of the above on why I was considering it. He looked on Amazon and found one, refurbished, for half the price and ordered it immediately for me. It was considered my birthday gift (which was a few days later) and he was so supportive of the decision. Since I got it, I've fallen in love with reading again. I take my Kindle EVERYWHERE with me. It fits so perfectly in my bag and doesn't weigh anything at all. Also, I struggle with dyslexia and Kindle offers the dyslexia font! It has helped me tremendously lol. My mental health has been so much better and there are days where I don't scroll social media at all!
I got it because i moved to Australia some 4 years ago and honestly dont have enough space in my room for more physical books (i currently live with family) so i took the leap last year and its been nice!
I moved abroad and lost my easy access to English library books (and secondhand/thrift stores full of English books). I'd had a Kindle for a couple of years by then but had rarely used it - but now it's my go-to.
I saw an advert of someone reading in weird positions and being able to hold the kindle comfortably, and being able to read with one hand as you do other things, and thought, that’s me, I would do that! And I liked the look of the screen and how it mimic paper and ink so well.
My first one was because I’m a speed reader and my mum had neither the money nor the space to feed my habit. My second one was more or less the same reason and my iPad wasn’t doing it for me
Moved to a country in which only the best sellers list is available in English. I can read in the local language, but I'm very slow at it. The Kindle means I always have things to read, bought it just before leaving the US.
I wanted to read almost anywhere and I obviously could not always do that with a regular book, it was too bothersome. I started reading on my phone but ofc I also use my only phone with different things so the battery life would be shorter especially if I read for hours on it. Got a dedicated e-reader instead.
My astigmatism got worse and I wished I could just make the text larger. Figured kindle was the solution
A friend gave me his for free as he didn’t use it.
I'm travelling a lot, when you are LOTR fan it's kind of inconvenience to take 1000 pages with you.
i had a kindle when i was a kid !! it didn’t have a backlight though 😭 i’ve always been an avid reader, but i had a bad reading slump from like 8th grade when covid started to the end of 2022 basically. i found booktok and started reading the popular books on there (i bought the physical copies,) and then i saw the green kindle trending on tiktok and asked my grandpa for it because i really liked the idea of having my whole library with me on a small device. and i’d read a couple books on the kindle app on my phone already and sped thru them like nothing and that helped my confidence and motivation to read more. and the fact that books were kind of discounted on kindle !! also i just liked the aesthetic 😭 but i love having my kindle always with me instead of a bulky book. it’s much more efficient.
I resisted e-readers for a long time. My wife bought me a Kindle during lockdown, and I found that I was having a much easier time finishing books with it than with physical media. Now, I’m fairly addicted.
Really so I could easily take all my books everywhere and read anytime. Bonuses are it's generally lighter and I get instant gratification when reading a series.
Because I invented it. Ok, not the literal Kindle, but back around 1985-ish, when I was barely a teen, I was learning to use a computer—one of those old Apples, using DOS and Basic or whatever it was called, and I remember the teacher speculating what computers would someday do, including predicting laptops. Me, being a reader, thought up the idea of a mini computer that you could carry it around and all it would need to do would have a slot in the side that you could insert tiny little discs into that would contain a book, which would display on the screen. You could then borrow little book discs at the library or buy them in stores. Teacher thought I was ridiculous. So take *that*, Miss Lazerick. I got into Kindle because I love reading and wanted to find out if it lived up to the potential of the device I invented. Happily it does.
I remember when first news web became into existence, a lot of people were like "why would anyone want news on the internet, when I can buy a newspaper?" It's the same mindset. Sad you were just a teenager and couldn't bring that device to life. E-readers could have been part of my childhood.
I live in a small apartment. I prefer actual books but don't have the room.
I bought Dance of Dragons and realised the only way I could read it was hunched over a table like a medieval monk
Travel.
Read on the Kindle app on my phone in bed for five years, decided to treat myself to an actual Kindle in December 2019
My fat head always covered the light and I could never find the sweet spot.
Shelf space then I moved to it permanently because I developed arthritis at the age 34
I read books in english while being non-native and living outside anglophone country, so my cheapest option is buying ebooks. I used to read on my phone for years but the screen got too unconfortable for me at some point. the pipeline here is very short and straightforward.
