I abandoned physical books, and my reading experience has improved immensely.

      If you're a traditionalist when it comes to books, you might scoff at my suggestion to use an e-reader instead of purchasing physical copies, and I understand your perspective. The charm of the scent of pages, the heft of a book in hand, and the entire experience is indeed hard to resist.

      However, if you can give me a moment to persuade you, there's a compelling argument in favor of e-readers over physical books. Let me present the case for e-readers: once you grasp what you've been missing, it’s tough to revert.

      Your entire library fits in your bag

      This is the most apparent benefit, yet it doesn't receive enough recognition. I usually read multiple books simultaneously, and lugging around two or three physical books is impractical. Just carrying hefty books can be a struggle.

      With an e-reader, you can have hundreds of books stored in a compact device. Transitioning between titles is instantaneous. If you travel often, this alone is a strong incentive to switch.

      A thousand-page hardcover may look impressive on your shelf but is cumbersome during your commute.

      Heavy books become a workout, not a reading experience

      If you share my passion for fantasy novels, you know they can be quite unwieldy. You constantly have to adjust your grip, find a way to keep the pages open, and remain comfortable. Thin books are manageable, but once a book exceeds a certain thickness, it becomes a nuisance.

      An e-reader maintains the same weight whether you’re diving into a short novel or an extensive fantasy series. That’s the beauty of it. Whether I'm engaged with The Count of Monte Cristo or the latest volume in Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, my Supernote Nomad feels consistent.

      Reading at night without disturbing others

      I do most of my reading at night, and this is where physical books fall short for me. Lamps and book lights never feel comfortable; the lighting is rarely just right, and if you share a space, the whole setup can be troublesome.

      Many e-readers, including Kindles, come equipped with a built-in backlight that you can adjust to your desired brightness. You can even switch to a warm light mode for added comfort.

      I have read at 3 AM with the brightness turned down low, and it felt entirely natural. No lamps and no squinting needed.

      Look up any word without losing your place

      English isn’t my first language, and even fluent speakers often encounter unfamiliar words while reading. In a physical book, you either have to grab your phone to look it up—leading to distraction—or skip it, losing some meaning.

      On a Kindle or most e-readers, you simply tap the word, and the definition appears immediately. You can translate it, add it to a vocabulary list, and resume reading in seconds. I look up many more words now than I ever did with physical books, and my reading comprehension has genuinely improved as a result.

      Taking notes you’ll actually use later

      I used to annotate physical books with a pen, but those notes would remain on the page, seldom referenced again. Transferring those notes somewhere useful required more effort than I was willing to invest.

      With my Supernote Nomad, I can utilize its Digest feature to clip my readings and swiftly add any necessary handwritten notes. I can easily export these notes to Obsidian for further processing.

      Using any e-reader, highlighting a passage and adding notes takes just seconds. Most e-readers also compile all your highlights and notes in one location, allowing you to quickly navigate through them without flipping pages.

      In physical books, my notes remained on the page. With an e-reader, they become something I actually utilize.

      Since these notes are digital, you can integrate them into your note-taking app for further material digestion.

      Books are more affordable and easier to obtain

      Purchasing physical books tends to be pricier than acquiring digital versions. Additionally, as most publishers are moving away from mass-market paperbacks, we often have only trade paperbacks and hardcovers, which, while visually appealing, come with a higher price tag.

      E-books don’t face this issue. I have bought several titles at significantly lower prices than their physical counterparts. Furthermore, e-books are frequently on sale, making them even more economical.

      And when you discover a book you want to read at midnight, there’s no need to wait for delivery or drive to a store. You can purchase it and begin reading right away. The convenience is undeniable once you get accustomed to it.

      Should you switch?

      If you cherish the experience of physical books—the covers, the aroma, the bookshelf aesthetic—there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a valid reason to stay with them. I personally enjoy curating my own bookshelf and will always treasure those special editions.

      However, for the sake of convenience and ease of discovering and reading new material, I suggest you at least consider investing in an e-reader. Now is an excellent time to buy, as