DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO BOOKTUBERS

Don't compare yourself to Booktubers! Not everyone has the same amount of time. Also, this video is sponsored by Skillshare: The first 500 people who click the link will get 2 free months of Skillshare Premium: skl.sh/elliotbrooks4
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I hope this video helped some of you feel a little better. Don't stress about the amount you read--if reading is what you love, do it at the speed and amount that you're able to :)
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#booktubers #readingspeed

[@SK22520]

“I’m a slow reader, I read from 5 to 7 books a month.” If I finish one book a month I’m proud.

[@JashanaC]

As you should be! :D Our lives are so busy these days and there are so many other great forms of entertainment to occupy our time... if you enjoy reading & you manage to focus on a book long enough to complete it (no matter how long it takes) you should be proud! :-)

[@supermonkey321]

Same here.

[@sciencystuff2106]

Exactly

[@HeWhoLaugths]

It doesn't matter how much you've read. What matters is how much you took from it.

[@rebeccamedusasrockgarden4781]

I read a lot. But as I said to someone the other day, it doesn't matter how much or how fast you read. What matters is if you're enjoying it. You can read 50 books a month but if you're not enjoying it you're missing the point. If you read 1 book a month and are loving it, then you're reading the perfect amount.

[@ebnovels]

Love this! Such a lovely way to look at this and I think it’s perfect advice :)

[@SrirachaSandvvitch]

I agree! I personally see a bit of competitiveness in the book community. Publishers send out ARCs or early releases and people are rushing to be the 1st to review them. But your followers view your content because they like what you have to say, not the fact that you can read a book a day.

[@wandagambling6523]

I don't understand not trying to read books you know you like, (I mean I do understand reading to broaden your horizons, but I always try to make sure that for every book I'm not certain about I have one I'm pretty sure about. And if that doesn't work... It's okay to be reading five books at once right???)

[@SrirachaSandvvitch]

@@wandagambling6523 yup. Reading a bunch of books that you don't like can make you not want to read at all.

[@Cynergy1969]

I love reading. Always have. I personally think that listening to an audio book is not reading a book. Its "listening " not "reading ". Those are two different things.

[@N.Traveler]

In an interview with the fastest reader in the world (Howard Berg) he himself said he saw it more as a curse than a blessing. He gets through a book like Wheel of Time in maybe less than an hour and can fully recite all of the details and storylines, etc. But he admits that his experience of the world and emotions really suffer from it. So, when he was asked reading advice, as the fastest reader in the world, he said: "Read slowly". (He explained: "Say you're a Harry Potter fan and waited years for the next book, would you want to finish it in 3 minutes? That's like looking at the Mona Lisa on a skateboard.") It really made me feel better about being only able to read like 12 books a year and reading less than 200 words a minute. :)

[@chestersnap]

Can you even turn through all of the pages in a Wheel of Time book in less than an hour?

[@AvengerAtIlipa]

​@@chestersnap If you skip all of the annoying POV's, probably.

[@16SF]

My reading is so irregular. Some months I read nothing and some months I read like 40 books. 😂

[@ebnovels]

Haha, that sounds like how a lot of mood readers are 😄

[@kirafin6881]

Lol, i’m same, though i never read 40 books a month, but i can read up to 12, or just 2, if i feel like reading😀

[@danielfreitas8196]

I always read like 6 books a month but since October I have only read 4 books. :( Some health issues decided to come up .

[@annahill99]

Maybe I’m too new to booktube but I kinda got the impression that some booktubers have such a high volume of reads per month because some of them don’t work or only work part time...

[@ThePurpleBookWyrm]

Exactly, that's the thing: even if you have lots of free time, well... some of use are interested in doing other things as well/have other passions. With my free time, I could probably increase my reading amount by 50% easy, but I also play music and take drawing classes for example. So reading is, 90% of the time, reserved for the morning and before-bed-time. We all manage our time differently, and choose to devote it to reading accordingly. There's nothing wrong with that. ;)

[@ebnovels]

100% agree! Also, what similar other hobbies we have :D Do you sing or play an instrument? Or both? :)

[@ThePurpleBookWyrm]

Elliot Brooks I play the piano. 😊

[@locutusdborg126]

@@ebnovels I write novels, I compose music scores, I paint landscapes, I perform scientific experiments, I cook cuisine, let's see have I forgotten anything. Oh, I read 30 books a month. Literary fiction. lol

[@alyssapinon9670]

I sometimes get distracted while reading because I try to design outfits based on the book I’m reading

[@emmaa.5881]

@@locutusdborg126 ok..

[@randomlytalented9667]

I feel like mentioning that I would get through a lot of physical books if I wasn't super addicted to really long fanfiction.

[@chrishrcam]

Oh god, me too!

[@DragonHeart29]

That would be translated webnovels for me 😂

[@de_hobbyhoarder50]

This is exactly my life

[@Maren617]

Another important point: when reading literature (and not non-fiction) then your reading experience may really suffer if you read too fast. Literature can feature beautiful prose, language rhythm, beautiful descriptions, creation of immersive atmosphere, etc. that may not work if you speed-read the way many people do. You may know the overall story afterwards, but you won't have enjoyed the atmosphere, you won't have visualized the landscapes, you won't have enjoyed the banter and jokes as much, you won't have enjoyed the prose and language artistry, and you won't have truly had time to consider the philosophical points raised. Sometimes, reading more slowly means reading more deeply, enjoying it more, and getting more out of it in the end.

[@iremspor]

So true, I find myself skimming and not actually understanding the content when trying to read fast, so what’s the point of reading if you don’t actually read and understand what it’s saying. Even if I read much less than many people, I don’t feel bad for reading slow to take in the environment and enjoy the atmosphere. Some books are worth extending the time to read them, you just don’t wanna finish it! It’s supposed to be a hobby not a race.

