Reading on the Kindle is truly a pleasure.
This year, it seems that there is an explosion of E-readers on the market. Some are new, others have been around for a few years. A few of the big players in this emerging market are Sony, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Recently, Amazon announced a new generation of their E-reader, the Kindle. They also introduced a version that is Wi-Fi only, without the 3G Internet connection offered by cell phone carriers. This latest version is also the least expensive to purchase. The price of this latest iteration is $139. I could not resist this lower price tag, and have now joined the ranks of people purchasing electronic copies of books.
I had previously seen E-readers at retail stores such as Target and Costco, and have been impressed with the E-ink display. It does not consume much energy, and the new Kindle can go weeks without charging (provided that the Wi-Fi is turned off, but even then, it goes for days on a charge). The E-ink does not have a back-lit display, and does not have the glare associated with LCD screens on cell phones and laptops. It is truly a pleasure to read without wearing out the eyes.
Many books are available for free (especially older books in the public domain), with varying costs for newer titles. I purchased the book “Decision Points” by George W. Bush for $9.99. It did not take but a few moments for it to download to my device. I also downloaded a copy of the Bible (English Standard Version or ESV) published by Crossway Bibles. There was no charge for this contemporary translation.
Reading George W. Bush’s book was a fascinating look into some key situations that occurred during his two terms in office. While I strongly disagree with some of those decisions, it was interesting to read his version of how and why he made the decisions while in office. He also reflects on how he could have handled some of them better, but generally does not second guess himself on the major points.
Bush speaks about the importance of his faith on multiple occasions, but does not go into great detail on his spiritual views. He does offer readers a peek into his personal life, recounting some personal experiences that have never before been made public.
Even after reading his book, I still disagree with decisions made on interrogating detainees, bank and auto bailouts, and deficit spending undertaken by his administration. However, it was enlightening to read about his decision making process on stem cell research, and his heart-warming invitation of “snowflake” babies to the White House. It was also informative to hear his version of Katrina, the Surge in Iraq, and his “Freedom Agenda” philosophy in foreign affairs.
For those that have an interest in politics, history, and current events, this is a good read. For those thinking about getting an E-reader, you won’t be disappointed; it is just as fun to read a book this way, as in the traditional manner.
