MAYBE YOU SHOULD READ BETTER BOOKS

[@throughherpages]

We don't teach "literature" because it's relevant to school, we teach it because it's relevant to people!

[@sc6658]

Honestly I’m of the mind of several things. 1. Reading anything is good for your brain. 2. Not all reading is the same/of equal value. 3. Sometimes one of those “popcorn reads” are great for unwinding your brain after something more dense and literary.

[@bookphilos]

Ok, so I've got a master's degree in british & american literary studies and while I agree everyone should read challenging books, I have a few qualms with that english teacher. What is considered to be of 'literary value' varies among literary scholars. One professor of mine looked down on genre fiction while another professor offered classes on sci-fi. A third professor loved fantasy literature, but never considered to teach about it. That one professor who taught sci-fi actually read '50 shades of grey' analytically, not because he considered it being of literary value, but because he considered it to be important to analyze ALL books. Arguing, that if you haven't read and analyzed a book, you cannot claim it to be of no literary value. So my question for that mentioned english teacher would be: Has she tried analyzing "popcorn books"? If not, then why can she be so sure that these books are of no value? Because you can "turn off" the ability to analyze a book and simply consume it, regardless of its literary value. Now, reading and analyzing a challenging book will improve critical thinking skills, but analyzing a book is a skill in itself. There are SO MANY people that have read Frankenstein and completely missed the point. My concluding argument is that we should not 'mindlessly' consume only a certain type of book and only critically analyze another type of book. What is more important is to learn how to critically ANY type of book, regardless of its literary value.

[@JessTalkingBooks]

I think analyzing original and an inspired by would help. Along with a visual media as a final touch. Simply because interpretation is a key form. Example. The Tempest by Shakespeare. Then a Caliban retelling. Then Julie Taymor. To see how different perspectives and ideas change based on interpretation.

[@bookphilos]

@JessTalkingBooks definitely! Exploring different adaptations / versions of a a text will help to explore said text and critically engage with while teaching the reader to understand different perspectives. Opening the reader to reflect on their own biases.

[@DoubleA-ou7pj]

Best comment 🎉

[@JessTalkingBooks]

@bookphilos exactly. My undergrad did that and I wish my high school had. I remember clunking through The Heart of Darkness and feeling completely isolated because I didn't get all the context at 17. Give me resources. Mix in media I can identify.

[@Readatrix]

I don't think anyone else can tell you what counts as a challenging read or how deep you can go with a genre book. I'm on the side of people reading more thoughtfully and analytically some of the time, but I can't tell anyone else which books are worth that effort. Some books are less ambitious, but if a reader uses it as a reflecting pool, no one should dismiss it. At the same time, there are books that are written to be deeper and readers shouldn't assume they can't tackle those or that they won't enjoy them. It would be nice if we could turn around the perception that books are either completely light and fun or they're homework. That it's either buzzworthy or it's dull. That the best books present themselves to you, proving their merit, and you never have to go looking for books that might fulfill you more.

[@Yosoybean]

I think there is a place for almost all books. But as mentioned, that does not mean that we can just turn our brains off and not think of things critically. I won’t name names but I’m sure it’s obvious who I’m speaking about - when an author has poor or a lack of representation for marginalized groups or does things /expresses opinions that can be harmful to those groups, we shouldn’t dismiss this criticism because it’s just “fairy smut” or whatever else. Media depictions of marginalized groups has an effect on how we view people in those groups even if just unconsciously. This is why book banning and backlash about “CRT” is such a big deal right now in many conservative states.

[@Yosoybean]

Oh and publishing doesn’t care about publishing good books - they care about making money. Doesn’t mean they don’t occasionally publish a book thinking it could win awards even if it might not sell as well for prestige. But at the end of the day, it’s money.

[@rebekahp4083]

@@Yosoybean completely agree but I think it’s okay to name Sarah J. Mass here 😂😂

[@Yosoybean]

@@rebekahp4083 I don’t want to summon by naming lol

[@rebekahp4083]

@ valid lol

[@williamburns3823]

I don’t give two craps about if an author has representation of “marginalized groups”. I just want a good story

[@amberswips]

As someone who graduated a year ago with a ba in literature, I think a lot of adults don’t have very good media literacy skills. And being able to parse through texts with a critical eye is indeed a skill that is learned and needs to be exercised. But to your point, I do think the discussions surrounding these books is a big part in exercising that skill. I’m rambling now, and that’s not really an “answer” but it’s definitely a nuanced discussion that needs to be had especially considering everything happening rn!

[@chellyfishing]

I agree with TikTok OP tbh and I’m kind of tired of how on the Internet you can’t say something like “try challenging yourself” without being met with defensiveness and whataboutism. I do think all reading is good reading, even if you’re reading fanfic. And I definitely think getting kids to love reading is super important!! But like. Adults who read regularly would benefit from going outside their comfort zones sometimes! Nobody’s making you do it, nobody’s grading you on it, the idea is just that you try to push yourself a little, and I think that’s good advice! I am a super finicky ADHD mood reader so it’s very hard for me to make myself read something I don’t want to but really I think if people tried new things they would be surprised to find they like things they didn’t expect to. Also, to your other point, do publishers care about publishing good books? Lmao no. They care about making sales and a nice cover is enough to do that. (I thought when people said “cover buys” they meant I became interested in this because of the cover not I bought it exclusively because of the cover without even reading the synopsis but apparently I was wrong!!) Which tbh I think is another reason people should try to read for quality rather than having the same reheated mediocrity over and over again, because publishing won’t give us better unless we demand it. There is room for books that aren’t “quality” certainly, sometimes you just want dumb fun, but like. That can’t be all there is. It’s like women’s Halloween costumes you know, if you want to be “sexy (blank)” that’s fine but those shouldn’t be the ONLY options. Not every book has to be a masterpiece but things can be fun AND quality! Sorry for the essay, I have a lot of thoughts and feelings on this subject. Read what you want, reading is good, but if you read regularly you would benefit from challenging yourself sometimes. You don’t have to, but you’re missing out if you don’t.

[@LiteraryStoner]

This! I struggled with reading comprehension growing up. Making reading fun for kids is important, but so is challenging yourself, particularly as an adult. I also have ADHD but I love learning about all kinds of different things! I think there is room for popcorn books, trashy books etc. but I don't think that should be all someone reads. Going outside your comfort zone once in awhile is a good idea and they'd be surprised I think to find more books they actually enjoy reading to! It's so rewarding.

[@chettajohnson5261]

I think you said this really well! I also have to be in the mood to read a certain book before my brain will let me really focus on it but I happen to “crave” classics, BUT if I hadn’t been exposed to so many when younger I wouldn’t know that I enjoy them. I think people can have the misconception that classics = boring, when really classics became classics because of being so well-loved and speaking to so many people

[@turtlepanther]

Former teacher and current school librarian here: I think that, at least from what I've seen, students need to improve their reading skills and stamina before they are able to comprehend a lot of classics. My goal is just to get students reading because once they feel comfortable reading and find (at least some) joy with it, they are more likely to reach for more complex texts. But a kid that never reads, most likely, isn't going to reach for something difficult. It's all important. If students don't have the basic skills down, they most likely can't engage with difficult texts. On a somewhat different note, I think that a lot of people (and maybe I'm looking at this wrong) who put a lot of value into classics and literary fiction, don't often pick up nonfiction. I feel like nonfiction often gets left out of the conversation. Again, maybe I'm just not seeing it. I think that people might find more value in gravitating towards nonfiction than literary fiction or classics.

[@chellyfishing]

That’s a really good point about nonfiction! A lot of nonfiction is really accessible and fun while still being informative but it’s definitely seen as at least as daunting as, if not more than, classics. I say this as a person who struggles with it as well, but it’s definitely something that should be encouraged more!

[@leahnwhitcomb]

Thank you! I was the kid who was an avid reader as a child, but because I was in gifted and talented, from the age of 11, I had to read classics and memoir and literary fiction when I wanted to read (at the time) teen lit. It made me stop reading because I figured that growing up meant I couldn't read fun books anymore because they weren't "serious literature."

[@chettajohnson5261]

I know I’m just a sample size of one, but my favorite genres are classic books, history non-fiction and memoirs (and the occasional mystery). It seems to me like people who read challenging classics probably are more likely to have the stamina to get through non-fiction… I disagree pretty strongly that non-fiction has more to offer or that students would be better off focusing on it, though.

[@futchslug]

Yeah I think building a love of reading should be the first goal, and that often means kids reading just what interests them. The skill and love will be built through positive experiences with diff books which allows for branching out into more rigorous books without being put off entirely from reading

[@mplbooks]

Let's look at it from the food analogy point of view. Should we eat only candy? No. As adults, can we choose to eat only junk foods? Yes. But I do think people are being distracted from important things by social media and books that are merely entertaining. I think a "varied diet" of content is important for maintaining a healthy society.

[@katieg2449]

I mean on a neurological level reading books, along with things like doing puzzles, learning a new language/skill increases your brain’s plasticity (which decreases naturally as you age) so definitely still important as an adult. Personally I don’t understand why people want to stop learning after school, but maybe that’s just me.