[@danielfreitas8196]

That’s really true. It took me one month and a half to read War and Peace from Lev Tolstoy. I’m glad I dedicated the amount of time needed to appreciate the details.

[@snehapradhan5591]

This is so beautifully said! I often think why I really enjoy books which I read slowly and you just told me all the reasons. One truly appreciates the beauty of something when they're actually diving deep!

[@rinapereira]

I couldn't agree more!!

[@locutusdborg126]

@@danielfreitas8196 Like how to spell his name?

[@CWARrated]

I just set my own goals. If I can read two books a month, I'm happy with that. 30 mins to an hour a day adds up, eventually the book gets done.

[@skijumpnose]

I can keep up with the Booktubers if it's manga and graphic novels

[@Simmi_]

I've stopped comparing myself to anyone at this point and started focussing on enjoying what I'm reading. I'm a student anyway, so I don't have a lot of time every month, sometimes there are exams, other months I'm completely free as far as school is concerned. As long as I'm enjoying it, any number is enough. I remember last year I'd read 7 books by the end of January and this year I've barely finished 4 so far, but I've loved the experience just as much.

[@StarspangledHeart]

This got me really curious to see how many books a month I average. I ended up with an average of 9 books per month in 2018 and 10.75 books per month in 2019. I do read really, really fast and I can listen to audiobooks at work (I can easily clock in 25-30 hrs of audiobooks a week even at 1x speed) so that helps me get through loads of books. Plus it's not unusual for me to spend 3-4 hours on a Saturday reading while my husband plays video games. The genre of a book can really affect reading time too. Middle grade vs YA vs adult, fiction vs nonfiction (always take me forever!), novel vs novella vs graphic novel and manga all really affect how many books I can get through in a month. I'm also a big rereader and I usually get through rereads faster than a book I'm reading for the first time. My husband, on the other hand, was not a big reader growing up and has only recently discovered that books are awesome. He reads very slowly and is easily distracted while reading books physically. He reads mostly audiobooks (which take way longer) and splits his reading time with video games. He averages 1-2 books per month. But that doesn't stop us from having great conversations about books especially since I got him hooked on Sanderson. So you can definitely be part of the online book community and have great conversations about books without reading tons of books every month.

[@emilywheeler1655]

I used to average 5-7 books a month (sometimes more) but now I’m a senior in college with a 4.0 and I can’t manage to finish more than 2 a month because I’m stuck reading all these boring historical texts 😢 I’ve been feeling bad lately but thanks for this

[@ebnovels]

You’re welcome! I’m sorry you’ve been feeling bad. Don’t sweat it-I remember having no free time in college. Do what you have to do!

[@ToriTalks2]

I’m a really fast reader, 450-550 words per minute. I read between 12-18 books per month, and I’ve honestly struggled with putting that number out on the channel because I don’t want anyone to feel like I’m showboating. I’m a stay at home mom and reading is my self-care time. I also have insomnia and reading helps me feel more tired. I also spent years without reading hardly anything after college and having babies, so now I’m enjoying that I can! Comparison is such a frustrating thing. Read what you can, when you can, when you enjoy it! ❤️

[@bjorneriksson2404]

So I'm a bit late to the party, but anyway: I'm a really slow reader, perhaps about "audiobook speed" tops. I want to visualize the settings, "hear" the tone of voice used in the conversations, and I can go back and re-read passages until I get hold of the correct emotion that I think the character feels in that moment. Sometimes, I stop reading and try to imagine how a scene will continue to play out, or how I would have acted or reacted if I'd been there in their place. If I start reading too fast, I also feel the need to go back and make sure I didn't miss anything, including the emotional states of the characters. I tend to get so immersed in the book that I don't want to start reading unless I know I can spare a few days where I don't need to do a lot of other stuff. This means that I don't read that many books each year, but every book I do read gives me that much more.

[@steampoweredpixel]

The amount of times I get so frustrated and let down when everyone online is like "IT's been a really bad reading month for me, I have only read 6 books!" and you're just like "HOW?! :O"

[@catherinegreer854]

Thanks Elliot❤❤ Loved this video. Another reason your are one of my top Booktubers😀

[@robpaul7544]

The main thing is, don't compare yourself with other people to make you feel better than them - or especially to feel worse about yourself. If you like reading, read as much as you can while still enjoying it - and leave time for other obligations, hobbies and loved ones. Don't stress about wordcount, books per month or per year. Anything and everything you read IS enough - but for people who love reading, no amount will ever feel enough. There is always more to read. I consider that a blessing.

[@moonpxi]

What a great video! Thank you for doing it! While I consider myself a fast read and am totally okay with just reading a small few books a month, I was always curious about the amount of books in booktuber's TBRs (including yours). Your explanation and breakdown totally makes sense and I will definitely share it with some friends who feel pressured and down from "not reading enough".

[@anarocha7782]

Love this! I've only got into booktube last year and while it has really motivated me to read more, it also came with these feelings of not reading as much as I could be. But I really try to remember that people are different, some have more free time, some read faster, some are skimming and the important thing is to read books we actually enjoy and that add to our lives and experiences. Also, booktube is not only a hobby, some people actually make money from it and if your job (or one of your jobs) is to be constantly making book-related content, you're definitely gonna read more than the average person.

[@amusicalbookworm]

Such a great video, Elle! I’m a full time music teacher, and I play music on the side and also teach private lessons, but I joined the ranks of Booktube creators because I wanted to participate in a hobby other than music. While I initially told myself I wasn’t going to fall to the pressure of reading a zillion books a month, it inevitably happened, and I felt like I wouldn’t be successful on Booktube unless I read at least 10 books per month...however even when trying really hard, I have never ever been able to read 10 books a month, and I don’t think I even want to. I have other things in my life that I want to do in my free time, too. It is definitely more important to enjoy what you’re doing, rather than hitting a certain number. And if you are a Booktuber, people will be drawn to your content if you are passionate and actually enjoying what you’re reading! This was a really interesting video and I thank you for taking the time to create it!

