Do you sometimes find yourself deeply immersed in reading a book and suddenly realize that your neck aches or that your arms are tired and aching? Have you been holding your magazine close to your face and bending your neck too far? Do you become aware of the tension in your shoulders from an uncomfortable reading position? A book holder or stand will help you to easily position your book for a more relaxing and enjoyable read.

When you are reading, position yourself and your reading material on its stand so that your arms are supported and you do not have to hold the material up. Support your neck and keep it in a mid-range position; bending too far forward often causes neck pain.

Your book or magazine should be at about a 60-degree angle from horizontal. Your eyes should not be looking straight ahead but should be angled downward and should be approximately 15 to 20 inches from the reading material. These are not hard and fast rules; find a position that is comfortable without excessive strain. There are many types of reading aids that will help you achieve your ideal reading position.

The page should be fully illuminated with the light coming over your shoulder without your body creating a shadow on the page. Using too little light may cause eye strain or cause you to assume an uncomfortable position in an attempt to compensate by leaning close to the reading material.

There are book holders that will keep your book open so you do not strain the muscles in your hands and arms while holding the pages open for long periods. If you have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or some other condition that weakens your arms, book holders or book stands can bring relief when reading. Some of these devices keep the pages open with clips and some with clear vinyl straps that can be read through.

Another type of book holder will prop your reading material up on a flat surface such as your office desk, a countertop or a lap desk. The best of these types of book holders will also hold the pages open and be adjustable so that you can position your book or magazine to the proper angle. This is also important if you are using the book stand for your cookbook and standing at the kitchen counter. The holder or stand should also be adjustable so it will accommodate books of varying sizes and weights. Many of these will also accommodate electronic readers such as the Kindle.

If there are no limits on space and cost, look for a floor model book holder with casters for easy movement from room to room. Some of these are basically a table on which the top or a portion of it can be tilted. The best of these types of book holders have a book board that secures your book or magazine to it and rotates it to any angle. It will even allow you to read while lying on your side or flat on your back in bed or on the couch.