I read a lot more thanks to my Kindle, and I’m not alone

Source: Android Authority

Photo by Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

I’ve been reading excessively since the days of library points and pizza parties, but over the years the habit has become harder to fit in. Like most adults, my free time is considerably less, and my smartphone creeps in to occupy my spare moments. Not to be deterred, I decided to set an aggressive book goal this year, and thanks to my Kindle, reading has slipped back into my routine with surprising ease. According to Reddit, I’m not the only one.

Has using an e‑reader increased how much you read?

33 votes

My biggest problem is my smartphone

Photo credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

I’m not blaming anyone for my limited book consumption, but if I were going to blame someone, it would absolutely be my smartphone. Over the last few years, my phone has quietly become my default entertainment. When I’m not distracted by group texts and notifications, I waste time on everything from reviewing photos to compulsively checking the weather app. At night, I’m pulled into algorithm‑driven scrolling, depressing news feeds, or mindless TikTok—not to mention Netflix. None of these choices feels intentional or even particularly excessive, but together they’ve slowly pushed books out of my daily routine.

A hugely active thread on Reddit’s r/Kindle asks, “How do you guys read so much?” — angling at users already in the double digits for books this year. Most of the answers point to the same conclusion I’ve landed on myself: e‑readers don’t just make reading more convenient, they make it the default. Many of us read more as soon as we stop using our phones as our primary downtime device, especially at the end of the day. Thumbing through books isn’t a pipe dream. As one user commented:

“Honestly, I think if you look at people’s average screen time and replace it with reading, you’d see it’s possible.”

What Redditors agree on

We read more when we stop using phones as our primary downtime device.

My habit shift (as of January 1)

• Kindle in bed: I now bring my Kindle to bed instead of my phone.
• Dedicated shelf: I installed a small shelf (a “bed”) for the Kindle to make the change seamless.
• Phone out of the bedroom: I moved my phone’s overnight charging station out of the bedroom.
• Phone usage in the kitchen: When something pressing comes up—like watching 11 videos about Harry Styles ticket prices—I do it standing in the light of the refrigerator, then plug my phone in and head to bed.

This single habit shift has completely overhauled my evenings—from drawn‑out, often depressing time‑wasting to simply getting back to the book I’m already in the middle of.

It’s Not About Reading Faster, Just Reading When You Can

Image: Kindle and Audible book on a beach
Photo credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

What I appreciate most about the Reddit conversation is that it isn’t framed around speed or optimization. People aren’t solely chasing “books‑per‑year” goals (okay, I am, but only as accountability); most users are just reading more because they’re choosing books over other digital noise. One user even quipped:

“Life is a whole lot more fun when you just read when you can/want to and stop paying attention to the numbers.”

Why the Kindle Works for Me

• Replace idle scrolling – Many commenters say they swapped time spent on social media, streaming, or casual browsing for reading because the Kindle makes it easier to pick a book over the alternative.
• Portability – My Kindle is slim enough to slip into a bag and unobtrusive enough to leave on a coffee table without feeling like clutter.
• Glare‑free e‑ink – Reading on the beach, in a café, or on a sunny porch is comfortable thanks to the screen’s lack of glare.

Turning “In‑Between” Moments Into Reading Time

1. Always within arm’s reach – Having a book nearby turns everyday gaps (waiting in line, commuting, etc.) into low‑effort reading opportunities.
2. Seamless syncing – When the Kindle isn’t on hand, the Kindle app lets me pick up right where I left off on any device.
3. Audiobook integration – Automatic sync between Audible and Kindle means I can switch between listening and reading without losing my place.

An unexpectedly long grocery line can become a chance to finish a chapter, even if I didn’t think to pack my Kindle. Most importantly, my nightly reading habit keeps me constantly in the middle of a book, eager to return to it in bits and pieces.

The convenience of going digital

Photo credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

To be clear, I still love physical books. My Kindle will never eclipse the comfort of a well‑worn paperback or my inexplicable affection for a dusty bookshelf (despite a very real dust allergy). But in the hectic circus of day‑to‑day life, e‑readers are undeniably convenient.

• Portability – Kindles are lightweight and portable; I can load an entire library into something that weighs less than my child’s Pete the Cat book set.
• Customizable reading experience – Adjustable fonts, margins, brightness, and warm lighting make reading comfortable for long stretches and eliminate the need for a nerdy book light (of which I own many).
• Seamless syncing – Automatic bookmarks and syncing let me move between devices without hunting down my place.

Perhaps more importantly, getting a new book takes almost no effort. I don’t have to browse a store, place an order, or wait days for something to arrive. If I finish a book at 11 p.m. and feel like starting another, I can download one in seconds and keep going. Thanks to Libby, I still have access to my local library—only now it lives in my pocket.

For now, swapping reading in for screen time is an easy choice.

I don’t know how long this reading streak will last. The Olympics are starting, and I’m already feeling the pull. But it’s comforting to realize that getting through more books isn’t necessarily about finding more time. I don’t have to give up sleep or ignore my child to finally finish Wuthering Heights (why did I even start it? I don’t know). I just have to be more selective about how I spend the time I already have, and my Kindle makes choosing books an easier, more attractive option.

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