[@exuvi5355]

thank you so much for this video ! i needed that video, really 💗

[@allisgrace1313]

Thanks for this! I feel like this is a very compassionate video!

[@ebnovels]

I just feel so bad when others don’t feel free great about something that’s supposed to be a fun hobby!

[@sweet_t_reads]

I listen to audiobooks a lot. That allows me to get a lot of books read in a month. I listen to them while doing other things during my day and at 1.75 to 2x speed which cuts the listening time in half. I think people also need to realize that some people do booktube as their full time job. It’s their JOB to read books. That makes a huge difference I think. Like you said too, they seem to always have short books in there too. Everyone’s life is different. I’m disabled so I have lots of time to read. My boyfriend works a ten hour job and also has dyslexia so he hardly ever reads a book. Thank you for sharing this video! You made great points!!

[@jericosha2842]

Great video. Another talking point is reading comprehension and retension. Often people that have trained themselves to read faster do not savor what's being read and can unintentionally reduce the overall comprehension of the text.

[@chaotic_libraries2853]

I loved this video! Being dyslexic I often find it draining reading for hours at a time even if I want to. This usually leads to me feeling guilty when I post a picture of my months reading on my bookstagram that’s only 3-5 books. It’s amazing you took the time to sit down and express even how you feel overwhelmed with other booktubers/bookstagramers book count.

[@hawthornetherose2295]

I know that a lot of the booktubers I watch listen to a lot of their books on Audible rather than reading them. You can really blow through books listening to them at 1.5x or 2x speed while doing other things all day. At the same time, I wonder how much of the contents they retain.

[@mariakalliokoski2758]

I listen with over x2, depending on a book, it might even be x2,75. I can concentrate well on that, I'm frustrated that my current audio app is allowing max x2 speed, it's too slow, when I know I can easily listen faster 😅🙈 but like, poetry or classics, I need to slow it down to x1,75 or x2 speed, to get it right

[@hawthornetherose2295]

Maria Kalliokoski I’m not an audio learner (at all) so audiobooks tend to go in one ear and out the other unfortunately. So classic reading is all that really works for me. There are some audiobooks that are just really nice to listen to though.

[@mspaula0509]

I tried listening on above 1.5x to 2x speed and couldn't do it. My mind wasn't keeping up but I also know that it's probably a learned skill to be able to listen at that rate. Maybe one day I will get there. The highest, as of now, is 1.5x and that's not all the time-that's when I'm focusing. I usually do 1.35x. My downfall to audio or reading in general is that I have attention issues. Last week I was having a meeting with my manager and the educator because I transitioned to a different role and mid sentence I said "ooo...did they change the walls? I like it." They were taken back and I apologized for having attention issues and I cannot even take medication for it. :-(

[@KellyPatootie]

I found that I can get up to 2x speed once I’ve gotten used to the narrator’s voice and pronunciations. However, I’ve seen a lot of booktubers claiming to listen at 3x speed!! I can’t retain anything at that speed.

[@Cynergy1969]

In my opinion listening to a book is not the same as reading a book. Listening is with your ears and reading is with your eyes. That's two different things.

[@Deitable]

Thank you so much for this video, I needed it. I started out very motivated to read this year, but then I started comparing myself with other readers and got frustrated...so perfect timing, thanks! :)

[@MaryAmongStories]

I really needed this today, thank you 💕

[@Sharifa466]

Such a great video, thank you Elliot ♥️ I actually bumped up my reading since discovering booktube because of the large number of books I saw some booktubers reading a month. I actually do have a lot of free time and I realised I definitely could be reading more. However, I did start to feel a bit of pressure because of this, I felt like I needed to pick up another book immediately after finishing the first one so that I can bump up the number of books I’m reading. I realise now that it’s OKAY to take a break, you don’t have to finish 10 or even 5 books a month. You don’t have to read one book after another. It’s not a chore, it’s a hobby. You can do it however and whichever way you like ♥️

[@jenniferramos5217]

Thank you so much for this video! I LOVE reading and I credit it with helping form how I view the world and myself but there was definitely a point in my life where I was reading a new book every 2 days because I felt I was 'falling behind' everyone else I knew or saw online. At that point reading went from being an enjoyable activity to something I had to do or I would be even more behind that curve. I had a weekend where I didn't read a single page and realized it had been the most relaxing weekend I had had in a while because I wasn't reading. Definitely a huge wake up call for me to stop putting pressure on myself to read as much as possible in the least amount of time because of a book challenge or because someone else online was doing so. I definitely will never fall into that trap again.

[@ebnovels]

I feel that! Sometimes I want to enjoy time with friends or family-or alone!-without thinking, “Ok, so when is this over? I need to read.” Idk that the thought was exactly like that, but there’d be a looming pressure at times that I’m not a fan of. Good on you for recognizing what works best for you!!! 💖

[@denaiir4775]

Such an interesting video! I am always comparing myself to other readers and thinking I'm not busy compared to others, just as you said, so it's great to have it put into perspective! 😀

[@xkathygee]

That was by far the most interesting and helpful booktube video I've watched in a while now. I actually looked up similar stuff a few days ago to find out my reading pace, so that's a funny little coincidence.

