Thanks to smartphones and smart devices, e-reading has become popular and is the main reading method for many people.
Compared with paper books, e-reading has many advantages: portability, more free resources, and more options.
When I was in high school, even without smartphones, some classmates used MP4 devices to read web novels.
In college I started reading e-books on a Nokia phone. There were already reading apps and many free e-books online, but paper books were still my main choice.
After smartphones appeared, I tried many apps: QQ Reading, iReader, Panda Reading, JD Reading, WeChat Reading, and more. I also used built-in apps like Apple Books.
Among these, my favorite and longest-used is WeChat Reading. Its advantages:
- Many free resources
- Reading time can be exchanged for trial cards or coins to buy books
- Import local files (with limits)
- Reading stats and badges that show achievements
- Reading groups that help you earn rewards
Since 2019, WeChat Reading has been my main channel for e-books. From 2021 onward, I bought two e-readers, partly because they came with WeChat Reading pre-installed.
Compared with phones, tablets, and computers, e-readers have two main advantages:
- E-ink screens are easier on the eyes
- They are focused on reading, without entertainment apps, so it is easier to stay focused
Besides the advantages above, WeChat Reading also offers many challenges: 7-day, 21-day, 30-day, 90-day, and 365-day challenges.
A challenge requires reading enough time and days within a period. For example, the 365-day challenge requires 300 hours and 300 days within 365 days. The rewards are generous: 365 days of membership and 500 book coins. The entry fee is 50 RMB.
Last month, my 365-day challenge ended. It started on World Book Day last year.
I completed the challenge and received the reward.
Surprisingly, I did not feel excited. I felt tired and relieved. After finishing, my reading time dropped sharply; I finished only one book in a month.
This was expected. Reading should not be a task. It is an interest. When interest turns into a task, it can weaken or even become dislike.
So if you do not have strong enthusiasm and persistence, I do not recommend joining these challenges.
Of course, e-reading has downsides. Some people feel it is harder to remember compared with paper books. Page flipping is inconvenient. Some people are not used to e-notes and bookmarks.
Although e-reading is my main method now, I am trying to read more paper books. After all, I have bought over a hundred books and read only a small fraction.