Ali Abdaal
May 13, 2021
Comparing Reading Methods: Kindle, iPad, Physical Books, and Audiobooks
TL;DR
A comprehensive comparison of four reading methods—physical books, Kindle, iPad, and audiobooks—evaluating them on cost, convenience, aesthetics, note-taking, and durability to help you choose the best for your lifestyle.
Key Takeaways
- 1Kindle offers the best overall value for most readers due to convenience, affordability, and seamless note-taking through highlighting and services like Readwise.
- 2Audiobooks excel for multitasking scenarios like commuting, exercising, or doing chores, allowing you to consume books at 1.5x–2.5x speed.
- 3Physical books provide superior aesthetic and tactile reading experience but rank low on convenience and durability when carried around.
- 4iPad and phone reading offer maximum convenience and note-taking capability but suffer from screen fatigue compared to e-ink devices.
- 5Optimal approach: use Kindle as your primary method, supplement with audiobooks during downtime, and switch to iPad when extensive note-taking is required.
Notable Quotes
“out of everything i've ever bought i would say the kindle is one of my top three most life-changing pieces of tech”
— Host
“once you have a kindle suddenly the friction to buying and getting and reading new books just gets reduced basically down to zero”
— Host
“if there was only one subscription service that i could ever have in my life it would be a subscription to audible”
— Host
“with kindle ipad audio books you just don't get that nice feeling of the book”
— Host
Chapters
1. Introduction & Comparison Framework
Sets up the challenge of choosing between four reading methods in 2021, outlining five evaluation criteria: cost, convenience, aesthetics, ease of note-taking, and durability.
2. Physical Books
Physical books score high on aesthetics (5/5) but low on convenience (1/5). They're affordable ($5–$20) but get damaged easily and are cumbersome to carry. Best for evening relaxation at home.
3. Kindle
Kindle excels in convenience (5/5) and note-taking (4/5) with highlighting and Readwise integration. One of the most life-changing tech purchases; reduces friction to buying and reading new books immediately. Aesthetics are only 2/5.
4. iPad and Phone Reading
Offers maximum convenience (5/5) and note-taking (5/5) through larger screens and easy typing. Poor reading aesthetics (1/5) due to LED screen fatigue. Best used alongside Kindle for detailed note-taking and summaries in split-screen mode.
5. Audiobooks via Audible
Excellent for multitasking (4/5 convenience) and offers good value ($15/month subscription). Narration quality is high, and variable playback speed (1.5x–2.5x) accelerates consumption. Major weakness: extremely difficult to take notes (1/5).
6. Personal Usage Strategy & Recommendations
Speaker uses all four methods for different contexts: Kindle at bedside, audiobooks while cycling/driving, iPad for detailed note-taking with split-screen, and physical books for evening relaxation. Ranking: Kindle > Audiobooks > Physical Books > iPad.
Key People & Entities
- Brilliant
- Online learning platform for mathematics, science, and computer science courses; sponsor of the video
- Amazon
- Retailer and platform hosting Kindle e-books and Audible audiobook subscription service
- Apple
- Developer of iPad, iPhone, and Apple Books app for reading e-books
Glossary
- E-ink screen
- A display technology used in Kindle devices that mimics paper appearance, reducing eye strain compared to LED screens
- Readwise
- A service that automatically collects highlights from Kindle and other sources and syncs them to note-taking apps like Notion and Rome
- Audible
- Amazon's audiobook subscription service offering monthly credits and a vast library of professionally narrated books
- Kindle app
- Software application that allows reading Kindle books on devices like iPad, iPhone, and Mac without a dedicated e-reader
- Split-screen mode
- iPad feature allowing simultaneous display of two apps side-by-side, useful for reading and note-taking simultaneously