[@toiletteregina]

Gosh I really needed to hear this. I never have enough energy to do anything once I get home from work -- let alone read -- then when the weekend comes I just wanna veg out or sleep in. Thanks tor the validation, Elliot :')

[@SrirachaSandvvitch]

I have a bookstagram page and it's definitely helped me read more books. Usually, I'll read a book, finish it in about 2-3 days and won't pick up another book that week. Just cuz I wanna. Now, having the page is encouraging me to check out books that other bloggers review, so that I can join in on some awesome conversations. On top of that, I don't watch a ton of tv, so the time people use to watch tv I use to read. When I'm playing Destiny, I listen to audiobooks. I take public transportation or carpool--perfect time for reading. Honestly, if I wasn't so into the book community, I would read 2 books a month. Reading is suppose to be fun, if you find yourself not having fun, only trying to meet some quota, what's the purpose of enjoying the books? That's a question to no one in particular 🤷🏾‍♀️. Thank you for making a video addressing this!

[@atharvametange2075]

This topic needed to be addressed . Thanks Elliot

[@maddisonbryant1268]

This was a really cool topic! Thank you 🙏

[@vivienkurucz5724]

Omg the thumbnail is so smart😍😍 I'm so happy that you made this video because I compare my reading all the time 🥺❤️

[@WayOverBooked]

I used to be able to read at work so I'd get through A LOT of books, well a lot for me anyways, but I got a job in November that kept me MUCH busier, and it's linger shifts too. So I come home after a ten hour shift, have to care for my toddler, and I just end up being so tired by the time he's asleep that I can't stay up to read or anything. So all week I'm too busy to read and the weekend is when I spend my time with family, and that is really important to me. I went from 3-7 books a month to... None. I haven't finished a book since I started. And that really sucks. But u believe it's all because if my new job. It's SOOOOO busy every single day and the shifts are long and it burns me out so bad that I can't focus on work. In case you're wondering, I am actively looking for new work that won't burb me out so badly. 😂😂

[@brookerickert7123]

Thank you for this ! My reading speed varies and I also get tired a lot during the day. I’m always saying to myself it’s not a competition and just take your time and enjoy reading. Funny enough I read faster with ebooks but I like physically holding books sometimes haha

[@ebnovels]

I’m sorry you get tired throughout the day! That would definitely alter my reading 😆 I get what you mean about wanting to hold the physical-I prefer them too :)

[@rinapereira]

Me too!!

[@alexnieves]

Elliot: I consider myself a slow reader. Also Elliot: I read 5-7 books a month. I don't even feel like I read that slow, but I've been averaging 4 book a month this year. A lot of that was Era 1 Mistborn, so they are definitely longer books, and The Rage of Dragons as well, but I will likely finish more this month since I'm reading Era 2 Mistborn. The longest book in Era 2 is 437 pages (EU edition) and the SHORTEST of Era 1 was Final Empire at 647 pages (EU edition). Page length absolutely is a major factor here, but people should also just be ok with reading at their own pace! Enjoy your books, that's why you are reading them! What is the point of sprinting through a book to keep up with someone who essentially reads for a living?

[@Grimreap191]

Wow such an important video! Just got back into reading after graduating college and it can be intimidating to see the crazy numbers booktubers are putting up.

[@sarahbookworm5937]

If there was a love button, I would hit it a hundred times! I am so grateful that you posted this video because sometimes I do feel down that I can't read a lot due to my busy life. Between school, two jobs, a boyfriend who lives the next town over, attempting booktube, writing, and taking care of my mom whom is legally blind, sometimes reading just does not happen. It's a wonderful feeling to be validated for trying my best read with such a bsy schedule. Thank you!

[@murakamireads]

You make SO MANY GOOD POINTS! Like I have a long commute, I’m in graduate school for English lit AND I have no qualms about skimming or DNFing when a book is boring (and ill say it lol) AND I love listening to audiobooks when playing my switch - so yeah I read between 12-20 books a month (sometimes nearly 30 if it’s a really good month) and I feel so bad when people comment on my videos saying they wish they could read as much as me. But I want them to realize situations make such a difference in how much some reads - there are SO many factors!

[@mspaula0509]

It does not matter how much I read vs how much someone else reads, etc. HOWEVER, I am judging and do think there are some people out there (including booktubers) that lie about how much they read, etc.

[@lucaleone4331]

This was an interestingly timer video for me. I had two books in Feb where it took me the WHOLE month to thru and it almost effected my review. Even tho I didnt dislike the books I was almost bitter that it took away from that tbr book goal. Made me take a step back and stop focusing on trying "to keep up".

[@ebnovels]

Well I’m glad for that timing! I’ve felt that way before as well, so I’m right there with you. So to both of us-knock it off! 😄

[@amandaleard2244]

Oh my goodness - so while I was in HS/college, I never had any time to read for fun, which was a huge bummer since I've been a bookworm ever since I was a child. Then right out of college I got married & started a demanding job & I still felt like I didn't have time/energy to read. Now, what with the pandemic & all, I get to work from home, which gives me back almost two hours of my day. Thus, I've rediscovered my love of reading! I've already read 16 books so far this year, in comparison to my usual 1 or 2. Plus I discovered booktube, which gave me the inspiration to give my home library a makeover. 😍 It's also provided tons of book recommendations. (Thank you, by the way. ❤) I simply can't read fast enough!

[@TheBookRefuge]

I love this already before I have even watched it. I read 51 books in February! I binged romance and I can read during pretty much every activity I do during the day. But I don't have a husband, kids, or an over abundance of commitments. I know that won't last always, so I enjoy it while I can. No one should be down on themselves!! My sister is also a strong reader and she reads maybe 2 books a month. Thats just how it goes! Great video El

[@sophiasthoughts]

So, I typically read 14 books a month, but . . . I do not watch ANY television or films Don't play games Don't do any sports or recreational activities I read some graphic novels, manga, middle grades books etc. I listen to audiobooks at 2x speed while I travel/cook/clean/etc. I basically work, read, watch and make booktube and that's it Just some perspective on my number . Thanks for a great video Elle

[@KarlaRodriguez-mx2od]

Yeah, I used to read 1 book a week. I don't read fast and I didn't discover audio books yet. I used to read at the bus and in my house. I don't really like to watch Netflix or movies, I don't olay videogames because I don't like them and to read is my hobby.

