If you’ve hung around my site very long at all, it’s no surprise that I absolutely love eBooks. I started buying and reading them about two years ago, and I’ve never looked back.
Although I’ve been a bookworm since, well, birth, in recent years my bookshelves have become so crammed that I’ve simply run out of room for more books. If you had asked me a couple years ago if I would ever transition to reading via a Kindle or other eReader, I would have laughed.
Nope, not me! I would have said. I like the feel of a good paperback in my hands, where I can flip the pages and highlight and underline and fold down the pages. Besides, I love the smell of old books.
But I changed.
And even though I occasionally still go for a hard copy (like of my 600+page Trim Healthy Mama book!), I primarily now read eBooks.
What I love about ebooks:
- They are instantly accessible. Whether you order a PDF version or a Kindle or Nook version, you can start reading immediately after your purchase.
- There are no shipping fees or taxes. Most (maybe all) electronic products do not require that you pay taxes, and since the product is not in a hard copy, you eliminate the need for shipping.
- They are often cheaper. Now, this is not always the case, but many times authors will price the electronic versions of their books more cheaply because their costs of printing the book is much lower in the first place.
- They are a way I can support my favorite authors and bloggers. When I purchase an eBook from a blogger, for example–especially the PDF version–I know that that money is going directly to paying their expenses and helping them run their sites and support their families. There is no “middle man” to pay.
- They take up less space–or any space at all. You can print out an eBook (the whole thing or portions of it), but you don’t have to, so they only take up space on your electronic devices and keep your home less cluttered.
- They save time. Can you get the same information that you find in many eBooks for free by searching the internet? Well, yes, you probably can, but you can also get the same information from ANY book, not just eBooks. However, I am the perfect example of someone who wasted way too much time learning how to cloth diaper by searching all over the internet. By purchasing an already-compiled book with the same information, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration.
So how do you read eBooks (even if you don’t own a Kindle or other eReader)?
I got my Kindle for Mother’s Day, just under a year ago. Before that, I would read my eBooks in one of several ways:
1. Print them out and place them in a 3-ring binder.
This is a great way to transition to reading eBooks if you are accustomed to the feel of the book in your hands. But I do want to caution that you may spend more money on printing the book than you would imagine. SO, especially if it’s a cookbook or how-to book, I suggest you at least skim the book before printing it out. You may opt to just print out the portions of the book that you will want to reference back to most often.
Now, I will not print out a recipe from an eCookbook until I have tried it at least once and know that I will be making it again. Other books I like to print out are books with space for me to write/journal/reflect, or books for my children. Truth in the Tinsel is an advent activity book for children that I chose to print out and place in a binder because I know I will be using it every year.
*Note: I do not think there is a way to print out Kindle or Nook books, but PDF books are printable.
2. Read them on the computer.
This way of reading an eBook may take a little more time getting used to if you are traditionally a hard-copy person. However, if you are accustomed to reading blogs and other websites, it really is not different. And again, it’s typically faster, cheaper and time-saving to read books this way.
You can read any PDF via a computer screen, but if you prefer to read them via a Kindle app, you can download a free Kindle app for any device here.
(Yes, anyone can read Kindle books on a computer! You don’t have to own a Kindle!)
3. Read them on a smart phone.
If you have an iPhone, for example, you can install the free Kindle app and open any PDF eBook in the Kindle app. (See above for more information.)
Or, you can simply email the PDF version of the book to yourself and open it up on your phone to read. I don’t think you will be able to save your place this way, though.
4. Get them bound at an office supply store.
This is when you take your PDF version of a book on a jump drive to a store like Staples and have them print out and bind the book for you. This option is not overly expensive and actually may be cheaper than printing the book out yourself. However, it is definitely more expensive than just printing out portions of the book or reading it via an electronic device.
Do you read eBooks? What is your favorite way to read an eBook? Do you have a Kindle, or do you read your eBooks in another way?
Top Image by goXunuReviews
Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post.
Deb
I can’t afford a Kindle or a Smartphone so can’t read e-books that way. I don’t want one either as if a SHTF situation happens, I can’t charge my e-device so what good will it do me? My hard copy I can read a thousand times without power. I can’t get my computer to load e-books so I gave up trying and will have to purchase older used books and pay shipping. Will NEVER prefer an e-book over a hard copy no matter how long I live. No comparison.
Heather
I agree that I prefer a hard copy to an e-reader, but on amazon, they have a free download for your computer so you can order kindle books.
ohAmanda
I’m with you, Erin. I looove reading on my Kindle. I read a lot faster and read more books b/c of it.
I still love turning pages and the smell of a new (or old book), but I’m sold on ebooks! 🙂
a
AlinaJoy Dubois
I kind of agree with Deb…. an ebook isn’t quite the same experience as a hard copy. But then I realized that there are so many free ebooks on Amazon! I can preview them on my kindle and then either delete it if I don’t like it or buy a hardcopy if I love it! My kindle has also allowed me to take courses at a reduced rate… I’ve been taking some courses where the textbooks are expensive, but the pdf version of the textbook are cheap or free!
Beth
I bought a kindle after I had my daughter. It was much easier to sit up with at night while nursing and watch movies on, surf the web, etc. I also have a few books on there. I am a die hard book fanatic, and still order books, but I do like my ebooks too. The only issue is that some are not edited or paginated well, and they distract me when trying to read. I found it worth the $, and it is easy to tote around with me.
Kimberly
I was the same way…I love the feel, the smell, turning the pages of actual books. My book club girlfriends and I would say we would NOT be “those people” who read books online. 🙂 Then I had a couple babies. I tried so hard to read an actual book while nursing, but it just wasn’t possible. I’ve grown to love my kindle and I can read so much more than I could when I was just reading hard copies.
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger
Thanks for sharing Erin 🙂
Karen
I am so excited about this! I’ve become an e-book junkie ever since I bought the healthy living bundle last year (and I appreciate the fact that only a few of them are repeated in the upcoming bundle). I mostly read ebooks on the computer, printing them out if I think I’ll really use them. Sometimes I put a one on the iPad, but I still prefer the print form if it’s a cookbook. I almost always write my own notes on a recipe I’ve tried, so I can remember if I liked it or not. For that reason, I wouldn’t buy an e-cookbook via Amazon because it doesn’t come in a printable format (not that I’m aware of anyway). I’m looking forward to the sale next week!
Elizabeth Kegans
I have a question. I own a Kindle, and I have the access to read the books on the computer through the Kindle App. My problem is that I would want it in a PDF format instead, so I can print out recipes, but we don’t have Adobe Reader anymore (which used to open up PDF files). What can I do to be able to read and print w/o Adobe? And also somehow send it to my Kindle so I can have it on there as well as the computer. Preferably something for free 🙂 HELP!!!
Ann Moore
I don’t own a Kindle or a laptop. I read a lot on my smart phone. However, I feel that my eye sight has gotten worse since I got a smart phone.
Erin
You might be on to something!
Tamela
what kindle do you own? I’ve been thinking of getting one.
Erin
I own a Kindle Fire–love it! I have heard the Paperwhite is also really great!
Tamela
what kindle should I get?
Erin
I love my Kindle Fire!
Read books
It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied that you shared this useful
information with us. Please stay us up to date like this.
Thank you for sharing.