[@CosimasNiehaus]

as someone who just did an entire presentation on stroke and neuroplasticity rehab, yes yes yes!! those neurons need to stay stimulated - literally use it or lose it!!

[@KatjeKat86]

@@katieg2449 To me the greatest advantage of being out of school is the fact that I don't have to learn subjects that I don't find interesting. I can use my free time to focus on learning about things I actually find interesting. For me that's oftentimes history or anthropology. I think the thing that a lot of people hate about school is being forced to spend a lot of attention on areas they're not interested in. Which is important to get basic skills but there is something freeing about not having to do that anymore unless it's associated with your job or something.

[@max-reads]

In my opinion, "complex" books are not limited to literary fiction and classics. You can have very difficult and nuanced themes in, say, a fantasy that tackles colonialism and racism, a sci-fi about the dangers of technology, a queer/social horror, a thriller about racism and class divide. You can challenge yourself with all sorts of books, and genre fiction has a lot to offer. I personaly prefer to read my literary fiction, historical fiction and classics in school and in book clubs so we can deep dive, analyse and discuss, so I tend to read more genre fiction on my own. That doesn’t mean I don’t use critical thinking while reading

[@anniannianniii]

Thissss too! Like. I’ve read Star Trek novels that explore themes of racism/bigotry, colonialism, identity, culture, history, what diplomacy and peace means, hardcore scientific exploration/ hypotheses, ethical and moral quandaries etc and they’ve definitely made me think!

[@emilycopper3643]

Yes! Read the Broken Earth Trilogy and tell me it wasn't challenging!

[@max-reads]

@ I have the first one on my tbr. Very excited to pick it up!

[@chrissyosozzy6465]

True but i think alot of people need it told on the page, i read 1984 and was annoyed at how obvious it is(still a great book obviously) but after seeing how many didnt get the hunger games a ya book, it needs to be written and underlined.

[@sassycatz4470]

Agree. And it doesn't even need to be limited to a genre novel that has more complicated themes, but could also be a book - of any sort - not written by someone from one's own culture or based in someone's own society. I recently picked up a graphic novel that was written originally in French and a manga novel originally written in Japanese. Neither of these books would be considered "high literature" but it was an interesting look at a different culture and how they handle themes of love, friendship, heartache, etc. let alone the different settings and activities the characters were involved with. I think we can learn and grow from all types of books.

[@themusicsnob]

Very interesting conversation and the literacy situation is deeply concerning. It’s recently come to light in my state of NH that we have pushed and sold a reading curriculum based on a completely debunked concept of reading science for about 30 years and I think it’s pretty easy to see how that has affected adult and child literacy here. I tend to lean in the direction of what I hear from youth librarians who really focus on literacy: you need to get the kids interested in reading first, then once they are interested and can master the mechanics, you can then start to challenge them on analysis and complex ideas. I think whatever gateway book gets kids into reading so they can master those mechanics is great! On the flip side, we really have a problem among adults mostly where I think people stop thinking that they need to learn new things once they are out of school, and it really shows with the inflexibility of a lot of adult thinking. Absolutely adults need to challenge ourselves, but I wonder if maybe we don’t need to challenge ourselves to read “literature” vs just challenging ourselves to take our time, use good information literacy skills, and not just jump on any old stupid idea on the internet that hasn’t even been confirmed yet. It’s really the reactivity, confirmation bias, and inability to take a beat that concerns me the most and I frankly don’t think those things are taught just by reading Middlemarch, ya know?

[@BookBirdy03]

I miss the discussion portion of reading in school. As a 28 year old, I wish I could find a “serious” in person book club that would dissect themes and the deeper meaning of stories! I want to critically think and bounce ideas off others.

[@chrissyosozzy6465]

Lets start and online book club, because i love my book club friends but i cant have diacussion about lightlark(i hate that book)

[@MykkiOnTheCusp]

Me too, honestly. And when you try to do this you just get accused of being "critical" and a hater. It's exhausting.

[@CEMonaghanOfficial]

Also, important note: genre fiction and literary fiction can and should be one and the same. Ursula K Le Guin is a fantastic example of this. And we really should expect writers to write better. If people want a great story, they can get it from the same place people who want to dig deeper imho. And tbh, that is what makes a great book: something that is fairly fun to read that is a great story and also something that challenges the reader to join the conversation.

[@CEMonaghanOfficial]

Also, yes, I think reading stories that invite discussion and complex thought are critical as an adult. In fact, as an adult, you often can better understand these books than when you were a kid. Critical thinking is a muscle, and if you don't use it, it will atrophy.

[@themusicsnob]

@@CEMonaghanOfficial for real though, literary books can be found among all genres

[@CEMonaghanOfficial]

@@themusicsnob Ursula K Le Guin didn't die for us to rebuild the wall between literary and genre fiction, after all!

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

One name - N.K. Jemisin! Everybody needs to read her 'Broken Earth' trilogy, and her "Great Cities' books. Her short fiction is amazing too.

[@Deej210]

She is my favorite author for a reason. The Left Hand of Darkness changed me as a 17 year old and I constantly urge people to read her works.

[@jhayes0319]

I think this topic perfectly illustrates the mentality of social media as a whole. I think both things are true and can be true but people choose to focus on the negative/get offended when an opinion is offered up that differs from how they’re currently operating. Should she have used better verbiage? Maybe so, but we can’t be dense here. There is a benefit to reading things that are challenging as much as there’s a benefit to enjoying things less intimidating. People aren’t monoliths. I also think that challenging your reading habits can open people up to reading more diversely which is always a plus.

[@LetMeintheLibrary]

I think the level of expected intellectualism in the average person has declined so rapidly in the last few years-- one way of combatting this is to reinstate a love of reading and to introduce readers of all ages to media that wont be easily digestible and collaboratively discussing those uncomfortable feelings. Without that, we get the type of disillusionment and decentralization we see today. If the topic doesnt directly affect someone, they may tune out and move on because "why should i care?" -- or they are uncomfortable reading about current events and cant cope with it so they look to any social media app for distraction. We have to engage critically with real life and fictional works.

[@Imhrien]

Teacher here (language and social studies/history). You said it as joke at the end of the vid, that having nuanced discussion is maybe possible “if you have the *patience* and actually *listeeeen*” and that’s just the whole issue right there. Reading “challenging” works develops that habit of sitting with discomfort, of allowing yourself to be led somewhere you’ve never been. People have conflicts with each other when you can’t understand where the other comes from and you can’t meet in the middle. People (especially teens) prefer issues that are cut and dry, black and white, there’s a right and there’s a wrong. They crave a “right answer”. Except nothing in the world is that simple and uncomplicated. Reading/listening tomorrow stories is a great way to encounter issues your lived life cannot give you. It can give you words for a situation you never thought you would be in. It can give you mental tools to deal with an issue you never thought you would face. And it can help you understand your own life and experiences (why DOES the caged bird sing?). Even before we had books and writing, we had oral traditions - stories full of human emotions and issues even if the characters were all gods or animals. Books are full of stories, and those are always meant to be mirrors - you get out of them what you bring to them, your own mind, your own experiences and feelings. But if you keep reading/consuming the same kind of stories again and again, it’s like a mirror that’s too small - you can’t see all of yourself, just that little bit you’re focusing on. The more interesting question I think is “what’s a challenging book? And is there an objective answer?” Best I can say is any book/story that invites you to look around yourself and your world when you’ve closed it. Then there’s those that you don’t close cause you don’t wanna look up, you don’t want to look around and think. You just wanna find another story that can keep your eyes glued until the last page again. As a teacher I’ll say there definitely ain’t anything wrong with a brain break. They’re necessary. But you whole reading life shouldn’t be a brain break either. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@KnittingKelsey]

I do think there is a point to be made that "popcorn" reading for many white people tends to be extremely white and straight so.... Even if your popcorn reading is diverse, it can still be beneficial to thrown in some nonfiction and "literature ", I know it improves my reading experience but i can only speak for myself.

[@rocio9863]

Let's not do the "white people" thing because there's plenty AOC who writes shit that turns popular AND the only representation which is damaging for other POC and communities. As a latina i'm always finding outdated bigoted writing and stupid drama on books written by today hispanic authors. I've been reading into the debate of black women being afraid of being "smelly" and spreading damaging myths themselves about proper hygiene which now i can not unsee on books by AOC, black, latin and middle easterns. Yes, the negative stereotype was imposed by white supremacy like many others but we cant be blind at the victims participating on it without questioning it. Same goes to many other forms of bigotry embedded on all cultures. And let's not forget most books come from USA, the american imperialism is strong on them even when is diaspora-anything writing it, just last year I read a YA book from a cuban american author who villified Fidel Castro's opposition to USA colonizing and exploiting Cuba, like they did to Puerto Rico.

[@jaimee-kate]

I read Lit Fic, so yes I agree it's good to challenge yourself! But at the same time I break up those reads with some easier/genre fiction as well. But ya, I think people need to be trying to read things that expand their horizons, and you'll start to notice the quality difference between stuff that is deep and well crafted versus quick & easy.

