Abstract: An easily portable electronic book reading device for reading text information of documents, books etc. previously stored on a storage medium. The device generally comprises a flat screen monitor, a control panel, and a data storage/reading device. The flat screen monitor displays text information of a document being read, and optionally system control data. The control panel allows the user to control the display of information on the monitor, including selection of a document to be read; moving to a desired page; "book-marking" a desired page to allow the user to rapidly return to that page at a later time; stepping forward and backward through a document one page at a time; and controlling the size of text displayed on the monitor. The data storage/reading device, which can conveniently be provided as a CD-ROM or (preferably) a Micro-CD-ROM is provided to read text information from a removable memory medium, for display on the monitor.