I bought the first Kindle when I was pregnant with my second child. My experience with my first child had taught me that I could hardly read in the first few months after birth if I did not organize myself to do so even in uncomfortable positions and situations.
I had a lot of travelling planned for the year, both private and for work and I didn't want to lug a book with me and potentially have to buy another heavy book for the travel back. I did get a Kindle fire because I also used to watch some netflix in foreign countries, as they had access to a different catalog.
I had an iPad and was using the Kindle app with no problems. But... I planned on taking a cruise. The idea of bringing an expensive tablet out of my room, plus the fact that it was a pain to read in bright sunlight had me looking at Kindles. I bought a refurbished one for cheap to see if I liked it. It worked great! I was looking forward to reading it on my balcony, or by the pool on my cruise... in April of 2020. Ah well, it's been great at the local waterpark anyway.
For me several reasons: The main reason, I would never take books out with me incase the covers got trashed. I’m very fussy with the condition of my books, and having a curled corner or too many creases on the spine sets off my OCD. Also, I can hyperfocus on books, which means I will go to a book shop, buy too many books, because I think the covers are pretty, spend almost £100 sometimes more, and then never read what I pick up. So a kindle helps curb that a little and the prices are so much more reasonable. And honestly, I’m a numbers girlie, so the time left in the book keeps me trudging on. Seeing my % helps me decide up how I want to read. Sometimes I go off chapters, sometimes I set a % goal. I’m a slow reader due to dyslexia (another reason I find the kindle helpful). So this helps me, as I challenge myself to keep me motivated especially if the book isn’t what I was expecting.
The compactness. The portability. As a reader who went backpacking when I was a young person, I carried about 4kg of tree with me everywhere. Now when I travel any book I care to take weighs just a few g. Only downside is - when I finished a book I could swap it with a fellow traveller - some magical moments. Not so easy from a kindle!
so I could read in the dark while laying down!
The main reason I got mine was because I was running out of room to store books physically and also I realized that no matter how good i took care of my books, after awhile the pages would start to come out.. Now i’m fully digital
Lack of room and ease of getting English-language books instantly while living in Europe. Edit: My first e-reader was the Kindle Keyboard (also called 3rd gen), which I got in 2010. Still works, though I use my Oasis 3 mostly now.
Two main reasons. I was running out of shelf space, and I didn't have an easy way to read on the go (most of the books I read and heavy and bulky so I don't like carrying them around). The kindle solved both issues
I think I decided one day that I didn't want to lug around physical books anymore. It just seemed more practical to get a Kindle.
I spent a couple years moving between 3 countries and had to give up books every time or they were a hassle to move. Nowadays, I need to get back into ereading more because I've run out of shelf space. I love my kindle for travel.
Love reading, pretty much ordered it on a whim. Now I use it pretty much every day. It just allows me to consume more books!
I was young and super into reading and needed something to be able to read easier into the night (I hated reading lights!). I also think my parents were spending too much on books since I went through them so fast, and with Kindle I could get them for cheaper or for free if they're public domain.
I had some money left from when I got sacked from a job in one hand and Wallapop (a Spanish second-hand portal) in another. That's how my Kindle 4 (hopefully my mom's Kindle 4 tomorrow since I got a Kindle 10 last night and will probably arrive tomorrow) arrived to my life. Also living in a rural area doesn't help to get physical books and I already have two shelves full of books. Edit: I had a ass cheap and shitty 7" tablet with the Kindle app installed in it before, but the battery decided to go west.
Space, time and cost effectiveness I got into it when I left for university - not much room to store books or lug them back and forth
Started traveling more so that also meant weighing down my purse with books. I had an iPad but hated reading on it. Up until 2014, I had no desire whatsoever to buy a kindle. I hated the bulkier form on the earlier models. Around 2014, I started noticing more and more people with kindles on the plane. A guy that I sat next to had either the first or second gen Paperwhite and I was somewhat intrigued. I bought the latest Paperwhite at the time but when the voyage was released, I had to have it! Luckily, it ended up being a birthday/early Christmas gift. Over the 9 year time period of using kindles, I've had... -2012 Paperwhite -2014 Voyage -2017 Oasis (traded it in for the 2019 version) -2018 Paperwhite -2019 Oasis (traded in Voyage and '18 Paperwhite for this) -2021 Paperwhite -2022 Basic. Needless to say, I've been obsessed. If I do purchase a physical book, it's usually a reference or coffee table book. I've tried reading a physical novel only to hate it and end up with the kindle version of it instead. I never knew how much I loved and missed my kindle until... -Realizing I couldn't tap on a word for its Wikipedia or definition to appear. -Toting around one heavy ass physical book when I could have thousands of books at my service without feeling I had a boulder in my purse.
