As a shopping editor, I spend a lot of time scrolling through Amazon (and a fair amount of time making purchases too). I’ve found tons of handy gadgets that have genuinely made my life better, like smart plugs, hanging shoe organizers, and a set of pots and pans with removable handles. But after years of staying up-to-date on the best Amazon has to offer, the top thing I’ve ever bought is still my Kindle Paperwhite.
It might sound silly (or boomerish), and it does raise the age-old question: Can an e-reader really hold a candle to a physical book? While they’re not the same, my Paperwhite has helped me fly through my TBR (to-be-read) list. If you’re a regular reader or you want to become one, I highly recommend looking into a Kindle—especially now, when they’re on sale for Amazon Prime Day.
The size
Measuring just under seven inches long and five inches wide (about the size of a paperback book), the Paperwhite is small enough to fit in most purses and tote bags—even the occasional coat pocket, I’ve found. Plus, it only weighs about seven ounces, roughly as much as a good workout shoe.
While I love holding a hard copy as much as the next bookworm, I can’t deny that the Kindle saves a lot of space in my tiny New York City apartment. With hundreds of titles at my fingertips, I no longer need to sacrifice valuable square footage to overflowing shelves and stacks of books—meaning I have plenty of room for air purifiers, humidifiers, and my other cozy home must-haves.
The compact design is easy to hold for long periods of time, meaning my hands and wrists never get tired in the middle of a plot twist. Another bonus? It doesn’t weigh me down while I’m on the go. Given the choice of carrying one Kindle or a stack of 5 to 10 books, especially on vacation (when bag space is at a premium), it’s a no-brainer for me—my Paperwhite is all I need.
The screen
As someone who experiences migraine attacks, I’m super conscious of my screen time (if you know, you know). I find that staring at a laptop, phone, or TV for too long can trigger that telltale head pain and aura, so I’m careful to keep it to a minimum. My experience aside, exposure to too much blue light can cause your body to stop making melatonin and interrupt your circadian rhythm, making it more difficult to fall and stay asleep, Rudrani Banik, MD, a neuroopthalmologist at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, tells SELF. It can also cause digital eye strain, a syndrome that comes with a host of frustrating symptoms like difficulty focusing, blurry vision, dry eyes, light sensitivity, and headaches or migraine, she says.
