The Kindle Scribe got me to 15 books this year
- tried
- Amazon Kindle Scribe, 1st generation
- hypothesis
- a distraction-free place to read and take notes
- result
- 15 books in and I'm still reading
- for
- Anyone who wants to start reading
- skip if
- People who do not want to read
- price
- Free (a hand-me-down from my mother-in-law)
- verdict
- KEEP ✓
The try
At the start of 2026, I set a goal: read more. I used to be someone who occasionally read a self-help book, something I could turn into practice. Then I had a change of heart, and I found that reading fiction is something I enjoy far more.
15 books so far ✓I'm 15 books in. I'll get into those another time. This post is about what got me here.
thank you, wife ↓First, thank you to my wife for showing me the joys of reading for fun. It's the best way I know to lay back, enjoy, and wind down. Second, a big thank you to my two Kindles. The first was a Christmas gift, and it kick-started everything. The second was a Kindle Scribe, handed down from my mother-in-law, who ended up not using it. That one was a game changer.
Why the Scribe works for me
Here's the thing about the iPad. I had one last year and never found a strong use for it, though I did enjoy taking notes on it. It was just too distracting. Notification after notification. The Kindle Scribe stepped up and filled all those needs without pulling me away from the page.
The tech
This is the part I really want to highlight. The Kindle Scribe has been a perfect tool for me. Mine is the first generation.
- Storage: it says about 54 GB. I have about 30 books downloaded and have barely put a scratch on the capacity.
- Writing on it: really smooth, with a variety of page layouts and customizations.
- Puzzles: I've recently used it to get into puzzles with 399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges Specially Designed to Keep Your Brain Young by Nancy Linde, and that's been fun.
Why this matters to me
This is part of a bigger shift. I wanted to give up social platforms this year, and that's been partly successful. In their place, I wanted to start writing and hone a craft. Again, I'm not a bad writer, but I definitely don't consider myself an author in the slightest. Still, having a space to talk about the things I like, share them, and express myself has helped me communicate my thoughts a bit more clearly.
Reading fiction has changed how I think about communication, too. It should bring your audience in and leave them knowing exactly how you're describing or feeling something, without going in circles. It's been great to jump into.
What I liked / what I didn't
- Writing on it is really smooth
- A variety of page layouts and customizations
- Plenty of storage: about 30 books and barely a scratch
- No notifications, so it's not as distracting as my iPad
- It got me into puzzles too
- I wish I could add some color to it at times
- I wish I could draw in the margins as easily. Certain books don't allow for it as easily.
Bottom line
I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to start reading.
keep ✓