I was at uni halls so I didn't have the ability to move my books with me.
Joined a book club whilst living in South America in 2014 - had to read the books using the kindle app on my laptop. Went home (to the UK) for a short visit and picked up a kindle while I was there so I could read my book club picks more easily. It was life changing!!!
My husband got tired of moving all my heavy boxes of books around and insured I get one.
I have ADHD and keeping myself occupied in 1 book at a time is a task. But I can read 4-5 at a time and keep everything straight. Rather than carry 6 books at a time, my mom got me a kindle.
For me it was my eyesight for starters and attention span it’s nice to easily swap books when on the go chapter to chapter off and on
I stopped reading for over ten years and wanted to start reading again. I didn't want to carry paperbacks or hardcovers with me. I also didn't like using the Kindle app on my phone because let's face it I have an attention span of an ant and if I got through a page of my book something would draw my attention away i.e. text message, calls. I also like the fact the lighting is much more gentle on the eyes on the Kindle and you can adjust how bright or dark you want the screen to be. Unlike my phone it's really bright or way too dark.
I moved abroad and couldn't bring my library of over 1,000 physical books with me. Since the home I moved into was much smaller, I bought a Kindle and started replenishing my stock with e-books. I also fell in love with the simplicity of carrying a selection of books on a device that would fit easily into my handbag, suitcase, or rucksack.
Pretty sure my mom had one and I got her old one and we shared an account and then when I went to college I got my own Amazon and that’s when my ebook reading *really* took off
My grandmother died, leaving behind the Kindle my eldest brother got her as a gift - to replace her old Kindle. My other cousins were scared to take it because they said it would be haunted, lol. I renamed the device after her, Arsenia.
My husband gifted me one as he assumed I’d enjoy it. He was correct.
I seem to be unfortunately allergic to whatever organisms grow on books (foxing) and it can lead to throat infections and itching skin. Can’t keep books here as the humidity and temperatures allow for the growth occur quickly. Can’t read physical library books unless they are new. Got a kindle and never looked back!!
Ran out of money, ran out of shelf space
I was a broke college student and at the time e-books and a Kindle were cheaper than physical books. This was over 10 years ago and at the time Amazon let Prime members borrow one free book a month.
Some books I could only find digital version and I can read longer on an e-ink screen
I love both but there is no denying the convenience of a Kindle.
Lighter than a book, can make text larger, don’t need a light to read, no physical book to deal with before and after.
I tried to read "The Wise Man's Fear" faceup in my bed, next day I bought a Kindle.
Easier to buy books right when I want them tbh.
My family shared a lot of books and my sister was going out of state for school. Kindle was the easiest way for us to continue to share books with her.
So, waaaaaay back in the early 00s, I had a Palm Pilot knock-off called a Handspring Visor. A company just called eReader was selling ebooks which ran on the PalmOS compatible systems, so I started buying and reading them on the bus. It was great, because I just had this pocket-sized device to read instead of carrying a book back and forth to work. Eventually, Amazon came out with the Kindle, and I switched over. Sadly my old Palm books wouldn't carry over, though the company eventually got bought out by Barnes & Noble to pad out their Nook service.
I'm a science fiction geek from way back, also a computer geek. I always expected less paper-intensive ways of reading to be part of the future. When Baen Books (an SF publisher, primarily military SF) started offering e-books I read them on my laptop computer and later on a Palm Pilot before Kindles became widely available. My first Kindle was one of the black ones with the physical keyboard. Also, as I've gotten older my paper book collection has grown and I've moved several times. That stuff gets really heavy. And if it's in boxes in a storage unit, I can't get at my books to read them.
Started my nursing job and everyone was reading! I got into it and I don’t know how I went this long without reading.