[@kristirappaport3678]

I do agree that reading a "complex literature" book without having someone to discuss said book isn't as beneficial. Like most skills, reading and analyzing literature and non-fiction takes practice and is hard to do in isolation. Book clubs don't often cover complex reading as members seem to skip those meetings. Side-note - My grandfather (born in 1921) used to have book discussion groups with his co-workers at lunch. I believe he told me it started when he was in college and continued on throughout his WWII military career and subsequent civilian worker for the military career, up until the mid-1970s when he went overseas to Japan & Korea to do something with military airfields. When I was a teenager in the 80's, he told me how sad he was that he couldn't discuss books everyday anymore. I do often wonder how our consumable entertainment on tv, internet, etc. has caused our society to significantly drop the discussion skill for literary works.

[@gabz49242]

I did multiple degrees that involve literary analysis and taught those kind of subjects for about five years. First of all, the literacy crisis among school-age kids is real. There are, of course, always some kids who are just avid readers and they're far ahead of everyone else, but the average American student barely completes the reading for class, let alone reading other things for pleasure. I had to *severely* reduce the number of pages that we would read for each class so the students could comprehend it, and they would still miss some things. I did some very intentional scaffolding around how to talk about themes--basically delineating the way that you find evidence and structure an argument--and they struggled hard with this one. We had some really great discussions around those texts, though, and it can be fulfilling to talk about life through something you didn't think you could relate to initially. Watching students find one of these things on their own was always awesome, because they would get all excited to share. But oh man, when I go to book clubs with other adults, some people don't have their brains on while reading. In some instances, it's not that important, but some popular books are saying really problematic things, and the girlies are just squealing about the same trope they've seen in 50 other books before. They can read these books quickly and easily because it's really just a repeat of a familiar pattern, which our brains love. Then, I watch some of these people who typically read books they can breeze through in a day or two try to tackle a literary fiction, or even something that's a little less twisty and fast-paced, and they inevitably complain about being bored because it's not the same instant gratification. Having read a lot of literary texts, it is a skill that you develop--both the patience to read something that might feel a bit opaque at first and the attention to detail that it takes to find themes and other things that more complex works of fiction are trying to do. Those skills do give you a greater attention to detail, though, and it can be an important way to improve your critical thinking. Ideally, doing this with other people, and ideally some people who are already experienced at this, would achieve best results, but as adult life goes, you often work with what you have.

[@MitarIzDubicha]

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but ebook titled The Censored Guide to Wealth on Bovolorus might be the answer you’re looking for.

[@MarcelleLeiturasPreguicosas]

There's no way someone will be challenged if they keep at their comfort zone, so I agree with the person at tiktok, we need to challenge ourselves to become aware of other realities, other opinions, making better choices and decisions, and writing better because we write better if we see a better writing style. Complex reading allows us to achieve it. I also think the way schools teach Literature needs some changes, sometimes reading a book when the reader is not ready will take them away from the experience (this is common here in Brazil, I think it's also in the US). Counterargument is that when I was a student, many many many classmates did not read even the fun books, like, we were asked to read Pollyanna and I had read it before the school year started, so the job is really hard because students don't care about reading at all, mostly

[@gothpocket1468]

As someone who works with elementary school students (I help kids struggling with reading) I am so happy when any of them read anything 😭 i don’t care if it’s the back of a shampoo bottle practice is practice especially if they don’t even really like reading

[@sophiemarie4682]

I think reading diversely is incredibly important. I agree with Jess in that students need to learn how to engage with a book through a classroom setting. Unfortunately we have so many adults who are uncomfortable with engaging with any text that doesn't 100% fit their worldview or life experience and thus I would actively encourage adults to continue engaging with books outside their comfort level, even if they end up not liking a book. I think we as adults still need to stretch the critical thinking muscle.

[@camoolie]

Something that I think about a lot is my parents for really broadening my reading horizons. I learned to read very young, but they also practiced reading with me and read to me a TON, and not just from books suited to my age group. They also made sure to monitor my reading, but not in the sense that they were trying to control what I was reading - they were just making sure I was reading widely and diversely. I am aware this is a privileged position (two parents, two parents who could read, two parents with time to read to me, access to purchase books, etc etc), but I really wonder how much some parents are reading to their kids. I recently read an article about the importance of boredom to develop an imagination in kids and how iPads/screens are so detrimental at a young age. I grew up before that time (and I'm an only child) so I spent plenty of time with my own imagination, and that obviously made me read way more too.

[@awarmlite]

I have a lot of thoughts, but I really only feel the need to share a couple. I'm not an educator, but have my master's in Information Science and skim lots of diffident subjects headlines for fun. The frontal lobe development/ brain plasticity/ grown up brain thing is based of an experiment that did not proceed past the age of 25, it in no way indicated that our brains are 'mature' at that point. And while there is a lot of evidence that neural plasticity does reduce as we age, there is also lot of evidence that this is a case of 'use it or lose it.' So based on that, diversifying your reading should be a way to preserve and grow our brains, regardless of age. (I do not have references at hand but if anyone does want some, I would be happy to look them up, and I would love any papers that would expand or contradict my current understanding!) Whether preserving neural plasticity is worthwhile is a whole other discussion, but our formation as people does not have due date or stopping point. We are constant acts of becoming. So continuing to attempt to expand ourselves is not in vain. I'm uncomfortable with trying to generalize if its "worthwhile" in general though. It gets me thinking in the 'unexamined life' philosophy direction. I also think that you set a sort of false dichotomy with the term diverse. I could pickup a popcorn novel whose setting and characters are completely alien to my own culture and experience and gain just a much as from reading something that was intended to be more challenging. So any works that come under the umbrella of the colloquial meaning of diverse, I think already come under the umbrella of the other meaning you were speaking of, of more complex or intentionally cerebral works. I think often you get out of your reading what you put in. So even the least serious, most entertainment oriented works can provide enrichment beyond the creators original intentions.

[@anniannianniii]

8:33 my own personal opinion is- absolutely, yes!! I get almost, like, brain-restless or hungry for something more book-wise if I go a long time without what we’re calling a “complex” book and then when I get back into one, it feels like getting a water bottle after being thirsty 😂 my analogies aren’t great today but just for me personally I think I find more enjoyment even from the “light” reads if I’ve also got those more complex ones going on pretty consistently as well!

[@anniannianniii]

(additional context that I’ve been out of school for years and am an adult that works full time and reads those complex reads for stuff outside of my job!)

[@EgyptianLemon]

Random but.. I think its important to read books you don't like. It's a good exercise to be able to explain why you don't like something outside of it just being "boring" or "not interesting". Being able to say "I dont like this book because the main characters do xyz and the author portrays etc.etc" is good basis for critical thinking skills.

[@veerow6035]

I so agree with this! I have read 100 books without a single DNF and I have experienced a ton of growth in that period of time. How can you "read diversely" if you stop reading books you don't like?

[@billyalarie929]

@@veerow6035​​⁠​⁠​​⁠this feels like such a waste of time; if you’re reading a book you might’ve, in a previous time, DNF’d because it wasn’t giving you that full, well-rounded experience that would satisfy your mind, where you know it’s going to go in a basic and/or shallow direction, why would you keep at it? You’re not gonna learn anything more substantial, once you read it enough to know where it’s gonna go, and that where it is gonna go is not exactly higher level. Read your popcorn reads, but don’t pretend that it’s “a diverse read” if it’s not doing it for you, intellectually. You’re reading a popcorn read, you’re not suddenly going to gain anything by the end of it just bc you can include it on your goodreads. That’s just clout chasing at that point.

[@billyalarie929]

Btw you can say this for many cozy reads before you finish them, almost as a rule across the board. Read a comfort beach read bc it’s a comfort beach read; there’s nothing wrong with that. But like I said in a comment down here already, pretending there’s anything to gain beyond what it is, that’s kind of a waste of time. A little bit lying to yourself. Just say you like the beach read. But DEFINITELY don’t struggle through a book just bc you think something may change in the last 50 pgs; if you’re having fun, just have fun; if you’re not, don’t continue just for the sake of having a 100% read through rate on GR

[@veerow6035]

​@@billyalarie929 We may be reading for different reasons. I read for personal growth (mostly nonfiction, lit fic, and classics with only a little genre fiction), so I am not usually looking for something that satisfies my mind. I want a challenge, I want a different perspective. I see a lot of value in not giving up on challenges. Challenges are meant to make us uncomfortable and through that discomfort comes growth. At the very least, I get to learn tolerance, patience, and how not to judge prematurely. I love that for me. It's fine to read for other reasons than I do, but I like the way I read and what it has taught me. Although, it does not come with clout.

[@carolinesch.]

