Book lamps from US brands and US-based sellers

What to look for in a good book lamp

• Clip tension. Press the clip open and closed a few times before buying if you can, or check the listing photos closely; a metal spring clip holds a hardcover shut for years, a molded plastic one loosens and slips within weeks.
• Gooseneck stiffness. A good gooseneck stays exactly where you bend it, page after page; a cheap one sags toward the mattress by the second chapter because the internal wire is too thin.
• Light quality. Look for a stated color temperature and at least two brightness settings; single-setting LEDs run either too dim to read by or blue-white enough to give you a headache.
• Price as a signal. Legitimate sellers in this category run about $10 to $60, and the ones pricing under that floor are usually cutting the battery or the LED, not the packaging.