An electronic book reader includes a text obtaining module, a text analysis module, a speech synthesis module, a control module, and an audio output device. The text obtaining module is used for obtaining a selected segment of a text. The text analysis module is used for analyzing a time phrase of the selected segment to obtain a waiting time period according to meaning of the time phrase in the selected segment. The speech synthesis module is used for converting the selected segment into speech. The control module is used for sending the content of the selected segment to the speech synthesis module. Wherein the control module waits for the waiting time period after sending the time phrase to the speech synthesis. The audio output module is used for playing the speech.