I think that honestly depends on how you get differnt persoectices or what you do outside of your hobby of reading, like if you only read for pure fun but otherwise get these discussions and viewpoints another way by interacting with people or doing literally anything else to think critically, it's fine if you wanna completly not interact with anything real world when picking up a book. But if lets say reading is your only hobby and way to get certain voices or interact with challenges that deal with real life, you absolutly should read stuff that is these "better books that arent popcorn reads"

[@ktxx22]

Knowledge is power. Reading is this cute hobby that we do that we love, but I do think that reading critically is a skill. That engaging with difficult subject matter from a nonfiction standpoint is vital. Mayhap this makes me a bit of a snob, but I think it’s incredibly important to challenge ourselves to learn something new regularly. I do this by engaging critically with nonfiction books on subjects I require more education on frequently (at minimum once a month). If folks are not engaging in books that challenge their knowledge or broaden their horizons they aren’t Less of a book fan or book worm. But they are not engaging in the same type of reading/hobby as someone who does do that. It’s a complicated and nuanced discussion. Ultimately I want people reading regardless. But we’re not the same type of readers.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

I'm with you on this. I love to stroll through the nonfiction section of the library, looking for books that randomly grab my interest. Right now I've got the wreck of the Lusitania, the Burgess Shale and its incredibly ancient fossil record, and a history of colour through art history on the go. So far, they're all well written, engaging, and I'm learning things that have no direct effect on everyday life (except maybe the colour book, as I'm an artist), but still are helping my brain grow in different ways and directions that it wouldn't have otherwise. And growing one's brain is never a bad thing, in my bibliophillic, somewhat wonky book.

[@gaelan288]

Love the format of this video! Thoughtful questions are so fun. I’m a bookseller, so that’s the bias I’m coming from. I see many different types of people and readers come in through the doors everyday and they’re all looking for books or they’re with someone looking for books. That said, I think it all depends on what your goal is. Even though they are important, books are not the only place to develop critical thinking skills. Sometimes books are just a way for people to escape and it’s as simple as that. I think it’s important to remember, even if it’s obvious, we’re all individuals on our individual paths and there will never be a time when we’re all on the same page about what to prioritize when it comes to books and reading. While I think it would be nice for people to expand their horizons when it comes to reading, it’s just not the priority for some. As an example, many people come in looking for books to help them after the death or illness of a partner - who in their right mind would critique their choice of book (not me). This scenario happens more than I would like to think. I find that meeting people where they are is the best place to encourage reading period and hopefully that will lead to them being curious when they’re ready. It’s also important where you get your books. As a bookseller, I have a large influence over which books people end up buying. The same would go for a librarian. If people mostly buy their books from target, Amazon, or some other big box chain they’re missing the nuance and expertise of someone who loves books.

[@nw3381]

As an English teacher, here are my goals for my students: 1. To be given the language tools necessary to adequately express themselves to others 2. To be able to question what they are told and make informed decisions about their values and ethics (not to just chose a side because it feels "right) I also: 1. Choose books students don't read on their own 2. Encourage reading of all forms through SSR (and, yes I am a high school teacher) As adults, my hope is that reading is a place of relaxation, joy, introspection, and, yes, a place to be challenged. Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk.

[@angesbookcorner]

As someone who doesn't really read classics or historical books, I think the wording/tone is what changes the message really. We should be challenging ourselves, but not everyone wants to do that when they're reading(specifically) which should be ok too. Challenge yourself elsewhere in your life - I think as long as you're exercising that critical thinking muscle at any point (regardless of what you're doing when you do it) you're already ahead of the majority of people. When I see videos like that I can see what they're trying to say and it usually makes sense, but more often than not, it really just sounds like they're putting people down for reading those 'popcorn' books. Maybe I'm simple, but that's how I think about it. Also, words are hard lol.

[@chrissyosozzy6465]

No i disagree reading text ideally in a long form(book) has such a great effect it cant be replicated. You can choose the speed,the book and you can put it down to think in between reading. This cant be replicated with shows or conversations. Not everyone wants to do that and thats how we ended up with trump(im not even american but our politicians are already taking protective measure and its serious), cause people didnt want to read what hes plans are once he is in office. We have to think and thinking requires expanding your world view which is often uncomfortable

[@thelibrarianofalexandria6200]

My thoughts.. So firstly and this is a bit simplified but.. unless you are going to only read you own diary all non fiction and fiction books you read will give you an impression of a different life than yourself. I also think that it is weord people asking for books to read in book clubs, books good for discussing. I would say any book is possible to discuss. Nornal discussion questions, are why did x character do this, would you do the same, what do you hink y character was thinking... And all books have plot to a big or smaller point, so any book can be used in a book club. I have heard that the act of reading of itself, no matter the book, has benefits. You expand your vocab, you get better at concentrating, your memory improves. I do think that reading outside of your own experience is important, not saying read only that, but pick up books about someone significantly different than youself now and then.

[@xDianaMoonx]

The brain is a muscle, and if you don't exercise it, it will atrophy. It is very important as an adult to read complicated stuff. There are FANFIC that can be equated to complicated/serious literature. That's also why there's book clubs and discussions online that have become popular. I don't think non-fiction is enough to fill this slot, BUT it's better than not. Critical thinking NEEDS TO BE DONE YOUNG. The internet has rotted people's brains, especially with people who've been the mix of offline/online like me as a millenial. I've met so many people my age and older who have become DUMB because they forgot what critical thinking is. I went to a very good middle school and high school where we did critical thinking, and then I went to art school and all the artist students were FAILING the basic gen ed class (that's required for all colleges to give to be accredited) of critical thinking, of not even being able to write a simple five paragraph basic essay. I read 90% of the required books, and the only reason I didn't read 10%? Was because it was war related AND because online was now a more constant thing and I was more into my IRC/yahoo chatrooms and relationships and fandom culture than wanting to read a book about the western front. But I still did tons of reading. My catholic middle school in 7th & 8th grade had us read Ender's Game, Jurassic Park. In 6th & 7th, Lion Witch & Wardrobe along with The Outsiders. In my Jesuit high school, one of my teachers gave us supplemental list of books we could read, either exchanging one of the required for 2 on the list, or for extra credit. It was a mix of "childrens" and "adult" (YA hadn't been introduced yet as a thing), and that's how I discovered Harry Potter and got to read those books for extra credit. As I'm a voracious reader, I had read nearly everything else on that list. But we should be reading out of our comfort zones at any age. There are "serious"/complicated readings in ANY medium and genre, in manga, comics, fanfic, just have to go out there looking for them. And we should find people to talk about it with, even if they don't read it with you, be willing to listen and give outside opinions. I love doing that with my partner (though half the time I did wish he'd read it too haha).

[@turtlebright]

Yes! I think it’s important to read things that challenge us as adults, just like it’s important to DO things that challenge us. The reward is completely different and so worth it. I also think it’s important to be pushed a little to read more challenging things as a kid. Looking back, I can see how the effort and thought I had to put in to read stuff I wouldn’t have picked up on my own (and didn’t even always understand at the time) helped me to grow and learn and think more deeply. Looking back now, I’m like, “yeah, that was actually good stuff. I’m glad I read it.” I don’t think I would be the same person I am today (I think my critical thinking skills would be less developed) if I hadn’t read and thought about that material. (Side note: I’m also in my 30s and was homeschooled-with a pretty rigorous curriculum; comparing myself and my siblings to others (also now adults) who were homeschooled with much less emphasis on reading and literature, there really is a difference in the way we think and process information.)

[@SinfullySarahBookish]

My opinion.. I think what you read should be a personal choice. It’s important for ME to read challenging books, diverse books, books that make me really think about what’s happening. But at the same time it’s beneficial for me to throw myself into a fluffy romance or a fantasy world where there’s an HEA because mental health matters and it already feels like I’m living in a dystopian/horror book everyday 😂

[@godzandheros]

There's nothing wrong with that, the issue is that teachers, and well anyone who's paying attention, are seeing the younger generations are _only_ reading the fluffy nonsense reads and aren't attempting to read more challenging and complex books, thus becoming stagnant at a below age reading level and that is a major problem. What's going to happen when those generations attempt to become authors? The writing is also going to be at a lower level and could start a domino effect of progressively getting worse and worse with each generation, dumbing down society as a whole.

[@pipinghotcoffeee]

As an adult with a developed frontal lobe (lol), it's important to me to include challenging reads in my goals every year, but there's no judgement towards adults who stick to fun/popcorn reads. Reading anything at all is already a huge win for a lot of ppl

[@bentheoverlord]

For me, I think a nice balance is in order. I find I appreciate reading out of my comfort zone, but I find it challenges the way I view the world, and I find it helps you understand the things you love more.

[@jennamakesbugs]

I think all reading is good. I've had years where I read lots of formulaic trash and other years where I have read lots of serious lit and I've had years where I couldn't really get into reading anything. And often times I find that reading lighter, predictable books gives me the taste for something deeper with more substance while too much deep makes me reach for lighter. Either of those things is better, in my opinion, than not reading at all. And when it comes down to it, ask yourself who you are reading for? Yourself? or to impress other people? Enjoyment? Enlightenment? A reasonable combination? And never forget... none of us are the same person now than we were when we first fell in love with books.