As a kid I used to carry a separate suitcase of books with me when we traveled; I read a lot and was relatively speedy. Nowadays that’s a no thanks. Additionally, I got pulled in back in when ebooks were standardly much cheaper than print, widening the gap, and finally it’s just a balling space-saver. I already have an actual library, a whole room for bookshelves, and it’s full up. This way I can kindle the type of books you don’t need to have forever copies of and keep my more treasured books and acquire the formats that I prefer in print (cookbooks, art books, graphic novels, etc) Kindle is not my only e-reader, but ebooks turned out to be pretty awesome.
It’s easier to read at night in bed without disturbing my husband. Also you can brings lots of books to read on a trip.
I can use the app on my phone
It was a natural continuation to my EBookman. God, I'm old.
I was so ready to read Crime and Punishment only to find the font so dishearteningly small. Bought the kindle specifically for books over 500 pages and that kick-started my reading streak.
When i was 15 my sister bought me my first ebook because my parents didn't allow me to buy any more books. It was such a bad ereader (an old used papyre which buttons rarely worked) that i ended buying a cheap kobo in a trip to spain. After that, 10 years later my mom gave me an oasis because my kobo wasnt working nicely anymore and had tons of scratches
I like the convenience of having so many books in one small spot. I have the paper white one and I don’t care for the way the bookmark works, it’s a weird little thing but it’s annoying enough for me to want a different kindle
Similar reason. I wanted a book that was too large to be printed physically (the SCP collection). I got a kindle so I could read it & it went from there
I was on a trip and brought my tablet so I was reading off that and I liked the convenience but when I came home I went back to reading physical books. Then I got into requesting ARCs (advanced reader copies) which I was more likely to receive digital. My friend got one, highly recommended it so I made the purchase and I love it, I take it everywhere
I had a fairly big house but not big enough. I had books on every surface. I had to stop buying books, let my house look like "Hoarders" or buy a Kindle. I chose #3.
I'm French. And I wanted to read in English. Books in English are expensive over here. So I got myself a US Kindle account and started purchasing cheap ebooks. I first read on the Kindle app. After a while, I realise I prefered ebooks to paperbacks, so I bought a Paperwhite. That was 10 years ago. After a while ebooks in English were more readily available on Amazon France, so I switched back my account. Haven't looked back. Oh and it allowed me to declutter my shelves. I sold a lot of books.
I got one because holding open a book and reading on a packed train is hard. Much easier to hold a handle and a kindle haha
So much easier to read at night. I’m also someone who reads multiple books at a time so it’s nice to be able to instantly switch back and forth between books.
I wanted to be able to read multiple book during a beach week and not weigh down my beach bag!
Got frustrated when I read through two books in a day at the race track and from then on had to carry 3 with me.
I read extensively, was always travelling from school/college/work/extracurriculars and my school stuff and uniforms were heavy enough but I was allowed to use my a digital copy - which became my kindle - at school (dyslexia accommodation) so I didn’t have to carry my personal books, school books/plays and documents separately.
I had to if I wanted to keep reading without unnecessary pain. My wrists & fingers were hurt when I knitted too much some years back. Ever since then, holding books open and flipping the pages became too painful if I read more than 30mins. Also, buying physical books where I live is too expensive and the delivery times don't satisfy my impatience.
Lived in NYC and taking the Kindle on the subway was better than trying to balance a trade paperback while jockeying for space.
I have Amazon Prime, and one bored day at work, I noticed “Prime Reading” was a benefit of it. I saw all the ebooks they offered, and it made me realize that no, I dont have to pay $10 for each book. So I got a Kindle paperwhite, discovered Libby, and have been devouring books like never before.
I can read more books I can bring more books with me unlike an iPad there's no eye strain when reading Amazon has a much larger selection than anyone else take your pick
I was traveling a lot for work. And this would mean every week I had three books with me - the one I was reading, the one I intended to read next, and an extra just in case. It wasn't super convenient, of course. I had worked for B&N through high school, so I sprung for a Nook gen 1 ( I guess in 2009, though I thought it was earlier). B&N annoyed me when they decided that Nook book would no longer get their membership discount - and this was in 2011/12 right around the time when the Kindle Paperwhite Gen 1 launched; so I jumped ship, got a Paperwhite. Upgraded to the Gen 3 a few years later, and that Gen 3 Paperwhite is still sitting next to me with a few thousand books on it.
