Five Very Different Books, One Kindle
Last week, I spent a week in Austria. I couldn't ski because of an ACL injury, which meant I had more time than usual for reading.
By the end of the trip, I'd finished three books and made solid progress on two others. All on one device that fits in my jacket pocket.
Here's what I read, and why my Kindle made it possible.
📖The Books I Read
📕 Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
This biography has been on my Kindle for months. At over 600 pages, it's been a commitment, but I finally finished it during the trip.
📙 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin
A Game of Thrones prequel. Shorter, lighter, and a nice change of pace from the denser books.
📔 His & Hers by Alice Feeney
A psychological thriller with alternating perspectives. I started this at the midway point of the holiday and finished it in a few days. It left me wanting more every time I had to put it down.
📘 Atomic Habits by James Clear
A classic on building better habits. I've been meaning to read this for a while, and the trip gave me the perfect opportunity.
📗 Run Away by Harlan Coben
A thriller I bought up after its release on Netflix. Fast-paced, gripping, and perfect for those moments when I just wanted to get lost in a story.
Five very different books. One Kindle Paperwhite.
👌Why This Worked
The reason I managed to read so much wasn't just the extra time. It was having my Kindle with me everywhere I went.
✈️On the Plane
My Kindle Paperwhite fits in my jacket pocket. So when I boarded the plane, I didn't need to dig through my bag or juggle a heavy book. I pulled it out, opened it, and started reading within seconds.
No worrying about damaged covers, folded pages, or running out of books mid-flight. Everything I needed was already there.
🗻Up the Mountain
Every morning, I'd take the cable car up the mountain with my family, who were skiing. While they hit the slopes, I'd sit in a restaurant with a view of the mountains, order a coffee, and read for a couple of hours.
The Kindle was light enough to carry without thinking about it. And because it's e-ink, I could read in bright sunlight without any glare. This is something I've never been able to do comfortably with my phone or iPad.
🏨Around the Hotel
Back at the hotel, I could take my Kindle to the lounge, the restaurant, or just sit in my room. If I had ten minutes before dinner, I'd read. If I woke up early, I'd read. If everyone else was napping, I'd read.
Having all my books in one small device meant I always had options. As I was on holiday, I tended to lean towards something lighter, so I'd pick up the fiction I was reading.
I was never stuck with the wrong book for the moment.
📚The Three-Book Rotation in Action
Regular readers of this newsletter will know I use a three-book rotation: one biography, one non-fiction, and one fiction.
This trip was the perfect example of why that system works.
Some moments, I wanted depth, so I'd read Leonardo da Vinci. Some afternoons, I wanted escape, so I'd read His & Hers or Run Away. And when I needed something in between, I'd read Atomic Habits.
Because everything was on my Kindle, I could switch between them instantly. No carrying multiple books, no deciding what to pack, no regrets about leaving something at home.
💡What I Learned
This trip reminded me why I love reading on Kindle.
It's not about replacing physical books, because I still love those. It's about making reading easier, more convenient, and more consistent.
When reading fits seamlessly into your life, you read more. And when you can carry an entire library in your pocket, you're never without something to read.
By the end of the week, I'd finished three books and made solid progress on two others. That's more than I've read in a single week in a long time.
And it all came down to having the right tool for the moment.
💭Closing Thoughts
If you're on the fence about getting a Kindle, or if you have one but don't use it as much as you'd like, I'd encourage you to give it a proper try.
How does your Kindle help your reading habits? Let me know by contacting me at Hello@charliesamways.com.
I’d love to hear your experiences reading and using e-readers, so please reach out to share your thoughts.
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