The Problem with a Reader That Fits in Your Pocket

The Reader’s Edge | Charlie Samways | November 1, 2026 |

Over the last three weeks, I’ve been testing the Xteink X4 Pro. 

A $99 mini e-reader with a touch screen and front light sounded too good to be true.

To my surprise, these features stand up really well. And its biggest strength is exactly what you’d expect. It can go with you everywhere. That’s also its hidden risk. 

I went through a few years of reading more, but none of it actually stuck. I would just finish one book and move on to the next, done on repeat.

After three years of this reading cycle, the problem hit me in December 2019. I turned to the book that started my reading habit, The Pressure Principle by Dr Dave Alred, and I couldn’t remember what had helped me the first time around.

Straight out of university, my new role required me to make presentations to the company’s whole management team. I had always felt confident speaking, but being granted such a senior role in a new company led to a nervous feeling as a key company event drew near.

I could remember that the tools from this book could help me with the problem I was facing. I just couldn’t remember any of the details.

From this point on, I developed a system where the foundation of my reading was built upon actively engaging with the books I wanted to have the greatest impact.

This system has stayed with me ever since, and has helped me tackle problems like presenting under pressure. 

I’ve noticed that applying this system is even more important with mini e-readers. When reading becomes something you slip into the odd moment here or there, actively engaging with what you read can easily slip.

That’s why there is one non-negotiable reading habit from my system, which I use no matter how I read.

The Two-Minute Session Close

One of the fastest techniques that anyone can implement from the system I built is to review what you’ve just read after every session.

It sounds simple, because it is. The hard part is making this a habit you stick to.

Whenever I read, I always end with a two-minute session close. This involves going back over what you’ve just read, including any highlights or notes you’ve made.

It serves a critical function: it’s a moment of active recall, which helps more of what you read stick.

Testing the X4 Pro has made this process even more important.

When I’m reading on the go, or in those brief pockets of time, it’s not always possible to write my thoughts down. But at the very least, I make sure to consider the key points and any thoughts that may have arisen.

To test the X4 Pro, I’ve been reading Addicted to Anxiety by Owen O’Kane, and this book is great for session close reviews, because it asks questions directly to you as the reader. One set of questions asked how much of your life is affected by anxiety.

These questions landed in a moment when I had a spare five minutes to read, and I made sure I answered these questions in my head.

You won’t always get books that ask you to actively engage in this way, but the ones that do are great for this process.

My advice is always to start with something manageable. I chose two minutes because it’s enough time to meaningfully engage with what you’ve read, and it’s rare that you can’t fit such a small pocket of time at the end of a session.

And if you’re interested in remembering what you read and actually using it in your life, this is one small part of The Reader’s Edge. This is the system I’ve spent the last six months building, and it launches today.

• This is a Kindle reading system for remembering and using what you read.
• Includes the 42-page guide plus the companion documents: Book Completion Template, Monthly Review Template, Reading Tracker, First 30 Days, and the Reader’s Edge Workflow.
• There’s a 14-day refund policy, so if you try it and it’s not for you, just let me know.

The launch price is $25 for the next week only, until it becomes $39 on Monday, 9 November. As a newsletter subscriber, you’re the first to hear about it, and I’m super excited to share it with you all.

The Reader's Edge: Complete Kindle Reading System by @charliesamways95 | Stan

You finish a good book and remember enjoying it. A week later, you try to tell someone about it and can barely recall the key points.That book is probably still on your Kindle with dozens of highlights you haven't opened since the day you made them.That isn't a reading problem. It's a system problem.The Reader's Edge is the system I built to fix it. It uses the tools you already have, your Kindle and the free Kindle Notebook, and turns them into a simple routine: set an intention before you read, highlight with purpose while you read, and spend twenty minutes reviewing each book when you finish. Once a month, a thirty-minute review makes sure what you read turns into something you do.No new apps. No complicated database. Just a routine that fits around the reading you already do.What's included:The Reader's Edge guide (42-page PDF): the complete system across five parts, including a fully worked example on a real bookThe Reader's Edge Workflow (PDF): the whole system on one page, to keep wherever you readYour First 30 Days (PDF): a day-by-day plan that builds the system one habit at a timeBook Completion Template (Word and PDF): fill it in when you finish a bookMonthly Review Template (Word and PDF): three questions, thirty minutes, once a monthReading Tracker (Excel): a book log, monthly reviews and a dashboard that calculates itselfNotion Setup Guide (PDF): rebuild the system in Notion in about ten minutesThis is for you if:You read non-fiction on a Kindle and want more from itYou highlight plenty but rarely look at those highlights againYou read to change something in your life, at work, at home or in how you spend your timeThis isn't for you if:You want to read fifty books a year. This system is about getting more from each book, not reading more of them.You're looking for a quick hack. It takes a few minutes per session and twenty minutes per book.FAQDo I need a Kindle? It's built around Kindle and the free Kindle Notebook. The principles also work on other e-readers and with physical books, with a little more manual work.Do I need Notion, Readwise or any other app? No. Everything runs on your Kindle and the included templates. The Notion guide is optional.Does it work for fiction? Yes. The guide covers how to adapt it.How long does it take? About two minutes after each reading session, twenty minutes per finished book, and thirty minutes a month.How do I get it? It's an instant download.What is the refund policy? If the system isn't for you, email hello@charliesamways.com within 14 days for a full refund.

Stan

This Week’s Question

Is there one book you remember the key details of, and did you do anything after each reading session to make it stick?

Reply to me at hello@charliesamways.com. I read every one.

From The Channel This Week

If you’re interested in mini e-readers, then this week’s video on my YouTube channel is worth a watch. I’ve reviewed the Xteink X4 Pro and shared whether it’s too good to be true.

This $99 E-Reader Is Too Good To Be True

If you haven’t already, keep an eye on my free resources page. This is where I share tools to get more out of your Kindle, plus notes from some of my favourite non-fiction books. Available to all website members.

Wishing you all the best this week, and adding a session close to your reading habit.

Catch up next week,

Charlie