The Kindle and Audiobooks Have Changed how we read

and store books and other information.

When my Mom was first diagnosed, I purchased “The Forgetting,” By David Shenk. It’s the best book I’ve seen that discusses Alzheimer’s from it’s earliest history that something more was wrong than old age senility, to the overwhleming numbers of people who have Alzheimer’s today, including a great mass of younger people with Living your best lIfe with Early Onset Alzheimer’s.

That book was just the beginning for me. Many others followed as I took care of my Mom and needed help to improve my coping skills. The behavioral issues were enormous. “Alzheimer’s Answer Books,“ “The 36 Hour Day,” “Alzheimer’s Action Plan,” “Early Stage Alzheimer’s,“ “Learning Alzheimer’s Speak,” “Alzheimer’s Disease and 300 Tips.” The list goes on and on.

Then there were issues when I attempted to find activities to keep Mom busy when she forgot how to occupy herself, I purchased; “Activities for the Alzheimer’s Patient.” Then “The Caregiver’s Survivial Handbook” when my own nerves were frayed and I needed support. “Still Alice,” and “Jan’s Story,” and “The Notebook,” when I was desparate to know how others coped.

I don’t know about you, but my books are like a giant reference library. I couldn’t throw away a single copy since I refer back to them constantly. The natural transition for me was a Kindle.

If you haven’t considered a Kindle, give it a thought. It’s wonderful. A Kindle can store up to 3500 books. I must admit, even my library isn’t that large. One slim case to drop in your purse when you’re headed off for a doctor’s appointment, or any other office with a customary long line.

A few friends had suggested the Kindle to me many times. But all my books were limp as rags and should have been printed on yellow paper instead of white due to my massive penchant for “highlighting.” No way I wanted a Kindle. I could never do that in a Kindle, I thought. Wrong! You can highlight the pages, too, right in your Kindle.

And, yes, you can add books you already own, another of my objections. I couldn’t possibly abandon my previously amassed library. Truthfully, the Kindle is great. It makes life easier with a lot less clutter. And “psssst”– I never end up in a “wait line” with the wrong book!