How to Read School Textbooks on a Kindle
Getting your college textbooks on Kindle has both advantages and disadvantages. Cramming all your books into one featherweight device instead of lugging a backpack that weighs half of what you do can save you some pain. Furthermore, while textbooks are expensive, Kindle editions tend to be cheaper. However, reading a textbook on the Kindle can be awkward, especially for those not used to the platform. Even the larger versions of the Kindle tend to be smaller than textbooks, there is no color and highlighting, and annotating must be done onscreen.
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Instructions
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Compare your Kindle textbook with your classmates' print editions. Check that you have the correct edition and the same features. For example, some textbooks come with CD-ROMs, online access codes and additional pages specifically added for a particular instructor's course. Talk to your professor if you find your classmates' books have additional resources that your Kindle book does not. Ask your professor if you will need to purchase the additional material or if you can share with a classmate.
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Use the "up" and "down" arrows on your Kindle's keyboard to move the the cursor under the textbook you want to read. Push the "Select" button, found in the middle of the arrow keys on the right side of your Kindle's keyboard, to open the textbook.
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Find your assigned reading. Your book will automatically open to the furthest page read. Go to another page by pushing the "Menu" button on your keyboard and using the "up" and "down" arrows to scroll to "Go To" on the drop-down menu that appears. A box will appear. Use the keyboard to enter a page number, then use the arrow keys to highlight the button "Page" on the screen and press the "Select" key to go to a specific page. If your assignment is to read a specific chapter or portion of the book, select the button "Table of Contents" on the "Go To" box instead of entering a page number.
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Set your visual preferences. On any page of the book, push the button on the keyboard featuring the "Aa" symbol. From the menu that appears, select your typeface, line spacing, words per line and screen rotation. Listen to the book instead of reading it by selecting "Turn On" next to "Text-to-Speech." Change your settings and change them back at any time. For example, if you are copying one part of the textbook into your notes, you might want to make the text larger as you copy, then set it back when you start reading again.
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Annotate and underline using "Select" and the keyboard. Place your cursor in front of the text you wish to highlight or annotate. Push the "Select" button and use the arrow keys to move the cursor either right or left. Whatever the cursor runs over will be highlighted. Press the "Select" button again to stop highlighting. To annotate, simply start typing when you have placed your cursor in the appropriate location. A note will be created, which you can click on to view your annotation.
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Zoom in on charts and graphs. Place your cursor on a chart or graph and a magnifying glass with a "+" symbol appears. Push the "Select" button to zoom in on that chart or graph. You can also use the page layout feature under the "Aa" button to better view charts and graphs.
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Tips & Warnings
Sometimes teachers give reading assignments that can be difficult to find on a Kindle. For example, a teacher may say, "Read all but the last paragraph on Page 19, and everything in the blue box on Page 20." Because Kindle formatting is different than print text formatting, you will need to have a classmate with the print book help you find your assignment. Ask your classmate for the first and last sentence your instructor wants you to read. Find the first sentence by selecting "Search This Book" after pushing the "Menu" button and typing in the first few words of the sentence. Flip pages until you find the last sentence. Highlight the area in between both sentences so you know what to read.
References
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