[@sophiasthoughts]

@@KarlaRodriguez-mx2od people usually think I'm weird when I say I don't watch TV but, honestly, I just find reading much more enjoyable

[@KarlaRodriguez-mx2od]

@@sophiasthoughts kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5vHh5eHoNxlaq8 I think you can relate with this video.

[@hayley5721]

Do you find that your life is satisfying?

[@sophiasthoughts]

@@hayley5721 very, I absolutely love reading and making content. It wouldn't be for everyone, I realise, but it works for me

[@Wats06071]

Great video. I read 1-3 books a month and I am very happy with that. I have other hobbies. I like to watch TV, follow/read about other foms of art, and I LOVE playing Chess.

[@VidhyaVLbooks]

Interesting! Nice take on the topics! Kept me intrigued 🎀

[@danlafferty1222]

I love this video. What an important message! I work a full-time job, but I also work from home and can break up my work day with reading breaks. I am skeptical of people who say they have no time for any reading, because it really usually means that bingeing TV shows and scrolling social media is a bigger priority (haha, I was typing that before it came up in the video; I just heard it). And that’s okay, if that’s their preference. But I’m very appreciative that my own schedule allows for more reading than it used to. And I still dropped my jaw when I saw Merphy’s stack of books she read in February....the shortest month of the year. 🙄😂

[@rebeccaolesen9519]

I love that you pointed out that each college student has different stuff going on for terms of free time. I used to read ALL the time in high school but once I got to college I've only gotten through a few books since I started college 4 years ago. I still have 2 more years left. Not only that, since starting college I learned that I had depression and anxiety. I realize during my healing process that I've had both for years but going to college and relying on myself made the depression so bad that anything, including reading, became a task instead of an enjoyment. I lost a desire towards all of my passions, which is finally what caused me to seek help. Now that I've been working with my doctor, I've been slowly getting better. I've been reading some but not as much as I would like. But I'm trying to get myself to read more, instead of scrolling through facebook. I also loved that you pointed out the other hobbies. Since I am a visual person, sometimes I actually prefer TV over books. The TV shows I lean towards are ones that have great characters and engaging stories. If I'm not pulled into a show by the characters and the story but the first episode or two I don't continue to watch it. That of course takes up time. Along with gaming. With my boyfriend moving in, he got me into gaming. I always pick storyline based games as well. I chose the PS4 specifically because the game "The Last of Us" caught my eye and seemed like a story that I wanted to enjoy (now I hear they're making a TV show out of it and couldn't be more excited!). I also love to draw and I've been trying so hard to get back into that as well since I've been drawing since 4th grade and I have so many sketchbooks full of drawings since then. I miss it so much and it hurt to loose my interest in that. So I wholeheartedly agree that we shouldn't compare ourselves to booktubers. Even just reading one book a year should be an amazing accomplishment! There used to be a time when it did take me a full year to finish a book and I was happy then too (that was also before I learned I was dyslexic but it caused me to learn how to read my own way since I didn't learn till like 3-4 years later that I was dyslexic). Now I can finish a book in a few days (depending on my free time) and sometimes it takes me a couple months to finish it. It depends on how much the story pulls me in and how much I care about that story over my other interests that I'm gaining back. There are still books like "Atlas Shrugged" that I started in (god when was that?) 2016(?) and I still haven't finished. I still plan to finish that book at some point. When? Who knows. I own it as a physical book and an eBook but I still have yet to finish it. But I finished a book like "Eleanor & Park" in two (maybe three) sittings. So my reading speed changes on not only my interest in the book and how tired or ADHD I am that day. So everyone should feel proud of any books they finish! Read to enjoy not to show off!

[@jujunorman4695]

I was feeling the same and was planning on calculating it. Thanks for saving my time.

[@stacyjohnson1853]

Thank you!!! I needed that so much. One of my main hobbies is reading but last year my Goodreads reading challenge was 13 books... I decided that I wanted it to be 52 this year (1 per week) and for the past 2 months I am managing it thanks to audiobooks, but I hadn't read anything in January and February, so you can imagine how behind schedule I am. This was constantly nagging at me and I was unnecessarily beating myself for not achieving my 1-per-week quota. Meanwhile, I was watching around 10 booktubers whose TBRs and Wrap ups where giant! Also, I believe it is a very important distinction that some booktubers do not have a 9 to 5 job (like I do) and their main source of income is Booktube.

[@MegBookishRamblings]

There's been times when I've been inspired to read more than I normally do (usually during readathons) and am amazed just how much reading some are able to do. I do read quite a bit on my own and have tried to make more of a conscious effort to reading during down time instead of just playing on my phone or falling down the KZbin rabbit hole. I also try not to force myself because there are times when I'm not in the mood to read as much and that's okay too. Reading is a big part of me but it's not the only part and I've often needed to remind myself that it's okay to do other things sometimes and then come back to reading. I think that if you're reading and enjoying it, that's all that really matters and not so much the amount of books read. Also the amount of books I read in a month depends on the size of the book, the genre, how it holds my interest and if I happen to have an audiobook version to listen to when I'm not able to physically read. I read a 160 page book in one sitting this morning but that was because it was middle grade and I often fly through those. There have been big books that I've been able to read in a short amount of time but again depends on the content and how I can squeeze in moments to read. I try really hard not to compare myself to other readers though I am amazed at how many books some are able to read in a month.

[@Freyveley]

You know what? That was a really, really good video. You helped my little strange mind out, a lot. Thank you very much. :-)

[@animeshsrivastava7525]

This is so true, not only with booktube but also with letsplay gamers on youtube. It's important to find that sweet spot for yourself, not copying the numbers from youtubers. I can read only 2 books per month, as I usually get 1 hour to read per day.

