I got this for my girlfriend and I think I'm going to get one for myself. The intention was for her to use the light to read while I sleep, but I've found it to be so helpful in providing flat, even and powerful illumination that I use it even when I'm alone! The light really is very, very even with no fall-off or shadows within the beam. It easily covers facing pages of a hardcover book, and it doesn't quite illuminate all of a textbook. The light stops pretty abruptly at the edge, which is a good sign - there's no fade off. After so many years of using b-list, subpar book lights, I didn't think I could get one for less than $50 that would be any good. Totally wrong!