[@outi3852]

Two things can be true at the same time, and in this case imo it's good to read pretty much anything, but also it's good and important to also read something that challenges you (language, ideas, information etc). Stepping out of our comfort zone is crucial for development, especially in the era of rampant misinformation. If you don't develop critical thinking skills, the risk of getting conned one way or the other is much higher. That being said, I don't think there are any particular books everyone should read, because our situations aren't identical. Also you can find bad and good books in every category.

[@dianesaccomano2671]

We had to read Catcher in high school and I sparks notes it. Teacher suggested a different book that had a similar message and I enjoyed it and preferred it to the "classic". I think there are messages in books that you can get from complex reads that don't have to be regarded as "literature". I think as adults we should be reading complex works to expand our own perspectives and build critical thinking skills. That being said, I think the publishing industry is a business first... that's all that needs to be said in America in 2025.

[@fluffy_walrus]

@@dianesaccomano2671 yeah, a lot of Classics are just books with a lot of teaching material associated with them, and fairly clear handling of themes with some complexity. Whether they're good, well written "literature" is another matter, but they're useful for teaching. For instance, The Great Gatsby is a classic because the USA wanted their own Great American Novel, the prose is excellent, and the handling of themes is clunky but clear enough to teach to high schoolers. I would argue it fails on matters of pacing, characterization, narrative development, etc., but in the scope of education, those elements aren't valued very much. The Great Gatsby isn't a good story, and that's going to rub some folks the wrong way if they're assigned it in school, and it's avoidable since there are good stories with similar or greater complexity out there. There's so many great reads out there, and I think we'd have a lot more excited young readers if they didn't keep getting thrown novels they don't enjoy when there's so many out there that they will enjoy and be challenged by, if the system was more flexible. I remember I read Margaret Atwood's Oryx & Crake and Brave New World instead of Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Lord of the Flies, and I came away better for that flexibility. And if we can help youth engage in and enjoy challenging books in school, I think it's likely they'll continue into adulthood

[@dianesaccomano2671]

@fluffy_walrus I read The Great Gatsby as a young adult and hated it. I read it because I wanted to feel "smart" and it's a "classic". I had no clue what I was getting into (I had been reading a good deal of YA and romance which very likely skewed things going in) and wasn't happy. That being said, I wholly agree that it's not good. I do think though, because all the characters suck, you shouldn't really "root" for anyone, and there's not a "happy ending"... it's a good piece to read because of all that in spite of it. It made me angry and I still think about it... which, a lot can be said about a piece that sticks with you over something that you forget as soon as you finish. That being said, there's so many modern works that have beautiful, important, and necessary messages that students should get an opportunity to read those over reading the classics for the sake of them being classics. All this to say I'm agreeing with you. 😆

[@rosegiacomini260]

I think my biggest anger with trade fiction vs """literature" is how authors of trade fiction get shafted on editors. I just finished a trashy romance book outside my usual and I got wicked taken out by how disposable it seemed to be treated by its publisher. Obvious conventions errors, obligatory tropes that felt like ticking a box, which could have been caught or better integrated if the author had more support. My frustration about this division is like... effort on the part of trad pub to put authors' best foot forward. Honestly, though, I agree with diversifying your reading because the book taste equivalent of the Guy Who's Only Seen Boss Baby tweet is my nightmare.

[@RealReaderEmily]

Studies do show that when you force kids to read specific books it makes them dislike reading. They fair much better when they’re given a choice on what to read. Personally, I have an English degree so I did my time reading not fun classics

[@nylorac1984]

I think that reading beyond academic and professional goals is entirely up to the individual. Can you further your personal development by other means besides books, certainly we have many forms of media and many ways to learn. People can definitely grow, learn and develop through reading. I think all reading is useful even of all of the reading materials may not be traditionally used for academic or scholarship purposes. If one is seeking to learn and develop more a rich reading diet can be very useful. I think each person has to decide the areas of enrichment and scholarship they are interested in and find the books that further their development. You can learn by accident, but being intentional will get you there faster. I think we all benefit by being more insightful and intelligent human beings and every step towards gaining more knowledge can be useful in a myriad of ways. You don't have to read to be a better person, you don't have to read certain books to be a better person, but I don't believe that it can hurt either, it might be a fun path towards learning and improving for certain people. Once you are out of school life is your teacher and you can choose your own classroom. 💜💜💜

[@layniestorm]

i love your videos! i remember having this same conversation with an acquaintance about my reading choices lol. It was amusing (but i didn't show it) how worked up they got over the fact that I didn't care to read any of the 'intellectual' or 'deep thought-provoking' reads she raved about. absolutely nothing wrong with them, and if you enjoy reading them you definitely should. but i did all that stuff years ago when i was at uni. do i think it's important to read things that challenge you as an adult? i think everyone should, but whether it's important depends on what you want to get out of it. i think reading something out of your comfort zone is a good thing sometimes - especially because you might find something you actually genuinely enjoy. for me personally (right now), i just want to read popcorn thrillers and urban fantasy. maybe in a few years that will change, but i'm in my 40's so i've long given up caring what other people think. i'll read what i want. and i'm good with that 😉

[@MelodicEmpathy]

I am mostly in agreement with TikTok OP - bringing it back to the comparison between popcorn and vegetables, I think that while you could still have a healthy body and diet without eating certain foods popularly considered healthy, for the vast majority of people it's just good to get some veggie intake. In terms of books, there are certain types of books that really encourage and foster critical thinking, and others that don't. That said, as an avid lover of manga who loves analyzing them, I'm still able to get my critical thinking muscles going with books that wouldn't necessarily be considered good contenders for it, but a lot of that initial learning is BECAUSE I read books that encourage analysis and learned to do so, and I'm trying to get back into the swing of reading more in general so I can keep that skill active. That said we are living in an age where people are finding their echo chambers on either side, and applying "read what you like" to matters of politics even if logically those shouldn't apply in the same way. The more people can learn to read things that challenge* them without immediately reacting in disgust and categorizing it as fake or universally bad, the better it will be for society as a whole. *When I say challenge I mean specifically opposing opinions on the merit of certain approaches to budgeting or governance or even what kind of media can be meaningful to people rather than "this group does not believe this other group has human rights" or "all of this type of media should not be allowed to exist period because it is all reprehensible."

[@alexpiperhalliwell]

I recently met my middle school teacher, and as we talked, she reminded me of a situation in which I literally thanked her for picking up a book we analyzed in class. Youth needs to develop critical thinking and more challenging books could do it. As an adult, I keep on reading more complex books and more diverse ones coz we didn't have them at school and I want to broaden my horizons.

[@toverstaf2000]

If we're talking about teenagers I think it's important to get them to read and enjoy reading first before asking them to pick up some more challenging reads. Someone that doesn't enjoy reading or isn't used to reading isn't going to push through and understand a more complex book. For adults: I read a lot of historical fiction, classics and non fiction because I love to learn new things. I do understand that not everyone is that way, esp. if you have a very stressful job and you're looking for a way to escape. I think that as long as there is _some_ way that you're challenging your mind whether that'd be through books, movies, solving puzzles, etc it's all good

[@MichiruEll]

I think it's important to challenge yourself in some way throughout life. But it does not need to come from your reading. You can exclusively read Alien romance but learn a new skill every year, or take language classes, or attend public lectures, or visit museums. Challenging your brain throughout your life is helpful in Alzheimer and Dementia prevention. But it really doesn't need to be books.

[@camelliaharpdarkthrope6462]

Slightly unrelated but something I find very fun is using the ideas or questions posed by more thought-provoking books to better understand the world building or character motivations in books that are more like easy reads. It makes me get more attached to characters in a story that I might have just read and forgotten about after a few months. I honestly do find more fulfillment in reading stories that make me think about it for a long time. Like months down the line while doing laundry, I'll suddenly think about "hey what would have happened if this character chose not to do this specific thing? Could changing one thing lead to a happier ending?" and it's fun!! Publishing is definitely more interested in publishing books that they think will bring in more money. And they may favor books that don't require as much critical thinking and are more straightforward (i,e, stories where it's clear who the endgame male lead is by the first few chapters) because it'd be more accessible to a broader audience. I wouldn't say simple or clear-cut stories are inherently bad. I also stay away from novels which seem to be just poor excuses to write smut scenes (like flat characters, predictable or just terrible plot, so many plot contrivances...) because I just don't find enjoyment in those kinds of novels...

[@NeverAskedtobeMade1390]

For students, absolutely! But I think we need to strengthen their reading skills overall before we can dive into the more complex stuff. I was in AP English in high school and while I didn't love or even read a lot of the books we read, the conversations surrounding them did open my mind to new thoughts and ideas I hadn't, or wouldn't, have had without those books. I also discovered books I enjoyed that I wouldn't have otherwise picked up. As an adult, I have been reading a lot of manga and short, quick novels as a way to escape the hellscape that is the US right now and I think that's okay right now.

[@throughherpages]

I think reading challenging things as an adult is still very important since your brain still needs practice to keep skills (also your brain is always developing and to fight mental decline you need to exercise your brain) and examining literature critically helps you examine other things critically (think of the amount of misinformation used by certain politicians).