Travel. Lack of shelf space. My wife bought me a kindle and I never looked back.
Eye sight issues are the biggest. The font and backlight adjustment are game changers for my ability to read without a headache.
Books only cost half as much on Kindle than the Paper versions
I have always been a reader, but what sparked my curiosity is that I love gadgets. When the very first Kindle was announced, I was like, “Ooh, new toy. Shiny.”
It's hard for me to sit down with a book and read. But only because my work schedule makes it hard. Alot of my time at home is after midnight and I don't want the lights on in the house keeping people awake. So I got a Kindle and the Kindle app in order to read more easily and not to disturb my wife and kids trying to sleep
I wanted to read at night and didn’t want a light blinding me hence the kindle :) one of my best decisions
I’ve always been into reading on my computer. Fanfiction really gripped my interest and my mother had a kindle she didn’t use, she got it during a timeshare meeting, and I ended up taking it to read hunger games. Never looked back. I always preferred reading on a screen, the fact I can make the letters big is my selling point to keep me away from physical.
I travelled home my freshman year of college for Xmas break with a duffel bag stuffed with books so I could change out the books over break. Got my first e-reader because I didn't want to do that again, didn't want to decide which books to be so far from all the time, and my mom had a discount code. That e-reader wasn't great so when it stopped working I got my first kindle. Upgraded to Paperwhite after a couple years so I didn't need a separate booklight. Have stayed with Paperwhite but upgrade every few years for battery life, water resistance, capacity, etc. I love that every book I read is the size and weight of a paperback. It fits in every bag I carry. I can read in any lighting situation and it doesn't matter that the cat likes to perch between me and the lamp. It lasts for weeks on a charge so I'm never scrambling for batteries for my booklight so I can finish the chapter or book because the light died just as it was getting good. It charges pretty quickly so I'm not tethered very long to a cable and I can get a decent charge in the time it takes to shower or walk the dog or something. I can look up words in text (and sometimes disappoint myself by attempting that on a paper book). Sometimes I change the page by accident but I can't drop the book and lose my bookmark and have to go searching for where I was. I can use my phone as a backup device if I forget my kindle and have it remember where I was (this is only used in emergency situations though). The only thing that is somewhat annoying is map graphics but they're easy to navigate to and back to the page I was reading and I don't rely on them much anyway.
I'm not as much of an avid reader as I used to be, but I live overseas and move house every now and then and so shifting hundreds of heavy books every time is just stupid when I can have more books than I could read in a lifetime in the palm of my hand.
Honestly, I can read much faster and with one hand. I live in a major city so it’s nice to have on crowded public transport. I also enjoy the one handed reading when I’m taking care of my infant sun.
TikTok made me buy it! I was scrolling along and a video about Kindle came up describing all the features and I headed straight to Amazon to check them out. Being able to adjust the text size and read anywhere were the biggest reasons for me. Got my first Kindle and haven't looked back. I love my Kindles! Barely watch TikTok anymore.
I had the very first kindle because “my mom was sick of my books being everywhere”. So she got it for me for my 18th birthday. I was the kid who never left home without at least 2 books. I still buy books, but they are all non-fiction and for work
I had already converted to Google Play Books to do most of my reading on my phone and computer. Reading on my phone was always my idle phone activity. First trip to the beach was a no go in sun that bright. Ordered a Paperwhite that day! Sort of annoyed with whispersync though, haven’t been able to get it to sync progress to/from my kindle in months.
I decided to invest in Kindle ebooks because I believed Amazon stood the best chance of staying in business long term. Also am able to remove DRM to back up my enook collection in the event Amazon was to fail someday. Kindle reader quality was decent and have been improving over time. Not compelled to upgrade reader hardware. In comparison all of my ebooks based on DRM'd pdfs and on Microsoft's old ebook systems are no longer supported. Thankfully I was eventually able to repurchase these titles in Kindle format. As for eBooks vs. physicwl books: I ran out of room to store my physical book collection 15 years ago (sob). So for now, I prioritize keeping physical books that are not available in used books stores or are not available as ebooks and buy titles in ebook only with few exceptions. Exceptions include high quality photography and art books where kindle's limited image quality sucks.
honestly thought they look uber cool than reading on your phone & hardcopy. asked my mum to get me one for my 18th birthday and i’ve been a loyal kindle reader for 10+ years !!
