I’m a book lover that has gone over to the e-reader side. I remember a few years ago when I decided to go digital on my iPad, many people told me they’d never do it. Yet now I’m seeing those same people converting to an e-reader of their choice as well. Here are my reasons for crossing over.

No bookcases

Admit it -- we love showing off our shelves.

I was reading my feeds this morning and saw someone had written about five or six books they’d bought, and how only two of them were interesting but she was excited to add them all to her collection anyway.
Let’s be honest. When you buy books and read them, how many do you read again? Just your favorites. So why do a lot of us feel the need to go out and buy books that we may not like, like the girl in my example above? Would you go out and buy a movie you never watched? Would you buy clothes you didn’t try on and couldn’t return? Probably not. The truth is that the more books we have on our shelves the smarter we feel. I used to completely stock my bookshelf because I thought it made me look well read. I actually know people who reference their bookshelves as a joke to how well read they are.

But here’s another truth. I’ve never looked at someone’s bookshelf and been impressed. However, I have been incredibly impressed with people who bring up stories, characters, and literature-based arguments during a conversation. That’s what makes you well read. Not how many books are in your room.

Less to move

This is an image all too familiar.

I’ve had to move my large book collection twice, and that was enough to convince me to get rid of my books.

Books are incredibly heavy. I couldn’t even put my books into boxes when I moved because they wouldn’t hold. The trunk of my car was full of books that I had to carry in stack by stack. I thought to myself… I am not doing this again. So I donated books I didn’t like to the library. Eventually I did the same with books that weren’t a favorite. Now I have hundreds of books on my iPad, and about five of my favorite books in collector editions displayed in my living room. Much easier to move… And worth moving.

Less to bring

Speaking of moving books around, how about traveling? I used to always have at least one book in my purse just in case I was stuck somewhere. I always brought a book to my university classes to read before the professor showed up, or even if he was being incredibly boring that day. Books while on an airplane is a must.

I will always remember that summer I was visiting my grandmother in Puerto Rico. I was in eight grade. I brought my entire Harry Potter collection with me in my suitcase. I ended up reading them all three times. I was dying because I was there for a few weeks and I didn’t have enough reading material. My mom ended up buying me a bunch of used Agatha Christie books because it was all she could find in English. I re-read those a few times too.

An e-reader back then would have blown my mind. To think… Now whenever I travel anywhere and plan on reading, I bring my e-reader. I never run out of books to read and I don’t have to worry about which book to bring.

The choice is yours

My current e-reader is an iPad, but I've tried out many others.

There are so many different types of e-readers out there. It really isn’t hard to find one that may agree with you! You can still bookmark, feel like you’re turning the page, highlight, make notes, organize a digital bookshelf, and the list goes on. A lot of book fanatics claim it’s just not the same — but it is. You can do it all digitally. You just have to get used to the idea of curling up with the e-reader. I promise that soon enough, it really does feel just as cozy. You won’t be missing anything.

Image Credits: Nancy S. | Alan | Owni