Technically, a "backlight" means that what you are reading is illuminated from behind. The light is shining towards you, and the words are between you and the light. That’s the way computers and cellphones work. One reason why reading books on computers has never become really popular is that some people find reading on them for a long time unpleasant. That’s partly due to the backlight. The Kindle does not have a backlight. The "e-ink" technology is not lit at all, just like a paperbook (p-book). That has two major advantages:* It is easier on the eye* It doesn’t take much power, so the battery can last a long time on a chargeIt does mean, though, that you can not read the device in the dark. Just like a p-book, you need an external light source: a lamp or a "booklight". There are many kinds of booklights, ranging in price from about a dollar on up. Some e-readers and covers have lights that are light the screen from the side, others have a light that extends out (on a "neck"), and then bends back towards the screen. The Mighty Bright Light is a popular brand. ================For more Frequently Asked Kindle Questions, see:http://www.amazon.com/tag/kindle/forum/ref=cm_cd_ef_tft_tp?%5Fencoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=Tx2ELH7RBF7D78R(Amazon thread relevant to the discussion)

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