Not wanting to pack two Game of Thrones books with me on a trip - so purchased the Barnes and Noble Nook. Updated to a Kindle when they added backlight. Aside from not needing to carry around large books, it's now the built in dictionary, note highlighting, and backlight that I find indispensable.
Got as a gift, but I use it for same reason as many: take many books everywhere (I travel often for work) and cheaper books. I still buy a lot of paper books, but usually items I consider special (as Barnes and Nobles leatherbound editions or Harpers Collins collections) or a series I like... I even got paper books after reading the books. I love the feeling of holding a book, etc... But Kindle is just practical. And cheaper, as well.
My husband has a hard time sleeping while I have my night light on. A few minutes isn't a problem, but a few hours because I couldn't put my book down is not ideal. I bought an ereader for evening/nighttime reading, but am using it all the time now. It's just so much more comfortable than physical books!
Had to spend a month at the National Training Center (aka big Army exercise area in the middle of the desert and little to no cell service) and spend 9-10 months on a deployment in the Middle East with zero clue about whether I’d even get decent cell reception. The 15-20 minutes of reading through a stack of e-books on my Kindle before going to bed is what helped me maintain my sanity through both, and was a helluva lot more compact than carrying a stack of books around.
We lived in Chile for three years. This was pre-kindle times. I came back to the US and dragged hundreds of thrift store books in duffle bags back to Chile. Just as we decided to move back, the Kindle came out. Bought one and never looked back. A miracle. If only I'd had one in Chile. Just a note, books are not easily available and are expensive in Chile.
My husband was like, “could you please stop buying $30 worth of books per day?” 😂
My library was over 1500 books. Ran out of room. Sold books .bought Kindle.
Because I don't have space in my house for all the books that I have read, and all the books I want to read.
Pretty similar. I kept buying books saying I was going to read them but remembering to bring them with me would mean they didn't get read. All that money wasted. I bought a Kindle and !now read multiple times a day 😁
Stephen King's The Dome. Heavy book. That book sucked me into the story but I couldn't see myself carrying it to and from work for a week. Now I don't buy many bestsellers. Love my Kindle unlimited sub.
So many good, free books on Libby and Hoopla that aren't available in print at the library so I thought I would give it a try. Had a regular Kindle, which kinda sucked, so ended up getting a Paperwhite which is so much better. I do also read regular books as well but find myself picking up my Kindle more often. So convenient-- I can read in bed without a light, make the font larger so I don't need my reading glasses, and carry many books all at once.
Laziness. Instead of going to the library and lugging around physical books, I can get ebooks from Libby onto my Kindle from my home
I have used mine occasionally but the main reason was a light (and cheap) reader to bring on the go and to use in low-light places: at night in bed and on trains, planes and automobiles. I also didn't want to worry about losing it or having it stolen because it is fairly cheap, unlike an ipad.
It was around tax return season, and e-readers were getting really big. I didn't have a lot of books, but I wanted to get into reading again and didn't want the loads of books as I just didn't really have the space. I searched Amazon and found the Kindle Keyboard which had just come out the previous year, so I decided to get it. It's probably the best investment I ever made. It got me into reading again, and I could search for tons of books right at my finger tips. I didn't have to worry about going down to the local bookstore only to be disappointed that the book I wanted wasn't in stock. I now have an Oasis and I still love it!
Ran out of shelf space, had to import my favorite books (third world asian country), cost of importing ( WoT collector's edition costs 100k+ before tax)
Money. And the Libby app. I can check out almost any book for free. Then I don’t feel bad if I don’t finish it. And I have so many choice available. I still go to the library (and take my grandkids) and browse book stores, but he kindle is so darn convenient
Chronic pain in my hands and especially in the mornings when I primarily read, paired with 1200 page chonkers by Sanderson was enough to convert me. I travel for work now and back home to see family and it’s nice to have an entire library in my carry-on.
