Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.

-- Albert Einstein

I'm not what you would call an avid reader. To be sure, I read magazines, newspapers, and stuff on the Internet all the time. But on average, I generally read 3-4 books (novels, non-fiction, etc.) per year. However, in the last month, I have read 4 books, and am currently working on my 5th. I've also discovered a newfound interest in classic literature, having read several short stories and essays by various authors including George Orwell and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Why the Sudden Burst in Reading?

It's no secret that I am an enormous geek, and I love all things tech. I have an iPod Touch with 3 ebook readers on it, and the only reason I don't have an Amazon Kindle is for fiscal reasons. That's right, I've read the last 4 books this past month on my iPod Touch; and comfortably I might add. Steve Jobs famously said about the Amazon Kindle in January 2008:

It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.

How ironic then, that the device that has renewed my interest in reading is an Apple device. Even more ironic is the fact that technology is the main reason people don't read anymore, yet technology just might change that. From the availability of a whole library or bookstore in the palm of your hand, to the persistent connections offered on most newer ebook readers, including the Kindle and the iPhone, the convenience afforded by these devices is unparalleled. Of course, many of the details, such as licensing, need to be addressed, but I whole-heartedly believe that ebooks will overtake traditional books within my lifetime. What do you think? Are ebook readers here to stay, or just a geek-fad?