Too often, I found myself on the train in the morning holding a book and turning the pages while standing. Morning commutes to work in New York City on the train are crowded and unless you get on an early stop, you won’t be getting a seat. Turning the pages was annoying but after reading one big paperback book, I made the switch to an e-reader and it made my reading experience much better.
Why I Made the Switch to an e-reader
The book that finally pushed me towards getting an e-reader was The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring novel. If you have read those novels, then you know how big those books are and how small the font is. Just holding it and turning the pages required a lot of effort. I knew that I was not going to be reading the paperback edition of the second book in the trilogy then.
Many people, including me, are hesitant to make the switch to using an e-reader because we love the feel and smell of a real book. There is something about physical books that just feels right. But it isn’t always convenient. You can easily turn a page on an e-reader with one tap and that makes a big difference when you are standing on a train while holding onto the pole. If a train was crowded, I knew I was not going to be taking out my paperback.
Save Space
Besides providing convenience, using an e-reader means that you don’t have to worry about your books taking up any space. There is always one more book to buy and add to your to-read list. Even if you never read the book you bought, the idea that one day you will get to it when you have nothing else to read is always there. It has saved me a lot of space as a result.
Another great thing about an e-reader is the daily deals on books that Amazon has. You can buy best-sellers for $1.99 and read books that you otherwise wouldn’t buy. All without having to dress up and go outside. It doesn’t get any better than that!
If you are someone that uses the library to check out books, then you will be happy to know that you can also check out e-books! You put the book on hold and when it is ready to be checked out, you will be able to download it to your e-reader or read it on your browser. You won’t have to be remind yourself to keep going to the library to pick up a book and before you know it, your hold has expired and you will have to put it on hold again.
Keep Track of All Your Books
When you finish a book on your e-reader, it updates your Amazon and Goodreads account so you can add it to your to-read list. It is a great way to keep track of your books and you will be able to see the progress increase in real time. On top of that, you will be recommended books that are similar and other books from the author. Or you can follow the author and get notified when they release another book.
Now, I look forward to my commutes just because I know I will be able to read whether or not I get a seat on the train. I just have to remember to charge my e-reader and download the next book or I will be looking at a dead screen during my ride. An e-reader is not perfect and also has its own problems at times. But for the most part, it does make reading easier on the go as well as helping you save space at the same time. And for someone that commutes a lot, it is a life changer!