I avoid book reading. In fact I cringe inside.
I always wondered if I was the only one not reading.
We may have more common than you think.
I am a writer. So of course I’ve heard a billion times that to become a better writer I must — yes must — read.
But here’s an ugly secret: I don’t like reading.
In fact I cringe inside. I cringe inside when I look at my courses’ required texts. I cringe inside when I hear others tell me about the amount of books they have read in the past few months, weeks.
I feel, simply from those conversations alone that I need to get on with some book and plough through. But I realized something recently, so many people I know don’t read and lead perfectly successful, healthy lives.
I spoke with a number of my coworkers and they’ve all mentioned either a book they’ve read years ago or their intention to read something they thought sounded interesting. I rarely hear them suggest a book or even reference something they’ve read, perhaps inspirational, humorous, or even finance.
Wouldn’t anyone rather be watching TV? All my coworkers and peers are definitely quick to reference a show, movie, podcast, song. Where are all the ravenous readers?
Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying we should all just give up on reading. I’m simply looking for my tribe. No seriously, I’m curious why many of the people I know don’t read. Don’t care to read or don’t feel guilty for not reading.
It’s not that hard for me to relate to. As I’ve mentioned above I don’t like reading. And what I mean by that isn’t that I hate it. There are many positives to reading and I am aware of them. What I’m saying is it isn’t the most enjoyable experience for me.
Growing up, unlike the majority of my class I gravitated towards picture books with little descriptions under the pictures. These little, short descriptions was where I lived. Where I thrived. Because to me reading anything more than that, longer than that was just too hard or too boring.
And not in the sense that I couldn’t. I wasn’t mentally or physically incapable. And FYI I read plenty for my businesses, my volunteerism, and my education (on occasion a 300 page novel in a week). But what I mean is, in my natural state, I don’t find reading through a 300 page novel fun. Not at all. Even when the subject matter is fun.
Short things. Short things with visuals, or videos, or music appeal to me. Appeal to the reader and writer in me. It gives me something other than black text on a white background. That’s why I enjoyed pop up books growing up, and puzzle books, and the books where you stick your fingers into a puppet or some type of decoration purposely built into the book.
Maybe that makes me juvenile or my reading level newbie, but so what? As I’ve mentioned before I am perfectly capable of reading more, much more, and in a reasonable span of time but I would much rather read a blog, a magazine, social media posts, the ingredients behind a shampoo bottle, the ads on the metro.
I wish the reading world would acknowledge that reading advertisements, and blogs, and recipes, etc. is in fact reading.
You see, we are reading all the time and sometimes that causes us to subconsciously label “actual reading” as not fun.
Let me give you an example of what I mean:
Imagine you work at a gym, but when you go home instead of a couch there’s a weight bench, and instead of a bed, there’s a yoga mat. Instead of a fridge there’s a cooler of supplement drinks. Now imagine on your days off of work, the only places to visit are a track field, a mountain for hiking, or a river for rafting.
You may be someone who loves an active lifestyle, I know I do, but would you want that lifestyle to take up your entire life? Would you admit that even after a while you’d want something different?
Even if you were someone who loved books, who worked around them or in the publishing industry, there’s at minimum some part of your day or week that isn’t filled with books.
Now think about the average person who isn’t a book lover, who instead is bombarded by words — in advertisements, recipes — EMAILS— invoices, flyers, ingredient lists, medication warnings, memes, quotes, social media posts (this list can go on and on)— so much in fact, that when their bookworm friend (maybe that’s you) says “ hey there’s this book I think you might love to read,” their first thought might be — ugh.
And yet they don’t even realize why they feel that way because they can’t recall the last book they’ve read. It might have been months ago, years ago. They might recall a book they started reading. They might recall the plot of it. They definitely will think they remember the title. Or at the very least remember the title. And so, their second thought is, I should read more, and they consider your recommendation. But will they actually read it?
Probably not.
No one tells a basketball player that to become a better basketball player they must watch more basketball. So then why is it so often suggested that to become a better writer, one needs to read more. (Isn’t it write more?) There’s got to be a ratio balance.
A coworker of mine watches me on occasion whenever I do have a book out during lunch. He has moved from not reading, to wishing he read, to wanting to read, to realizing that he doesn’t read because he hasn’t found something interesting enough to read.
Listen to that. He hasn’t found something interesting enough. A motivation.
Because the action of reading has become to many people the action of exercise. They know it’s good for them but there’s got to be enough initial motivation.
So we discussed the things he likes to do and came up with book suggestions. He likes entrepreneurship since he’s already in the business of buying products and re-selling them. But I could tell from the look on his face that he hadn’t convinced himself to pick up a book on the topic.
Could it be because it seemed too daunting of a task for someone who hasn’t read in years? Possibly.
I suggested he Google his interest first and find a few articles on the topic. Small readings. Short things. Because even if he only read blogs or articles and magazines about entrepreneurship, that’s still so much better than not reading at all. (Like I’ve said, I’m not at all against reading.)
I’m curious if mobile phones have changed or reduced the interest in reading books. Everything is so handheld nowadays but reading a novel on a phone is still quite difficult in my experience. For some reason I prefer reading longer lengths with physical copies.
I spoke with another coworker about cookbooks, which I myself don’t buy anymore. He was encouraged to purchase one when he was having to cook meals for his little girls. The shame of not knowing how to cook anything but the same one meal, along with the silent pleading in his daughter’s eyes, left him with no other choice but to pick up a book and commit himself. (That was his key motivator.)
I’ve come to the conclusion that although the average person may have the intention of wanting to read and may even find topics they would love to learn more about, the reality is they won’t pick up that book unless they are left with no other choice but to read. And the time to read.
We have moved into an age where visuals, videos, audios, and anything that doesn’t involve roving our eyes over black text on a white background is way more appealing to you, to me, and to the world because it’s easier, cooler, and more stimulating to several senses.
In order to compete on the level of other media, books would eventually need complimentary virtual-reality glasses…but then why read the book?
I know I’m not the only one not reading. I’m definitely not reading 8 to 12 books a year like some of y’all are doing. But if I consider the amount I do read I’m actually not far from the curve. I would never encourage not reading. I do enjoy the items I do read. But I wanted to write this post for those that don’t read or feel like they would like to read more.
We get busy. We have lives. And yes the emails and articles and recipes you invest your time in IS READING. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
I’m thinking of writing an additional post where I show you how I manage to fit in reading while working full time, and a part time, and fitness, volunteering, entrepreneurship, but it’ll be short I promise. ;)
What are you reading lately?
