Five reasons why you should buy an e-book reader

'Yours truly', considered himself an elitist when it comes to collecting books. I strictly preferred buying original editions, never watched a movie adaptation until I read the book first and unapologetically rebuked fellow bookworms who sink into their mobile screens instead of printed books. 

But after much deliberation, I have concluded that if you want to read conveniently and afford more books, e-book reader is the definitive option. The Amazon e-book reader is one of the best products available in this regard. 

Why would a lifelong paperback enthusiast like me vouch for an e-reader?  Well, allow me to give you a paper book vs e-book comparison, one by one. 

Our income is finite, and books are expensive

Let us face it. Books are way too expensive. Most local publishers give a discount of 25 percent which is taken for granted, it is not a discount at all. Books from West Bengal are pricey as we have to pay the higher conversion rate including shipping cost and weight charges. Most international books are hard to get. Some third-party vendors can buy those for you on a pre-order basis but it will cost you a fortune. Considering these factors, it is high time you should switch to e-book reader. E-book editions are drastically cheaper and in our case, can be availed free from torrents (Yeah, I know piracy is a crime). Kindles can store thousands of books, how much are you willing to spend for a thousand (printed) books, eh?

Travelling light? Books are uneasy to carry with

An average person in Dhaka spends three hours every day in commute. Corny self-improvement gurus suggest to read books while travelling, and I listened to them (!). But books are difficult to carry. Our public transports are not very roomy, you will have a hard time reading your 500-page paperback when you can barely sit in the crowded bus. On the contrary, E-book readers are lighter than tabs or even smartphones. "Easy to hold and fits inside a backpack"- a fitting description for those devices.

Afraid of eye strain? e-book devices won't cause any

I know people who have read gigantic books on their five-inch phone, kudos to their resistance from blue light exposure. I tried reading pdfs on smartphones, but could not stand the eye strain it caused. Smartphone screens are not suitable for long time reading, but Kindle is. Amazon's Kindle uses electronic ink, which is a paper display technology. It means reading on Kindle feels just like a paper book. The screen is glare-free and there is no blue light emission. Rest assured, your eyes are safe in front of a Kindle.

Books eat a lot of space, e-book readers fit on your desk

I promised myself to read 50 books each year, and I did. But how long a person can keep buying books if he can't store it in his room? Books need to be preserved properly. Otherwise, the pages get yellowed and rats will have something to feast on. Most e-book readers weigh give or take 200 grams and cannot be eaten by rats, period!

Bonus utility of e-book readers that books cannot offer

1.    Comes with built in dictionary, wi-fi and 3g
2.    Has backlight technology, can be read in the dark. 
3.    Many devices support audiobook
4.    Does not heat up like other gadgets
5.    Long battery life and also in many cases, waterproof

I am not against the everlasting charm of printed books. My point is, the world is changing and it is time we adapt to this modern medium. My goal is to read as many books as I can, e-book reader is the easiest way to do so. The latest edition of Kindle Paperwhite, the bestselling e-book reader, will cost you about Tk14000. I do not regret making this investment, you will not too. 
I promise!