Do you like reading? If so, which do you prefer, a physical book, or a Kindle?
I've always been an enthusiastic reader in both first and second language since I started to know how to read. While other girls of my age spent their day brushing Barbie's hair or chatting about their favorite K-pop idol, I found myself curled up in a corner and had my nose in a book most of the time (yes, I was called a weirdo most of my childhood).
After a year of studying abroad, I received a Kindle as a gift from my mom. This device, of course, had always been in my wish-list. I started to use it instead of physical books and soon noticed the differences, which I want to share with you guys in this article!
Here are 5 reasons why I love using Kindle. I was aware that this device is not a valid purchase for everyone, so I will also list 5 reasons not to buy it, from my own perspective and experience. Please enjoy!
1. It’s portable!
I believe this is one of the most popular reasons why people bought Kindle instead of enjoying physical books, which could be quite heavy or space-consuming sometimes.
When I traveled, I tended to have a book in my carry-on to somehow shorten the 15-hour flight. After a couple of similar trips, I realized how convenient my experience was when I just needed to toss my Kindle in instead of 1 or 2 books, whose room was supposed to be for my other necessities. Moreover, having my backpack a lot lighter was definitely a relief when I carried it around the airport to wait for my next flight. Not just when I travel, but also for school when my schoolbag is already full of textbooks.
2. Easier to do and keep highlights and notes
Who loves highlighting and taking notes while reading books?
Despite owning lots of coloring markers and highlighters, I don’t enjoy holding one ready on my one hand to highlight whenever I spot a noteworthy line. Moreover, I could easily forget about them if I don’t use bookmarks or jot down somewhere else. This is why I prefer using a Kindle.
Not just it allows me to capture Jane Austen’s wisdom or Trevor Noah’s humor using only my fingers, a Kindle also stores all of your highlights and notes of a book in one specific place for future reference. What a generous life savior you are, Kindle!
3. Great for learning vocabulary
Okay, this is, hands down, my top favorite function. I found the “Vocabulary Builder” function in a Kindle exceptionally helpful! Since my studying abroad journey began, I have pushed myself to encounter a more difficult English level every semester to fully maximize my English abilities in all skills, from writing to communicating.
Like my ESL teacher once said, “If you don’t know the right words for it, you can never utterly express it.” Learning vocabulary has been a big part of my journey, and books are one of the best tools. Being able to save all my want-to-learn vocabulary in one place from all the books I’ve read is absolutely wonderful! So yeah, if you’re an enthusiastic language learner like me, getting a Kindle is probably not a bad choice.
4. Find the format that suits you
I love how I could adjust the fonts, sizes, and even spacings of the letters of the book that I was reading. That’s mostly for fun, but for those perfectionists who need a particular format in order to enjoy the reading, this function is undeniably marvelous! Besides, you can adjust the brightness as well to fit the surrounding lighting and reduce eye strains. I prefer Baskerville and Bookerly fonts, how about you?
5. Borrowing books for free without having to go to the library
This is the newest convenience that I just found out. Knowing how much I spent on books last year pained me a little, so borrowing books from public libraries is my new go-to. I got a virtual temporary card from Palm Beach Library County System, where they lend out books (physical and Kindle) for 7 or 14 days without fees.
I couldn’t describe how delighted I was to discover the books that I’ve wanted for so long is one “Borrow” or “Place hold” button away. The best part is I could do all of that at home. Public libraries are different depends on where you live, but if you’re lucky to be able to borrow books digitally for free, this is nowhere far from heaven!
I hope you have found the above pros helpful! Now it's time to discuss the cons.
1. You want a real book :)
Yes, this is one of the most obvious reasons for not getting a Kindle. As a frequent Kindle user, I do admit that holding a physical book usually gives me a better sensational of absorbing information and getting the flow of the story than using a device. If you just enjoy the physical books more despites all the other minor issues, like price or weight, then a Kindle is not a very great option for you.
2. You have an obsession with book covers
They say we should never judge a book by its cover, but the cover is what usually caught my attention while strolling around a book store. Buying a book digitally absolutely won’t give you the exact excitement of an artful and vivid book covers, so physical books are a better option if you are cover-obsessed (I'm not sure if that's a thing). Which book has the most beautiful cover, in your opinion?
3. You would like to keep and pass to others
This is another popular reason for collecting books: you want your family members or friends to have a share of wisdom. Thus, you would not prefer buying the Kindle version, or a Kindle at all. Even though you could loan a Kindle book you have purchased to a person, not every book is loanable.
4. You don’t mind using old books
To save money, or even the environment, some of us prefer to buy old books. That’s an undeniably great idea, as long as you don’t mind the shabby condition that it might possess.
5. You’re not a serious reader
Who needs to invest in something when you won’t use it frequently anyway? If you’re not particularly a bookworm and your reading habit is quite occasional, purchasing a Kindle is obviously unnecessary.
Thank you for reading, I hope you found this article interesting and helpful!