[@VariousAndSundryBee]

I think it's very important to read a wide variety of books and in general experience a variety of media. What happened with streaming is that people choose to only watch the Office and Friends and then read the same type of genre fiction over and over again and their world becomes very small. It gets harder to empathize with others, think creatively and all of that when your experience of the world is limited to your small town and the handful of fictional worlds you like to experience. I'd say the same for people who only read Nietzsche and Ayn Rand and shit like that.

[@markreadsbo]

Yes/No is my answer, as to should you read complex books. If someone rarely reads or not at all, then anything they read is fine. However if someone one reads all the time, then I think varying what you read is a good idea. As for schools not every child will like all the books in a reading list, but I do not think every book has to be a "classic" but novels written now which cover complex issues thoughtfully should be on the list.

[@VictorianGentleman]

When is was a kid I developed a strong love of reading early. Then I had lots of classes, from middle school through graduate school, that involved reading those challenging books and discussing them, I don't know how teaching literature wouldn't involve discussion, that feels like a necessary part. Now that no one's telling me what to read I can read for pleasure, but that reading is very diverse, lots of different genres, non-fiction, modern and classics, just because I genuinely want to read them. I feel like when you work on developing your reading and reading those challenging books, not only does it benefit your mind, which I absolutely feel it did for me, but it will lead you to continue to seek out books like that. I feel like if you've done it right, you don't have to force it, but it is a process and it's best to start early. But I can only speak for myself I guess. I actually intentionally alternate between different types of books just so I don't get bored reading things that are too similar all the time.

[@ayahshark]

I have always agreed with this sentiment. About 5-6 years ago, I remember seeing some creators on booktok and twitter discussing this (how it’s important for people to read books that make you think deeply and critically) and I saw an onslaught of comments accusing them of being condescending, bigoted, and misogynistic?? A lot of people, specifically the romance and smut girlies, were genuinely offended. Literature is extremely important, especially now. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying light/fluffy books but challenging novels are crucial for the development of cognition and intelligence.

[@LiterallyGraphic]

I think that all media comes in a spectrum of difficulty to understand including Movies, Tv, comics, articles, books etc. It seems like a good idea to, even as adults, stretch ourselves from time to time. I’m not an education professional but it seems like schools would be a place where this is a fairly top priority. That said…. A lot of people are in crises and I can’t blame them that challenging yourself to think harder does not seem possible. There are some parts of my life I’m not working on right now because I don’t have the brain space. I also think that challenging yourself is a highly personal thing just like each person’s baseline. Hearing people prescribe end goals to a bunch of internet strangers can be frustrating. I also think it’s much easier to do this in community. Internet book spaces have helped a lot of us engage more thoughtfully but sometimes it feels like people want people to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, and we all know how impossible that is. Shout out to the other comment that pointed out you can engage anything critically ! I’m typing this out on my phone, which I’m not very good at. One could argue that more mass appeal something has the more important it is to engage it critically because of how toxic American culture is and how easy it is to digest hate and stigma without noticing if you aren’t paying attention.

[@yuristeaparty]

I love that you brought this up. I think media literacy has to be taught with intention. I don’t think critical thinking can be learned from reading literary fiction without prior knowledge on what to be asking as one is reading. I also took AP Lit and a few robust literature classes in college. They made me quit reading for pleasure for several years after. I didn’t enjoy the books we had to read, and I felt guilty when I’d read a book I chose for myself. Sometimes the “literary value” of canonical literature is based on the time the book was written. Frankenstein was pulpy when it came out. Shakespeare’s works were seen as lowbrow and for the masses during his time. We now find them valuable to analyze because they deepen our understanding of attitudes, perspectives, politics, and traditions of the time. When I think of that, I think that Just for the Summer might be as important as A Little Life. Who knows what they’ll be making students read in the future!

[@calypso.s]

I have my BA in English Literature & Creative Writing, I worked as an assistant in a 5th grade classroom, and was a long-term substitute teacher for 9th grade English. Like many, I think it's a mix. You need to read books you enjoy, books for fun, but you also need to read something that pushes the boundaries of your mind. I think the misconception that happens in discussions about this is the argument saying that reading any book at all has value. I agree! All reading is a good thing. However, it's important to note that if you do not read a complex narrative, you are working your brain less. I don't think we need to constantly read the classics to seek value, but think of it like a puzzle: as a kid a 25 piece puzzle may be intimidating, but as you grow older the challenge quickly falls away, and you need a more complex puzzle with not only more pieces, but more complex to discern pieces in order to really push your mind's boundaries. This isn't to say a modern book at B&N can't challenge you--I think the mistake is in assuming all modern books have no value. But there is a definitive difference between narratives, and every once in a while an adult should pick up something that's a little more difficult in order to keep their critical thinking skills sharp. I don't really agree that all books do contain the same depth--while all genre fiction is capable of it, not every book is that deep. As with all things, a balanced diet is necessary.

[@Skittles6815]

I think its important to read diversely if you want to grow as a person, and acknowledging that you may need to read things that are complex if you want to become more complex yourself. The skills of critical reading that we learn in the classroom are what we are supposed to take and do on our own in the adult world, so continuing that for further development as a human is important IF that is a value that you have. HOWEVER if it is not so one's personal value to continuing growing as a person then we need to allow space for them to simply be reading because they enjoy it. There are tons of physical benefits still when it comes to reading for pure enjoyment and we need to celebrate those readers as well as readers who want to grow. Both are valid forms of reading and I think there is space for both in our society.

[@meganb.higgins973]

I think that everyone should read the great works of literature. You can find them at the local library and often on youtube for free, if they're in the public domain. As a thirty two year old woman who has been out of school for a long time, I have been slowly working my way through the great artworks of the written word. Sometimes, I'll put a book down for years, and then one day, at the right time, I'll pick it up and won't be able to stop until I finish the whole book. I've read things that are way outside of my comfort zone and had no regrets. You don't have to finish anything you don't like, but there's no harm in giving the classics a try. Popcorn reads are a nice treat after after a thick old classic, lol

[@asiamurphy3460]

yes it's important to read things that challenge you, at all times. it's how you figure out how you feel about the world. it keeps your mind sharp. too many people are on autopilot nowadays, that's how we got into all *this*. a challenging book brings you back into life.

[@jenniferenjaian4029]

As a middle school English teacher, I think it's absolutely essential for my students to be reading! That's why I have a full shelf chock full of graphic novels and other sorts of books that they might be interested in. I could care less about them reading "classics"!

[@Cinephilegirl_]

Hi! I had a period in college where I read only classics and the I got sick have anxiety issues and insomnia and it was in the height of young adults novels of 2012 and start reading the Shadowhunters books let me enjoy reading again like I found out I didn't need to be this serious stressed person and right now I'm a mix of both some days I read Jane Eyre and some days a campy cozy mystery and I believe there is room for pleasure in reading anything you are in the mood without pressure or expectations the important thing it's just read something connect a moment of peace with a nice book and just be happy I believe it's some kind of form of meditation to me.

[@saraX816]

After watching this video I felt I could have written an essay on the topics mentioned and the questions posed, but the comment section on KZbin isn’t the place for that lol. I will say this I think people can develop critical thinking skills in many different ways, such as watching documentaries or interpreting art. I do think specifically reading develops critical thinking in a different way working different muscles, but I do feel that a huge part developing those skills comes from having thought provoking discussions.

[@WillowyMilk]

I'm currently finishing up Monstrilio, which is right up my alley. It's horrifically sad and raw and creepy. Just yesterday I bought a couple smut books to pad out my february read which is The Vegetarian. All writing matters, but they all have different purposes. I prefer books that make me think and feel things even if it's grotesque. Especially if it's grotesque. But every now and then I need to read something surface level so I can emotionally recover lol. As long as people are reading, it's a win in my book (pun intended).

[@NonAnonD]

Some publishers care about publishing good books, but it’s a business first and foremost. They want money first, then might take a few risks on quieter, quality books. The business pays so poorly that most of the people in it really do have a passion for stories. But they have to be realistic because we live in a capitalistic world (that’s about to get worse!)

[@starmanthelizard4718]

As a college student who reads almost exclusively middle grade, I do more than enough reading in college already. When I want to read on my own time, I want something light and fun, even if its short

[@kalka1l]

7:44 It is absolutely critical to challenge yourself when you read regularly regardless of age. I joined a few StoryGraph challenges to encourage my self to get out of my comfort zone not just culturally but in genres. In unrelated news Warsan Shire’s poetry is an emotional wrecking ball.

