Why Kindle Reading Has Changed How I Read Books
Last year I read over 200 books! That is the absolute most I have ever read in a year (and maybe ever will read in a year) and I attribute it to getting a Kindle.
I have never had a Kindle before and thought it was unnecessary because I could just read books on my phone. Let it stand on record that I was very wrong! The experience of reading a book on a Kindle is very different from reading a book on my phone.
The more I’ve gotten into using it, the more things I’ve learned. Here are all of my best tips and tricks for optimizing your Kindle.
Where to Find Books to Read
Libby- My favorite place to check out books is through Libby with my library card because it is free. You can put your favorite books on hold, create tags of books “To Be Read” (TBR), you can filter e-books by availability and some libraries even have a “Skip the Line” option to find popular books you can check out without having to wait.
Amazon Prime Books- If you have Amazon Prime, you can find free e-books (and some audiobooks too) to read by searching for books under “Prime Reading” on the Kindle app. They have lots of classics and oftentimes current books by popular authors.
Kindle Unlimited/ Kindle Unlimited Trial–I know many people who find they prefer reading on a Kindle to any other form of books so they enjoy Kindle Unlimited. You can try it for free to see if it is a fit for you and enjoy unlimited e-books for 30 days! If you’re brand new to Kindle Unlimited you can often find a 3 month trial for free. They are always running different deals so be sure to check those out. There are so many titles of ebooks and audiobooks on Kindle Unlimited, so you may find it worth the money!
Amazon First Reads: Amazon First Reads lets you gain early access to a selected list of recent releases. Each month you can choose 1 e-book (free for Amazon Prime members, otherwise it’s $2) to read or listen to. It’s free to sign up to see what books they have featured each month!
Delayed Shipping: If you purchase things on Amazon that you don’t need right away, many times they will offer you a few dollars in digital credits if you choose the slowest shipping option. These credits can be used to purchase e-books! That feels like a win-win to me.
Secret Hacks
Dark Mode Preserves Battery Life- If your battery is running low, turn on dark mode and it will extend your battery life! I’ve used this in a pinch and was able to
Airplane Mode– If you’ve checked out a book but haven’t finished it, you can put your Kindle on airplane mode until you finish it. Return the book in the app and you’ll still be able to read it on your Kindle until you turn off airplane mode and reconnect it to the internet. (You can’t download or update anything in the meantime but it is a handy trick to have in order to finish a book!)
Handstrap or Popsocket– I would absolutely recommend getting some sort of handstrap or popsocket in order to hold on to the Kindle without hurting your hand. Some people really get into Kindle contraptions (there are fancy holders and even page turning clickers so you can keep both hands under the covers when reading) but they aren’t necessary.
Font Size & Color: With the Kindle Paperwhite you can adjust the fonts and screen color to see what works best for your eyes. My favorite thing about a Kindle is reading in the dark without bothering my husband or hurting my eyes with blue light. When I’m reading my Kindle at night I find myself getting sleepy in the same way as reading a book, which is refreshing (and very different than being on a phone or tablet).
I still feel new to the world of Kindle reading but I’ve enjoyed it so much! I’ve found a few Instagram accounts that promote and share many of the $0.99 cent deals that Amazon runs each month or other specials and deals. I’ve found many great books this way too. If you’re a regular Kindle reader, let me know your favorite tips in the comments!