[@mrboyd720]

I needed this. :)

[@skrensh69]

love this video and its message :)

[@zhyarjasim]

Recently I have been reading alot to lower my tbr pile, I got faster at reading but I can't shake the feeling of not actually enjoying the book . I could finish it and I wouldnt know how I feel about it because I didn't take in the story I just rushed everything over . I remember the first book i picked up that I finished in about 5 months but I enjoyed it so much that made me fall in love with reading . So thank you for this reminder :)

[@savanahlee3743]

Thanks for this video! I’m a mom of two young boys, and my reading time has dwindled to precious little. Most months I make it through 2 or 3 books, and it’s usually done by cutting into my sleep! I love Booktube, but really needed to hear some validation 😅

[@yapdog]

How fair-minded you are is one of the reason I've always enjoyed your channel, Elle. Keep going :^)

[@tristaaaaaaaaa]

Myself and I had a sit down conversation about this in 2019. I was slammed in a reading slump and seeing my friends and Booktubers reading so much it brought me down more. Finally I got out of it but it definitely was an eye opener too just enjoying reading and not worrying about how much I am reading.

[@antonioiglesias2031]

Well I'm happy that your channel got me interested in reading again, I've been missing my fantasy fix for years and didn't even know it LOL. And I'm good with reading a book in a month or two because you know LIFE. Skimmers tho LOL, that some fakeness there. That sounds like only doing it for the business and not for fun or to learn something.

[@javia.1271]

I am a very big mood reader sometimes a spend months without enjoying books but when I like a book I obsess and can't stop I've been called out in class for reading Sanderson during a lecture I was going through a slum than I found this channel and found a treasury of books to read

[@connorslibrarycorner4996]

Love this video as I used to read 2 books a month and started reading a lot more now but it is pressure sometimes

[@ebnovels]

It really can be! I’m sorry you feel pressure-I hope that goes away 💕

[@lisr1634]

Thanks for your video! I tend to listen to podcasts at work, if I'm able. I find that easier than starting and stopping an audiobook. I split my time with ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts, KZbin, and TV. I might only get a half hour, so I decide what I want to do in that moment.

[@jaredthomas7778]

Thanks so much! This is very helpful to me. I love to read, but am also married and work at heb stores. I think it's very important and refreshing to not compare myself to a book tuber. I also sing and write songs.

[@BookswithBrittany]

I totally agree that no one should ever feel bad about reading less books per month! Everyone should read at a pace they enjoy and feel fits their lifestyle. I would hope no one ever feels pressured or inadequate seeing the number of books I read per month. It was interesting to see the math you did! As someone who reads 12+ books a month, I feel like it’s so unfair that a lot of the commenters are saying you can’t retain or enjoy the books if you read that many per month. I’m not sure how many words per minute I read, but I’d guess it’s far more than 250. I’d never skim, in fact I end up researching more about the books I read to further my understanding. But, I do have 2 hours of commute time each day, I only work 4 days a week, and I read for 1 hour uninterrupted each morning while working out. Plus about 30-60 mins each night. To each their own I suppose 🤷🏼‍♀️. Love your video topics 😊

[@MerrilyKristin]

It's so easy to feel down when comparing yourself to other people in the book community. Compared to my best friends, I'm the slowest reader ever but then I'll get comments asking how I read so much and I remember that compared to the general public, I'm probably considered a fast reader. But I do spend A LOT of my free time reading and I've been reading a bit less lately since I've been focusing on larger books and other interests like video games!

[@tulekahju]

When you went over your personal experience as someone in school and working I had so many flashbacks of going to school f/t, working f/t, and a huge chunk of that was with public commuting. I stopped reading around that time and didnt pick it back up for many years afterwards until one day I was like 'I miss reading'. I simply didnt have the energy to do much of anything when I was going to work/school. Hell, I had to crunch studying/homework during my lunch period, etc. Finding the time/energy to read for leisure was a low priority when my time off was dedicated to errands/chores (or going brain dead) I couldnt do during the week.

[@Lester.M]

It's funny when you talk to people who say they read that much but they can't recall or articulate on 90% of the material. #goodreadshype I don't believe the majority are actually reading that much. Some might but there's a lot of people making false claims.

[@deeray.]

Lester M. Every time they say that the don’t remember what happened I don’t believe they’ve read the book. Unless they’ve read a book like a year ago I understand but if it’s an “books I’ve read this month” type video. I don’t believe em 🤨

[@ebnovels]

Haha, yeah, I hate for myself when I’m finding I can’t remember what’s happening as I’m reading. Sometimes I put books down to pick up later-I’d rather remember it and be able to articulate my thoughts accurately!

[@Lester.M]

@@ebnovels original video by the way, I'm glad you brought this topic up! My wife and I enjoy your work. 👍🏻

[@Lester.M]

@@deeray. ooooo yes. I'm in a book club and some of the members Goodreads pages have thousands of book's listed "as read." They can't recall hardly any of the books (major plots or characters) they have listed. If you aren't absorbing it, what's the point or you are just lying? I also don't count audio books as books read. I find that really odd.

[@omarcook3663]

Lol the thing is tho when you chain read books It becomes way harder to recall information that well. Some stuff sticks but most of it go's out the window. So you have to go back and recall the information. Some times I forget the definitions to words I already looked up and then others I can't forget period. The mind picks and choosees what it remembers to keep from exploding lol. It would be so so cool to have an eidetic memory😂.

[@M_aryAnne]

Love this! I’ve definitely found that the more I’ve been reading the easier it’s become to read more and read faster. And I just don’t watch tv anymore haha

[@DaninaPetroskova]

Marys Nerdom Me too. I had to cut the tv because i don’t have much free time.