[@GoddessKry]

I think it is important. I think even with romance books, there are a couple of books where I'm like the literacy devices and writing was done well. Some challenging older radical books I will never read however there are newer radical books that references the challenging books and makes it more understandable. Overall, the journey to reading more challenging books will look different for everybody from how you found the books, annotate or don't annotate them, and so on

[@darkmatter9651]

This is so real... recently I read Daisy Jones and the Six and it was a book that was 100% out of my comfort zone and I loved it and its vibe so much that now everything I read feels like it's shit... it convinced me I need to read better books and expand my horizons. That way I can be pleasantly surprised more often. I honestly have to stop hate-reading popcorn books just to be a critic because it honestly just made me miserable

[@Blindgirlsreadtoo]

Hey, I’m new here and I must admit I have not read in so long but last year around August I was watching Shelby from Shelby and the book club and looked up some of her books that she recommended for her spicy read and I fell in love with reading again… I do not just read spicy now because I’m a grown woman lol and I need to read to make myself think now, but as a young lady, I was reading all about the Coochie books lol… But I do feel that the children do not read and I feel that it needs to change… But as my good sis say, books “ are for your mind, your heart, and your Coochie!!”

[@isabellavalentine7268]

As an educator, if my kids would just read ANYTHING I would be happy. I do think we should push for "out of comfort zone" reading with discussions (my AP teacher did the same as yours) but I just need my students to be able to read. I teach 7th grade and have many students reading on early elementary levels and I cannot do anything with them in the classroom

[@Homanmuffin]

Yes! It's the same thing as sitting down and watching an engaging and thought provoking movie/show vs watching some reality tv. There's nothing wrong with consuming either, but you don't want ALL your media to be what we call brain cheetos. As far as elitism goes, we definitely have to be careful how we say things, because words and reception DO matter. And if we're wanting to bring others along with us, in improving media literacy, we don't want to alienate the folks who might need it the most? I don't know about others, but I found that my apathy towards reading in general changed once I started intentionally seeking out stories written by people who don't have the same life experiences as myself? There are important stories and histories being told and if you aren't circumventing the white/male/judeo christian lens that the publishing industry is working through, you're missing out on those. I don't think there's an age cap on learning about other cultures, other lived experiences, etc. I also think the way that we associate "classics" as, like you said, written by crusty old white dudes, is so limited? Because we're seeing books written now that WILL be classics in the future (if they survive the current book banning insanity anyway) so yeah, even newer challenging books can check that "literature" box.

[@boomerbyll3004]

My life is filled with enough hard things. When I read I’m trying to step out of the grind. Work, kids, chores around the house, the news, and religious people knocking on my door fill me with plenty of intellectual stimulation. I read to get away from it all. It upsets me that people want to judge me as less than just because I prioritize fun books over “serious” books. Heck my vision is going and soon I’m going to be mostly focused on listening to stories and not reading them.

[@carole5648]

I think it's important as an adult to have something in your life that challenges preconceptions, but it doesn't have to be books. If someone had time to read I do think that is the best way because the space allows for suitable complexity of differing arguments.

[@bluesidecollection]

Yes, just like we should read diverse books, we should also read books that makes and keeps our minds sharp.

[@hannahandherstories]

I also have mixed, or nuanced, feelings on this topic. (Non-educator here.) I am nervous about the decline in critical thinking, media literacy, reading literacy, writing, and general enjoyment of reading, particularly among young people. I also see value in having pockets of people discover or rediscover a live of reading, even if it’s through “popcorn” reads, and the potential to further dissuade those folks from picking up other types of books or engaging in discussions with others if they feel alienated within the reading community. My hope is that we can use a newfound love of reading to help call people in to diversifying their reading and engaging more deeply in topics. As for students, I think it can be tough, and I remember not completing all reading assignments but still getting value out of the discussions and coursework on literature. I think the more we can also lift up modern and more diverse works alongside the ‘traditional Western literary canon,’ the better, too. Perhaps it is not just a matter of the types of books, but the approach we teach to analyze what we consume, and to encourage that analysis to be in dialogue with others. The more we develop that analytical muscle, the more other works could feel approachable and enjoyable.

[@HannahJorgenFinn]

As a former college level English teacher, I think it’s *valuable* for people of all ages to stretch themselves and try new things, read new things, and try things outside their comfort zones. I think it’s how we grow and develop intellectually and emotionally, even when done on our own without conversation (though I do hope we all have someone to chat with about books!). I also think critical thinking in this way/of this type is akin to a muscle that should be exercised. But there are many ways to do that and books aren’t the only way. I *wish* people cared about literary fiction and the advancement of literature as an art form as much as I do as I think it is culturally valuable and significant and important but not everyone agrees with me or even if they do they may not care as deeply as I do and that’s fine!

[@HannahJorgenFinn]

Also as someone with a PhD in what was considered the trash lit of its day, literary merit is a squiggly term that for me has no real fixed meaning other than what society ascribes to it. Also popular works that are considered trash are going to be studied because they resonate with many people even if they aren’t meeting some invisible, subjective artistic or quality bar. We also need to consider what things are produced for. Some are produced with the idea of achieving art and some are produced with the goal of entertainment alone. They aren’t the same thing and for me it’s like apples and oranges … both are fruit and both have merit but they aren’t the same so should we hold both up to the same quality metrics?

[@Eluarelon]

I completely agree with you on what you said in the end. Reading is an awesome thing to do in itself, and even if you only read things in your comfort zone, that is leagues above not reading at all. This said, I would agree that it's never wrong to sometimes move out of that comfort zone and read something you normally wouldn't, something that might challenge your literacy skill or your view on the world. Doesn't need to be from an old white guy, though I'd say the old classics are classics for a reason, and that's not the colour or sex of who wrote them. But if you don't want to read Twain's Huck Finn, maybe read Percival Everett's James instead. Both are worth it, but even reading one will broaden your horizon. Now regarding your second question, I don't think that reading is the only way to develop critical thinking skill. It's just that it's incredibly effective because it's entertaining at the same time. But science, mathematics, even learning languages does pretty much the same. Thing is, you have to invest to do so, and reading might be one of the ways that take the least effort. So I would never not recommend it to anyone. And last but not least, I kinda disagree about your stance on publishers. Even the big ones, those who make money with those bestsellers everyone scoffs at, they still use part of that money to publish great books as well, books that might not find that huge of an audience because they are challenging, written at a higher literary level or whatever. And you don't even need to look that hard. I just went over to the Penguin Random House and immediately found books by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Isabella Allende and Truman Capote. And even if you don't want to go for literary fiction, genres like Science Fiction or Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Crime, they all have writers who do more than just entertain, who really can write on a high level and be thought-provoking. Quite a few of them still being published by PRH, HarperCollins and other publishers. Maybe start blaming Amazon instead. Because Jeff Bezos truly doesn't care about anything else than money.

[@ezool18]

i think its important as an adult to still pick up challenging books from time to time. i think especially because our minds are more developed, so we can tackle the book’s content. that said, sometime i need something simple after spending a day using my brain energy for work. i do remember as a highschooler (usamerican) in my sophomore year, we read the usual books in english class that you’d expect, but the last book was the teacher teaching us dystopian genre, and it was a “here are books ive approved, you can pick your top 3 and i’ll organize you in book club groups.” that book i chose is still one of my favorite books of all time, but bc it was student run reading groups, i dont know what the themes and stuff from the story, just that i really had a fun time. so was that productive for my reading development? yes and no: i learned to enjoy reading at a young age (which is important), but it wasn’t a book that challenged my thinking.

[@vroinks]

As a middle school teacher, absolutely there needs to be a distinction between the two while in school. I love me a good Dog-Man, Diary of the Wimpy Kid, and Babysitter’s Club, but novels that make kids think with the need to discuss are important. As an adult, if you are just getting into reading, I can definitely see just reading non-intellectually stimulating books. Especially in the US with how much of our adult lives is just work, chores, sleep, repeat. Now, if you are a reader or consider yourself one, there is 100% a need to diversify what type of books you are reading. Reading only one genre serves a purpose, but being able to broaden it makes you see things that may be missing in that one genre.

[@moustik31]

No, thank you. Im almost 37yo and I want to read as a hobby, aka for joy and escapism. To each their own Mrs English Teacher.

[@samanthaburns6956]

I think you can have accessible books/ simple books that are very nuanced. For instance Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is a middle grade fantasy about magic school but it also explores themes of imigration, racism, ablism, the sequels talk about the concequences of the Biafran War

[@avahsnart99]

I think absolutely adults with fully formed brains who are not students or teachers should be reading literature that challenges or teaches them. Reading is one of the most accessible and simple ways we can continue to learn new things as adults (new vocabulary, new ideas, etc) and we as adults should be seeking out ways to become lifelong students. I also believe that the main reason adults should be reading challenging literature is so that our preconceived notions can be challenged in a safe space- literally, within ourselves. Books expose us to life experiences different to ours, perspectives and opinions different to ours, and being able to grapple with those new ideas and decide how we feel about them personally without pressure of a social situation/environment influencing our thought process is so important!!! Maybe I’m not explaining this very well, but it’s very easy to tell when an adult has closed their heart and mind to things unknown to them (it’s not good!)

[@tramasrarasoddplots]

To me, the answer is no. Flat no. This kind discourse upsets me bc it always have certain ppl in mind. Some white young middle class girlie reading her romances. This country has always been poorer and less educated than we think. Read the books that are at the level you're comfortable reading. Because you can't run if you can't walk. Also, most of us work in things unrelated to hobbies. I have to schedule time to watch movies and read. My job is blue collar. However, I think we all agree that you want your almond butter free of bugs, not burn, and the right amount. Not everybody is a social media creator who focuses on books. Sometimes, we work 72 hrs per week. Just let us chill.

