Amazon released its Kindle ebook reader in 2007. Back then, pundits predicted that eBooks would kill off printed books because of eBooks’ lower cost, greater portability, and instant delivery for ebooks.

But that hasn’t happened. Ebooks have remained at 10%-15% of all book sales for the past 15 years if you include audiobooks in the mix. Source.

Why eBooks are Great

Personally, I only read on my Kindle (or Kindle app on my iPhone, iPad, or Macbook); if someone gives me a printed book, I usually buy it in digital format to read. Here’s why I only read eBooks:

• I always have my book with me. When I’m in line at a grocery store, in the restroom line at a sporting event, waiting to pick up a prescription, or anywhere else I’m waiting, I have a book to read.
• Having a book with me at all times reduces my social media use and doomscrolling — I click on my Kindle app on my iPhone instead of on X or TikTok.
• I read while in bed, and reading from my Kindle in dark mode is more conducive to sleep than reading a physical book with a light on. Plus, I don’t keep my wife up with the light.
• I don’t fill my house up with books. You can look at this as a negative. I find it satisfying to have a bookcase full of my favorite books. But I read so many books that I’d have the hassle of what to do with all of them.
• For non-fiction, I like to highlight and make notes in the book. My Kindle allows me to just look at the highlights and notes, which makes it easy to review the key points of a book. Similarly, I like the search function in the Kindle/Kindle app which allows me to easily find and revisit important passages.
• I like having all the books I’ve read (or want to read) over the past decade on my Kindle. I regularly re-read books, and it’s nice to have them there.

But I know I’m unusual — most people I know greatly prefer to read a physical book. I get it. I read two physical books last year, and I did like the look, feel, and experience of reading a printed book.

Here’s a related IFOD: Are Audiobooks Cheating?