[@M_aryAnne]

@@DaninaPetroskova it was really cutting into my reading time and I've found books to be more entertaining than tv lately.

[@ebnovels]

That’s great! I miss video games, but they eat up so much free time. I’ve had to cut them down so much 😭

[@M_aryAnne]

Elliot Brooks I miss video games too 😭 Did you download the Final Fantasy 7 Demo? My husband really loved it. I’m gonna try to play it this week!

[@ebnovels]

No, but I’m so excited for it. I might just not make videos when it comes out. Just kidding, just kidding 💁🏻‍♀️

[@lizkoroskenyi4387]

This made me feel SO much better about the amount of books I read in a month. THANK YOU!!!

[@ebnovels]

You’re welcome!!! 💖

[@katrinabrown]

Audiobooks definitely help me read more! Manga and comics are usually on my rotation 🙌 it's a nice break. Also, if I'm super into a book....I'll just stay up and read it till the end 😂I just have to know what happens!!!

[@BooksNdBarbells]

This video was much needed, thank you. It's very easy to get insecure when just started out on Booktube. Now, to stir the pot. Audio books shouldn't count towards "reading".

[@TheHexedLibrary]

Audiobooks are the only way I make it! For the second half of last year I was taking care of my sister who was ill and her 12 y/o daughter. Between work and school runs, and cheer practice and taking care of two people I wasn't used to having around, I was reading a book a month. Now that she's better and I'm back to being by myself, I read 14 books last month. I do audio books while getting ready for work or bed and any time I'm driving. Of course some months even with audio I only read 5 or 6. It really is about how much free time you have and how creative you can be with finding time to read.

[@havvaalexander9520]

This was great. Thank you. I’m only on book #4 for the year. A forced hiatus from writing after wrecking my Mac!

[@mwitaemmy]

Thank you for this video... Because really! it can get pretty overwhelming watching all these booktubers cutting through books like it's just a leaflet...☺ kept me wondering how can they do it!!! 🤔 I felt lazy 😔 but I sum it up to 'oh! They just have plenty of disposable time or this is like a job to them'.... But still! How?.. 🤔... As you said life can be too demanding n it all depends with a person n how your days are structured for instance me, I had a pretty demanding job, I love reading but I couldn't do it for even a minute if I wish... So one time I was complaining to a friend how these days am losing my reading hobby bc I was too busy n she introduced me to a reading community, I was grateful but still it took me ages to finish a 200pgs book compared to when I was in college I used to finish a book in a fortnight(mini novels) but it helped me getting back on the reading track n voila! I discovered booktubers n it really geared me up on my reading but still the reading expectations where above my per... But I got real n stopped comparing my reading ability to others... Also I love getting lost in that world of plots n twists and becoming one with the characters in the story, so the idea of reading 12 books a month I had to drop it because what's the good of reading all those bunch of books 📚 n then feel like you were going through notes! 🤔... Tsk Tsk.. It wasn't appealing to me... So I stuck to my original self which is reading whatever number of books I can afford to squeeze in my tiny free time whether it's 0 books or 100 books.. as long as am enjoying myself and no pressure. ☺

[@jamesbaird1342]

5 seems overwhelming. I was in a medical career and consider myself smart and now watch yt to get suggestions for good novels usually. I have about 25 unread books and joined botm plus go to bookstores . I still am lucky to finish 1 a month.

[@ebnovels]

Are you still in the medical field? I feel like I wouldn’t read at all if I had that kind of a job 😅

[@jamesbaird1342]

Retired psychiatric social worker, worked mostly with violent psychiatric patients. Some "dime novel" escape books. Currently on my shelf-long bright river, the way of Kings, see me by nicholas sparks, underground Railroad, five feet Apart, there there and Rose's and Rot. So some not dime novels relate to work but not as tech heavy as real life.

[@jamesbaird1342]

Oh and the Silent Patient is one I was reading yesterday.

[@chrishrcam]

I'm studying law and I completely relate! I barely ever finish one book a month and the annoying thing is I know I could finish so much more if it wasn't for my degree (though I love it)

[@saathvika4036]

thank you for this video! I really feel bad seeing booktubers reading 10 to 15 books a month and on the other end, there is me who just about finishes 1 or 2 books. The only time I get to read is my commute to work or right before I sleep. So that's 1 hour a day max. So if I finish 1 book a month, I'm proud

[@CrazyColorfulRoan]

Very good Video!!! Thank you for this video, I'm like this reading 20 books in 1 month and the next months not reading anything. Mood reader here😂

[@BlueEyedSkinner]

I appreciate this kind of video. I don't really feel down on myself for how much I read, but I have considered starting a KZbin channel and my biggest hold back is that I can't usually read more than two or three books a month, and it feels inadequate compared to what most BookTubers are putting out. I'm a stay-at-home mom with two very little kids, and some weeks I can read a ton and some weeks everyone's throwing up and nothing gets read. It's not that I can't read very much, it's just that I can't commit to reading and it's often out of my control.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I do have the time, but I know I'm a slower reader and I prioritize watching television. I have started focusing more on books, because whenever Booktubers say they just read or they don't understand why someone would prefer television, and it makes me feel slightly guilty/annoyed. Now, I have finally started listening to audio books thanks to a reminder from my librarian the existence of Libby. I have listened to the Lord of the Rings and now Sadie. Wishing I could read more is useless to worry about, because it's my choice to prioritize television. I also read a lot of books at same time, especially when I either visit my grandmother or my sister. I also agree it's not always about lack of time sometimes people just would rather do other things, especially after a long hard day, and sometimes they never get into the habit. My sister has a job, two kids (another one coming this summer.), but she does have a great husband to help her. She's not much of a reader, though she reads some, and has a busy life. It's easy to put on Netflix or go out when she has a babysitter. She has a more social than me.

