12 Days of Books: Day 10

Gift Idea #10: A really good book light (about $15)

Purpose: Enable nighttime reading without destroying marital bliss

There are plenty of book lights available on the market. There are lots of really cheap ones that aren't even worth the few dollars they cost. And there are plenty of really expensive ones that don't work much better than the cheap ones. Every good book light must:

1. Illuminate the page with bright and even light.
2. Attach easily to the book without hindering page-flipping.
3. Be light enough to work with slim paperbacks (or even magazines) without weighing down the book.
4. Restrict illumination to the page so the rest of the room remains dark.

I've tried lots of book lights in all price ranges, but I've only ever been happy with one: The Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On Light. This is a lightweight light that easily clips on to paperbacks and hardcovers (and even Kindles). It's only $15, but it's a better product than those fancier lights that look cool but don't work. I keep several of these around the house, so I'm never without good reading light. The light is focused and bright on the page but does not diffuse around the room. This is a great gift for any booklover.