I'm already very chaotic and trying to keep the amount of stuff I own somewhat under control, english ebooks are so much cheaper than printed, translated books in Germany while I don't even like translations and Amazon is an absolute goldmine when you enjoy classics 😄
Travel, convenience of all those books in one slim device even in town. It doesn't replace physical books for me, it just gives me another option to read and is invaluable when traveling.
It's smaller, lighter weight, the text is always the same, backlit, people can't see what I'm reading.
Lack of shelf space started the process. Then I got used to the light weight and the lit screen. It’s so much more convenient.
Ability to read in bed without a light on. Not having to pack a pile of books when traveling Free/cheap horror books
I like to travel, and also need at least 1000 books at my fingertips.
I was a huge reader as a kid/teen then by the time I graduated high school I totally stopped. Then I met my husband, was working, we had kids, and basically, never made or had the time to get back into it. This year I made a promise to myself I’d get back into reading and do something for ME. So of course, TikTok started recommending booktok content and the amount of kindles I saw basically influenced me into wanting a kindle. And with kids, I’m always scared they’re gonna rip them up or lose my page or just somehow get into my books. So I figured kindles are just convenient and practical for my life as a mom. But I seriously just wanted to have a kindle, decorate it, make it “aesthetic” and my husband bought it for my birthday in June and I am so happy with it. I love it, I read 6-10 books a month, I can change out the stickers and case, it’s just so much fun honestly. No regrets here
I got one cause it is so much easier to carry 100 books in a Kindle, than carry 100 books LOL. Mood reader, so I like having a bunch of books to pick from when I finish a book.
I joined the peace corps in 2018 and got my first kindle so I didn’t have to lug around a bunch of books. It actually took a while for me to get used to paper books once I came home. I still use my kindle almost everyday and try to rotate a paper book in every now and then
Long trips requiring multiple books. Put "all of em" on Kindle and no overhead light is needed on 14 hour plane flight.
Because it was expensive to buy paper books all the time and now I can just download most of them for free
I didn’t have any space left for books (and I never had much) plus I really like to read in bed before sleeping. Getting an e-reader just made total sense to me.
I used to read a lot as a kid. Would come home from school and go straight to the library and then stay up reading late every night. Reading became less cool when I went to a boarding school and I didn’t want the other girls to think I was weird and then I just stopped for so long. Then my friend invited me to her bookclub which is pretty casual biweekly meet ups and I realized how easy it is to borrow ebooks and keep track on goodreads and it made me a bit more excited to read like I used to.
I moved around a lot and I got sick of moving huge boxes of books back and forth so I asked for one for Christmas. Once I got one I ended up reading a lot more because it’s small and I can throw it in my purse.
As my vision got worse, print books were becoming unreadable. I can enlarge the print on my kindle and phone. This long time book reader is now able to read any book without straining to read. Kindle and ebooks in general are my sanity savers.
I had debated on getting a kindle for awhile. Then in 2011 my sister gave me my first kindle for xmas a 4th generation. My husband gave me a paperwhite 7th gen for xmas 2016. It was great to have a back lit kindle. First kindle no longer with us but still have the paperwhite 7. This year i purchased a paperwhite 11. They are so ingredibly long lasting.They were also a blessing during covid when everything was shut down.
Everytime I would go to my local library they would never have the books I wanted and I would have to order them from other branches and that would take 7-10 days. They also have a VERY poor selection when it comes to AA literature and finding books by AA authors in my local library was like finding a needles in a haystack, made my experience absolutely awful and I asked would they consider a section for AA literature they said "well a lot of patrons feel like that's segregation (I really wanted her to look up the definition of segregation) I didnt have the energy for it so I bought a kindle. Here i am 12 days later and I LOVE it
I got into e-reading because life is expensive and I don't have room for physical copies of all the books I read. I've always got titles on sale + if you're willing to take a chance on unknown or first time authors you can find a surprising amount of Kindle books for free (first in a series usually). I still buy physical copies of books, but only if it's a story I really like or if I'm hunting for a limited edition/exclusive copy.
convenience. i only read physical books when necessary or i badly want the copy of the book to add to my collection. otherwise it will only accumulate dust. i live alone so i dont have much time to sort and clean. my fave design books are on display though :))
Convenience and cost-friendly. Convenience because it's easier to carry a thin piece of technology than to lug (as you said) two large/heavy books or don't read at all. I can't not read at all! I can slot my Kindle into my hand ag, my backpack, my laptop sleeve, anywhere pretty much. And cost-friendly because I can find ways to download free eBooks or eBooks at a more affordable price. Compared to buying physical paperbacks or hardbacks which eat into my finances. And because I read a lot, I'd end up spending boat loads of money when I don't need to.
