9 Reasons You Should Buy a Kindle!

(Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this post and this is not an obligatory advertisement for sponsorship.  I like putting good resources in people’s hands that will be encouraging and edifying as they learn how to enjoy and worship God with their minds.  So I have written this post because I believe that the Kindle is a product that serves as such a resource.)

1. Your Library is All in One Place – 

I am very thankful for the chance I had to go to college away from home and in the beautiful PNW, but one thing I hated was not having all of my books together.  Wishing I had a book with me that was in a different state was probably a weekly occurrence.  Unlike my growing print book collection which is spread over 3 different states, Kindle books are always available in your device library or through your Amazon cloud.  Even if your Amazon library consists of thousands of books, you can access them anywhere as long as you have wifi.

2. You don’t have to wait for shipping – 

One of the worst ways to start off the school year is to have to wait two weeks into the school year to start doing your homework in a class, or borrow it from another classmate because you are waiting for a book that you ordered online to arrive.  Thankfully, with the Kindle, any books you purchased are downloaded immediately onto your device and you can access them right away!

3. You never have to worry about losing your place – 

A lot of avid book readers have strong opinions on whether or not it is OK to dog-ear a book page or utilize a bookmark to save one’s spot in a book.  This debate is completely dodged by the Kindle.  The Kindle always remembers where you left off in a book, even if you switch devices.  Even if you accidentally scroll past the page you were on, the Kindle still marks the last page you were on and you can easily click on it and go straight there.

 

 

4. Text-to-Speech – 

This is by far my favorite feature of the Kindle! People pay so much for Audible every month with a very limited selection of books, but the Kindle Fire will read almost any book to you.  Sure, it is read by an automated voice instead of a voice actor, but audible typically only sells popular level books, whereas you can use text-to-speech on the Kindle on even the most academically rigorous of books. Additionally, you can choose from a number of different accents for the automated voice! They have both male and female voices in an American, Australian, and (my personal favorite) a British accent. You can also use is it when you are in situations where you can’t use your eyes to read, such as while you are driving, working, cleaning or on a run.  This is incredibly useful for students who have a large reading load or have difficulty reading for long periods of time.  I once read an entire systematic theology three times in the course of a month because it speeds up the reading process so much! Now, to be fair, I do believe that it is only the Kindle Fire devices that have the text-to-speech capability.  So don’t expect the app on your Mac tablet, your cellphone, or even your newer Kindle Paperwhite to have the text-to-speech option.

5. You can access them on multiple devices – 

This is a cool feature because if you want to read but you are in a place where you don’t have your Kindle with you, you can pick up the book from where you left off on your phone using the Kindle app. Then, when you return to your Kindle, it returns to where you left off on your phone.  I often do this when I am shopping with my wife because it magically makes me more patient while my wife browses because I get to read.

6. You can search the book – 

This is incredibly useful if you have to do a book review or if you really liked a certain part of the book but you don’t know where it is.  Print books are limited to your memory or your own diligence to take notes and mark a book up.  But all you have to do is type in a phrase, an idea, or even a word and the Kindle will pull up every reference to it in the book and you can go right to it! Also, if you use the highlighting or notes feature while reading a Kindle book, you can search through your highlights all in one place without having to actually scroll through a chapter.  This is a invaluable tool for writing papers and searching for information.

 

7. You can read in the dark – 

Especially if you have a spouse or a roommate, this is a great feature! There is no need for a clumsy clip-on reading light or a cumbersome bedside lamp.  All new Kindles and many of the old models possess a lighted screen, with a controllable brightness level, that allows you to read anywhere.  The newer models of the Kindle Fire and Paperwhite contain softer light options that allow you to read at night with a light that doesn’t over-stimulate the eyes.  The Kindle simplifies reading and removes the need for other equipment for night reading to be possible.

8. It is ALOT easier to carry –

This kind of goes along with the first point because it is based on the same feature, but it still is a major plus for me and deserves it’s own spotlight.  I loved studying and working in our school’s library in college, as well as the library of Gonzaga University that we so graciously had access too.  However, I would pack my backpack full of books on my way to and from the library and it did a number on my back! On a number of occasions I also broke my then-girlfriend’s Costco totes because I would fill them with all the books I had to use for my papers and personal research.  The Kindle, on the other hand, can contain your entire library on one small device.  Here is some perspective: The average book weighs around 16 ounces (1 lb), whereas the Kindle Fire 7″ only weighs 11 ounces.  This means that the Kindle weighs less than even one average-sized book!  For a student who have to commute (especially those who do not have cars), this is a game-changer!

9. Books are cheaper – 

Kindle books are almost always cheaper than the print option, especially when you have to pay for shipping and handling.  Go ahead, check!  I actually don’t remember seeing a new book that was cheaper on amazon in print than on the Kindle.  Whenever my wife and I purchase our school books we always check to see if the book is in a Kindle format because we are able to cut down on our book costs so significantly.  Most Kindle books cost around $9.99 and often they run even cheaper.  On one occasion, I purchased the Holman Apologetics Commentary on the Bible – Acts on the Kindle for $1.99 when the print version cost $39.99.  Right now, the Kindle version is still $30 cheaper than the print version (check here).

There are also constantly deals and sales online for Kindle books for cheap.  Often they are even available for free.  I subscribe to a number of email lists and websites that inform you of free Kindle book offers that are downloadable.  Some awesome theological sites, such as Monergism and Desiring God, have long list of free theology books available on the Kindle (download the .mobi option for a Kindle book).

Summary:

This may not convince all of you to go and purchase a Kindle right now and I would not assert that it is always wise for everyone to have one.  However, these are nine awesome reasons why someone would purchase and use a Kindle.  Here is a link where you can purchase a Kindle here: Fire Tablet, 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB – Includes Special Offers, Black And here is a link where you can see a list and subscribe to a number of free and cheap theology Kindle ebooks – Cross-point.