The most valuable lesson I’ve learned this past year.

This year, I’ve developed the habit of buying things by first listing out the items I plan to purchase. After a certain period, I go through them and assess their priority. I usually categorize my wishlist into four categories:

• What I Need

• What I Love

• What I Want

• What I Like

The Amazon Kindle Basic Gen 11 is a special item, as it falls into the “What I Like” category. It’s something I’m interested in but not urgently needed. I still read physical books, listen to audiobooks, and read eBooks on my computer, phone, or tablet. It’s not something I’m crazy about, even though I really enjoy exploring tech gadgets. One day, at the end of November, the navy blue version went on sale, and I happened to have some leftover money from my monthly budget. So, I decided to give it a try and complete my 2023 wishlist.

I had no expectations, and perhaps that’s why the value I got from this device was beyond what I imagined. The biggest value the Kindle provides is that it minimizes the effort required to read.

The effort to carry and bring a book along. It might sound odd, but physical books can be thick and heavy. Many times, I wanted to bring one along, but it became an obstacle. The Kindle weighs only about 150 grams, so I can hold it with one hand and use it anywhere, whether lying down or sitting. I can even slip it into my pocket like a phone.

The effort to highlight in a book. I have the habit of using a highlighter to mark things I want to review later. If I forget my highlighter, I’m sometimes too lazy to open the book and read. The Kindle has a built-in highlight tool that removes this obstacle.

The effort to flip through the pages. It might sound odd again, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the dense text on each page of a physical book. The Kindle allows me to customize the reading interface to suit my preferences—larger or smaller text, spaced-out or dense lines. As a result, each page of the Kindle feels light, and I can quickly move through the pages. It’s like eating snacks, which feels easier and more fun than having a full meal.

The practical result was that in the first 3 days, I finished 2 books from my wishlist. I’ve heard advice saying you should read a lot of books before using an e-reader. For me, I feel the opposite. A more convenient reading experience → more reading → greater satisfaction → more reading… becomes a cycle of habit.

What’s certain is that the e-reader doesn’t make me want to read more, but it removes many barriers between my desire to read and actually opening the book, keeping my interest in the first few pages.

Of course, this little device still has areas for improvement. One example is the legendary power button located at the bottom of the device, which hasn’t changed in several generations of Kindle Basic. My friend Thanh Long once made a funny joke: “What’s important is often placed under your *ss” :)) But in this case, I really hope this important button is placed somewhere else in future versions.

A reflection at the end of the 2023 calendar year. In the new year, I wish everyone a high-quality wishlist for 2024, whether it’s a liability or an asset, whether it’s tangible or has spiritual value. Always evaluate and make concrete plans, but still enjoy exploring within the limits that your personal standards allow.

Cheers.