Can’t hold a book. But can hold a kindle
My neighbors had kindles and I had fomo lol. Ffwd to the present: I’m obsessed. It’s gotten me back to loving reading. Best purchase ever!
We moved and I could no longer take my precious beautiful physical collection cross-states 😭 I’m happy I got the kindle though, Libby is amazing and I have more bookshelf space for physical books that I only want to collect/keep. Haven’t stopped using my kindle since.
I initially got one to save my eyes while reading fanfiction LOL and now I'm fully an ebook convert
I live in a small one bedroom council flat with my fiancée and I'm limited to one narrow bookcase. My partner also has OCD so I'm not going to get away with stuffing books into nooks and crannies like I would if I was on my own so I was kind of forced to. But I've grown to love my Kindle and have become very attached to it. I now own the Paperwhite and the new Basic and I don't go anywhere without one
When my daughter was born, and the only time I got to read was during the night when I rocked her to sleep, or during her feeding - turning pages with a tap was very convenient... Actually, I read on my phone for a year at that time because I maintained that ereaders won't feel the same before finally buying the kindle... Can't imagine going back to the tiny fonts on the physical books though
I became an avid reader BECAUSE of Kindle! I didn’t realize I loved reading because I hated having to lug a book around or even just having to remember to bring said book. I hated paying for physical books that I’d only read once. I hated the clutter from owning books. I hated having to make trips to the library to get and return books. I enjoyed the actual act of reading, but everything about acquiring books was enough to make me not read. Enter first the Kindle app, then an actual Kindle. I love it! I’ve read 32 books so far this year, on top of a full-time job, graduating from a masters program, and planning a wedding (as well as attending bachelorette trips and bridal showers and other social events). That means I’ve made the time to read 3-4 books a month, which is way more than I’ve read since probably college ten years ago. I could not have developed this love of reading without the flexibility of having at least my Kindle app, or without my library’s excellent ebook catalogue, as well as my KU subscription. I have another 3 books waiting to read now (soon!! My return date is coming up), as well as 10 holds at the library. I am now almost constantly reading because I can!!
At the time I could get books faster from the library as an ebook. Now I think it is still more convenient to check things in and out from the comfort of my couch rather than making a trip.
I've always been a techie, so it was a "this is neat" thing for me.
I didn’t want people seeing some of the covers of my books…
Luggage weight restrictions while travelling
I had heard that having a Kindle makes reading convenient and you didn't need a light on at night. I got a Paperwhite as a Christmas gift that year by someone who knew I enjoy reading.
My son bought one for Christmas for me. Came preloaded with a couple of my favorite books and some of my favorite authors!
I'll be completely honest I can't use my phone at school, and I already carry like 10lbs of books and I didn't want to add even more. I got a kindle for Christmas and I was blown away by the fact that I can read fanfic on it, so now it never leaves my side. Also, since I don't have the school's wifi nor does the kindle have a camera, no one can say anything 😏
i got that Covid stimulus money in 2020 that I fortunately did not really need, so I treated myself to a kindle lol
7 eye surgeries, need black bg with white text. Kindle to the rescue!
Started reading a lot on my phone, was killing my eyes, before that I was a purist paper-only type (wish I’d shaken that sooner, spent years lugging a thousand paper books on trips/reading the same books over and over just ‘cause it was tough to get more) and then got a paperwhite in 2015. Best thing I ever bought, though I’ve upgraded since, and passed mine on. Don’t regret it.
I was traveling in a foreign country and while I could speak the language fairly well, reading it was tough. I was staying in a pretty rural area with no commerce nearby and ran out of reading material. I plowed through the 4 huge novels I brought with me, and was left with nothing new to read. I re-read the books I brought with me but bought a kindle when I got home and vowed never to be without reading material again!!