[@minaluvv8490]

Romance books are very easy to fly through so adding to the numbers are easy. Fantasy and Sci-fi I take much longer to get through cos I need to think and re read parts to understand the world and events. I read more than 10 books a month but only 1-3 non romance a month and I don’t watch tv but watch booktubes for book recs and reviews. Agree with you, everybody’s choice of lifestyle is different, there are so many different things to do and so many responsibilities too so we should not compare to ourselves to others.

[@mybookishdelights4767]

I actually read a lot every month. Like you said though, there are individual circumstances. I read contemporary way faster than fantasy or sci-fi because I don’t have to learn a new world. I also rarely watch TV because it just doesn’t interest me right now. So I fill that free time with reading. I also play video games and when I’m into a game, I read less. When someone spends a lot of time reading, they are giving up time doing something else. I think it just depends on what you’re willing to give up. I’m also a fast reader just in general and take books with me when I’m waiting for whatever. But not always... sometimes I’d rather play on my phone. Last month I read a bit more than usual because I was sick a couple days and could only read instead of doing other things. It’s hard not to compare, but I 100% agree that you don’t know everyone’s circumstances or how they spend their time or even what they’re giving up to do that reading. Great video!

[@dilarakal4333]

Yes! Someone needed to make a video about this. I can only read 5 books a year.

[@rinapereira]

I'm a Brazilian small booktuber and for a while I can't read a lot anymore. I work from 7AM to 5PM, and can't listen to audiobooks because I need to answer phone calls during that time. When I arrive home I am super tired and on top of that have to edit my videos and so on. I'm OK with that and think that is kinda nice that I can show my subscribers that the speed and amount of books you read doesn't matter. I do it because I love it. Being two books a month or twelve. It is all worth it. Great video! You always make great points.

[@Jennheartsqs]

I read a lot. Roughly about 15-25 books a month (averaging between 8K-10K pages per month). However, I have TONS of "free" time. I'm single, no kids, a typical "9-5 Mon-Fri" job, and my commute is about 3 hours, round trip, on public transit. So my commute alone gives me a minimum of 15 hours a week of reading. Then I tend to read in the evenings, and over the majority of the weekend. I LOVE that you put up this video because I normally hesitate to say how many books I read because I don't want other people to think their reading doesn't "count" because they're not reading as much. So many people don't even finish 1 book a year, so someone who reads 1 book a month is already 11 books ahead. Sorry to go on and on, but I wish more people just realized we're all doing the best we can, and read what you read and be happy with that.

[@ebnovels]

I love this! It’s strange how we as readers can feel so much pressure sometimes, even though I’ve personally never come across anyone who actually judges people for how much they read. I think people are just afraid that other people won’t consider them “real” readers if they don’t read a lot each month.

[@stevelawrence8945]

Excellent topic of discussion. I am an average reader with average speed, comprehension, retention and recall. Like many people, I am also interested in reading improvement. At one point I purchased and completed a DVD based Speed Reading course. I was happy with the results. However, my results were not anything like the results "implied" in the materials promoting the course. An interesting series of KZbin videos would be you or someone else completing and evaluating one or more courses of this nature. I imagine the providers of these products would be glad to sponsor you as to the course and the videos made honestly reviewing them. Your consideration of this as a future project would be appreciated.

[@Meshuga63]

Thank you for the reminder

[@sarahheartsbooks1]

This video is super nerdy and I loved it 😂 I'm SUCH a slow reader! I read maybe 4-8 books a month. Does this mean I talk about the same book in my vlogs for 3 weeks in a row? Yes. But I'm also pretty unapologetic about it, and I feel like at this point it's kind of a running joke with my Booktube friends 😂

[@Nadia-yk9rv]

I generally read about 10-12 books per month, granted usually they are on the shorter side (under 500 pages). I have a long commute and listen to audiobooks on 1.75-2x the speed. I also listen while I’m cooking, cleaning, etc. Although I read about 10 books a month, a rarely spend over an hour a day reading a physical book.

[@jessicahope1180]

Thanks for this because i have always loved to read but my time isn't want it was with classes, 3 kids and work.. i set my goal to 6 a month and have barely read 3.. it was so discouraging but the point is the stories make me happy and ive enjoyed them...that is all that matters!

[@ebnovels]

That is what matters! And that’s still an amazing accomplishment with everything you have going on 💕

[@tanisha5709]

Thank you for this! I stopped reading for pleasure for a couple years because college and whatnot, and this year I fell back in love and set a reading goal for the first time. I’m doing well, but I put a lot of pressure on myself for literally no reason. Why were there 9 books on my February TBR? I’m a full time, working college student in a reading intensive field. I don’t have time to read two books a week on top of a chapter of a textbook for each class and endless research articles. Thank you for making me not feel like a loser for reading 2-6 books a month 😂

[@lexye.]

I did feel this sometimes with booktube. I don't read much but I really enjoy the times I DO read and i have felt, in the past, that I am almost an imposter for following booktubers when I do not, in any way shape or form, read as much

[@evareads2817]

I love this video!! Since I am not the type who can read 10 books a month...:D

[@ZoeElizabethZ]

I don't feel like I read a ton, but this year's it's really ramped up, and I think that's because I have been in my job for a year now, I have my routine figured out, I have ways that I make reading a priority, I set myself goals (because it keeps me motivated), and so I think I've just figured out how it works for me. I have howeber found myself book stressing as I read more, because I might be in the middle of two (or three) series but also have an arc or a book club book,and then I feel guilty for neglecting a book(s). So I'm navigating how to deal with my book "guilt" XD

[@TheGeekWriter1]

You've read Vagabond? That's so amazing... Your taste in manga is awesome, man!