[@carliewritesstuff]

I want ALL the books! Sometimes I need to get my teeth into something more substantial, sometimes I need fluff. Variety in all things suits me best ❤

[@katpiercemusic]

I love reading. I'll go for anything from non fiction (nature, science, neuroscience, music history and criticism, etc) to fantasy, to sci fi, to mysteries, to classics, to horror. The question is what are you reading and how are you reading it. What is complex or deep or dense or challenging is kind of subjective. Is Doyle? Mary Shelly? Poe? Dickens? There was a point in time where any novel was pretty much seen as intellectually less challenging than say, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. Should people broaden their horizons when reading? Sure. But I'm not going to define what that means for someone else. Besides, it's totally possible to read dense, challenging literature with different levels of depth. I can read a complex book in a very superficial way. I tend to do that with Dickens and Austen. Or I can play around with ideas in a book without analyzing it systematically. I thought a lot about Parable of the Sower, but I'm sure I missed things because analysis was not my goal. I don't really do formal analysis during my pleasure reading... and that's totally okay. Just maybe whatever people are reading... don't judge them for it. Maybe reading spicy books is someone broadening their horizons. Maybe V.C. Andrews or the Twilight books or the cozy bookshop mystery is a challenge for someone. Not everyone is going to be able to handle Gravity's Rainbow, so let folks go at their own pace.

[@isabellajohnson956]

Younger kids are having trouble reading, at least in my area, due to the pandemic. My cousin started middle school this year and spent 2.5 of her elementary years online, while her parents didn’t spend much time at home to really help her or keep her on task. Additionally, my public school system that I attended k-12 developed a “no child left behind” policy. They push kids through to the next grade, even if you failed. This became a really large issues that I started to notice when my autistic brother was attending, and then Later with my cousins and eventually I noticed it with my own classmates. For example, my cousin in 6th grade struggles to read and with reading comprehension. Now she’s in middle school, all of her classes are more based on reading. Math, social studies, science, and of course her English class plus ELA Lab(which builds on skills for writing and research) all require her to be able to read and comprehend. But it “looks bad” and costs money to put more kids in extra help classes, or get them tutors. So at least in the local public school, kids are being neglected for the sake of better statistics. Better statistics means better funding from donors in the community. It’s honestly really gross.

[@Readatrix]

I think we all have room to add some complexity to what we read and give it more thought. Lighter books are great and important in their own ways. They also build muscles for the rest. I was raised on "trashy" books and I stand behind them for their own sake, but also because they made me a strong enough reader to pick up the more complex books. When people said they didnt want to think I took it way less literally than I should have until after the election when I discovered people were missing overt political themes. Deeper books can really stay with you for a lifetime.

[@JFPennywise]

In general, read what you want. But there is merit for the individual and society if we read books that challenge us once in a while. Reading is a skill, and we can start increasing the complexity and variety of our reads bit by bit if needed. (Accessibility is another topic, of course)

[@lynette365247]

I definitely think it is important to diversify and continuously elevate our reading as adults. That is if we want to grow as adults and expand our minds. That being said, people can just do what they want -whatever fits for them for where they are in their life. It's all good.

[@HigatsukuTaishi]

Given the climate we're in, it's absolutely essential to build those critical thinking and comprehensive reading skills as early as possible, and to be /open/ to discussion and explaining /why/ you believe something. To do that, you have to engage with material, reading or otherwise (but you really should read), that challenges you on some fundamental level: it can be the prose or the themes or ideas that are not easily answered. To say otherwise is dangerous.

[@eg1000]

Yes, I think it's important as an adult to continue to challenge yourself, especially if you already are a reader. We really cannot afford to just "turn off our brains" EVERY time we consume media. All forms of books and reading are valid and both are needed, imo.

[@Alewo2735]

I think it depends why you are a reader. And if it's just a passing hobby or if you're a born reader. I don't think many people who have been reading all their lives never desire to branch out. I don't think there should be specific "literature" everyone has to read but if you continue to read throughout your life, you're going to have different interests and priorities at different phases of your life. And when if comes to young people, anything is amazing! I think with the literacy issues we have today, educators, parents, and librarians, etc should be focused on changing the narrative for these kids that books are boring and just something I have to do and show them there's SO many books about SO many cool things and just get them reading anything. I believe the studies have shown that ANY reading enriches the brain and, especially for young people, encourages free thinkers which are incredibly important right now!

[@AdyGrafovna]

I enjoy thinking and learning and I read plenty of literature (and lots of nonfiction), but sometimes life and work just sap my mental capacity and I need to relax with a fun romance or something. The formulaic stuff isn’t meant to make you think. It is easy and escapist. A guaranteed HEA can really be a mood booster sometimes. Some people have difficult lives and/or challenging work. I imagine some people are challenged enough with thinking and learning and problem solving throughout their day. It doesn’t have to be constant. Reading is a hobby and it serves multiple purposes. One of them IS entertainment. All books have a place. We wouldn’t shame someone for enjoying blockbuster movies more than art films or documentaries. Why is reading any different? Spend your time how you want to. Learn what you want to, how you want to, when you want to. And enjoy your time here on Earth as much as possible too.

[@FinestWinterCold]

I am an English teacher to high school students. Some of my colleagues believe we should expose students to the canon and only teach that. Some of my colleagues believe it doesn't matter what students read as long as they're reading because this will increase their lexile levels (how challenging and complex a text is). I'm in the camp that believes students should be exposed to both canon (Shakespeare, Milton, etc) and contemporary texts to increase their critical thinking skills. To answer your questions: I think it is important to diversify our reading in a variety of ways as adults (not just representation but also the complexity of the text itself). If you opt not to do that, there's nothing wrong with that. I do believe we should be mindful of our reading habits and not grow complacent by sticking to what we're comfortable with. Complacency is going to lead to turning your brain off while reading, which doesn't lend itself to analyzing something deeply. Regarding critical thinking skills: I don't think complex texts are the only thing that develops critical thinking skills. As teachers we spend a lot of time figuring out what type of questions to ask our students to promote critical thinking (look up Webb's Depth of Knowledge and Bloom's Taxonomy). We also spend a lot of time building up students' vocabulary because without either of those steps (building vocabulary and asking the right questions) texts would be challenging to access and critical thinking wouldn't occur. For example, right now my 9th graders are reading On the Come Up by Angie Thomas while my seniors are reading "Master Harold"...and the Boys. Both texts have a straightforward way of reading them. At the same time, these texts can be read through a complex lens to challenge assumptions students might have about the topics that come up in those texts (racism, income inequality, educational inequality, etc). Answer to final question: IMO publishing doesn't care about publishing good books. They care about publishing books that will sell (see the House of Night books by PC Cast as a prime example of this); yes I have read a few and no I didn't finish because it was too painful to read the last few books in that series. Ultimately, I think it's up to us to determine what we need and seek that out. I hope more people select diversifying their reading.

[@ChaosKirin]

Reading complex books, whether they're fiction or non-fiction, is just one way to improve critical thinking! I think that if you CAN do those things, you should. There's a lot of interesting topics out there to enjoy, and so many books--even genre fiction--that can push people to think in way they haven't before. I like reading paleontological studies, which is where I get my "vegetables" from reading, but I also enjoy a lot of fiction that isn't just fun. The important thing is to read what you want but ALSO engage with it critically. I think a lot of people forget that. You can be critical of a book and think about its contents without disliking it. Look at parts of the book that don't work, analyze why they don't work, and try to come up with a path that would make them work. In a perfect world, more people would engage with and develop critical thinking skills through """literature,""" but sometimes that's just not an option for people. A lot of those books are extremely heady, and developing an attention span in an age where social media is designed to destroy attention spans is difficult. So if someone wants to learn critical thinking, sure, pick up a romantasy, and start training yourself to view it in a different way. It's actually fun to view media differently like this. One of the mistakes schools make is trying to push people into boring literature when it's not suitable for them. I understand wanting students to read books like Ethan Frome, but it is so dry and boring that it inevitably puts students off from reading entirely. If you fall asleep when you're reading, your brain will start to associate all books with boredom. How does that help anyone? I mean heck. Just being curious is enough. Go out and read a 500-word summary of Great Expectations. Watch a comedy video on KZbin about it. Find another way to engage with reading that you haven't before, and you're already thinking critically about books! Anyway, this is a pretty long way of saying there are TONS of ways to read better. I think it's important that people do push their boundaries a little, but that doesn't always involve picking up Shakespeare and analyzing it into the ground.

[@MichiruEll]

Regarding developing analytical thinking, it's not about the media, but the process that you learn to apply and appreciate. I have a PhD in science, but I actually learned to value litterary analysis by watching Lindsay Ellis analyse Transformers through the lense of different theories (feminist theory, queer theory,...). And once the skills are there it is a joy to apply them to any and all levels of easy or complex media of all sorts.