Why Adults Don't Read ... and How to Start Again

So many adults do not read at all. Let's look at why this happens and how we can fix some broken habits to get you reading again.
This is a researched video essay designed to inspire and motivate you to start reading again. Enjoy!
You can support my channel through my patreon:
www.patreon.com/CronkTheBookGuy
Or check out our shop!
rainbowspaceun...

[@wolflink9000]

I stopped reading for like a decade until my sister made me read mistborn together with her. This year I've already read like 7 books and 13 light novels

[@cronkthebookguy]

Mistborn had a similar effect on me too! Got me back into reading.

[@toreum]

For me it was red rising trilogy and then re read Harry Potter. The last year I’ve read 13 books too!

[@TrueKivan]

Are you me? I used to read metric tons of books until the times changed and I stopped, but I got hooked again with Mistborn, just reading on my pc, phone or listening to a graphic novel depending where I'm. I lost my ereader that I used for manga, and been really really bothered by it. So glad someone reccomended me Mistborn, I have started the third book today, and I started last week.

[@SaurabhSharma-v3f]

Which light novels did you read ,I am kind of intrested in reading light novels too.

[@wolflink9000]

@@SaurabhSharma-v3f so far mainly the Monogatari Series

[@carolinec3951]

In the 1970s, the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings became extremely popular. They were available cheaply in paperback. One family in our rural area had illiterate teenagers. These teens taught themselves to read just so they could read these books. How awesome is that?!

[@Yesica1993]

I love this so much!!!

[@jules9669]

Wow what cool kids!! That's impressive and badass

[@fernandopaiz3696]

Last year I’ve read maybe 4 books through the whole year. This year I’ve read 15 so far and it’s barely April and I’ve noticed my mental health, overall happiness and other benefits rise since l! Btw your channel is a key motivator you got me to reread ASOIAF and I’m nearing the end of my first journey to the Dark Tower :) You’re making a difference Book Guy thank you for being a good guy!

[@pambeals3254]

I am a life-long reader and have loved being engaged with the written word. My journey in life would have been diminished had I not had the opportunity to read. I have, however, found that I have more difficulty with focus as I have gotten older. I have begun to read along while listening to an audio recording and also just reading aloud to myself. It improves comprehension and the appreciation for the beauty of the narrative. Historically, the oral tradition was most prevalent in human society, so I feel that this way of reading taps into that. Perhaps those approaches would help some in your audience to savor and enjoy a variety of narratives. Thank you for your video!

[@Wouter_K]

I really want to hug you for your partial essay on literacy. How succinctly you explain its underlying mechanisms while simultaneously calling everyone to be respectful and helpful towards those lacking the opportunities to read or learn to read. Love it and 100% agree. Now to reflect on what I can do :)

[@KitTheBookGal]

Unrelated but I saw your order come through the store and was like OMG ITS WOUTER! FROM THE COMMENT SECTIONS!! (at least I assume it was you 😅)

[@Wouter_K]

@@KitTheBookGal it was 😁

[@Wouter_K]

@@KitTheBookGal Love the shirts and the enamel pins are actually bigger than I thought. Very nice quality! And a great present for one of my fellow book lovers.

[@pcchau20]

I love how you're so positive and non-judgemental, and reminding others not to be judgemental either.

[@sk4348]

One very big reason adults don’t read and is not quite talked often is the eye strain. People are staring into laptops for 9 / 10 hours straight and the eyes get glazed. To then read books on paperbacks (which have small font) or digital devices causes more eye strain. So subconsciously people don’t reach for reading. Another thing is that many people are severely myopic but for reading you need magnifying glass or lens, so again wearing myopic glasses or lenses while reading will make it a non fun experience for you. People also ignore signs of hyperopia which starts after 30 even sometimes so again blissfully ignoring why they are not reading. I have had hyperopia all my life and my lenses are the same reading or distance so for me reading is a breeze… if you are a reader and above 30 years of age buy a reading plus one from the pharmacy and see if that is helping you read more.

[@adastra0]

I get noticeable eye strain only when I really read A LOT - several hours per day. When I read normally (20-40 minutes per day), I don't notice it at all. But I read almost exclusively paperback books and only use an ebook reader when I'm travelling. I found that a physical book not only makes the entire experience more fun and rewarding for me, it's definitely also better for my eyes than another screen.

[@BougieBlue]

I can’t really read a book I do better with kindle with my eyes sight, or listen to audible. It frustrating.

[@sk4348]

@@BougieBlueI can understand the frustration… eyes can get tired so fast… audible is so much better and best part is you can listen to audible while you exercise

[@lionmom7629]

I loved reading since prior to first grade through my 30s. I still love reading. But I wait for the audiobook more often than not because right before bed is the time I have to actually "read" and by then its torture. My eyesight was never good to begin with! Since I'm now severely far and short sighted, forget it! I'm in front of a screen from 8 to 12 hours a day. TBH, I even use a program that reads text out loud if I want to check out some fanfiction!!!

[@thenopedetective]

I'd be curious about the population this is true for! While I do get eye strain, I also spend way to much time on my phone to say I'm avoiding eye strain.

[@rana2804]

I used to read non-fiction books only as genre worth reading , but now I read more of fiction books and I have noticed that even if I am not getting a direct message or learning things from fiction books, the message lasts longer and sometimes it changes how I think about something and encourages me to read more about specific subject and sometimes even if I learn nothing I prefer a fiction story after a long week of working than a non-fiction book just to be productive!

[@anamarcelino9470]

After 15 years of not being interested in reading the Cruel Prince was life changing. It is not a piece of art but thanks to that book I've regained the love for reading. ❤ I read more books this summer than in the last 15 years. 😊

[@revolution724]

I don’t read because I work in document review and by the time I have done that to a few hundred documents over eight hours, my brain cannot process language anymore.

[@UserAndLoser1985]

One of the few valid excuses. ✌

[@jayyy735]

Another big one I think is COLLEGE! Myself and others that I know used to devour books as kids. Then when we go college/university we are forced to read all these required readings for every class and feel that every moment of your time should be studying and if you are not studying you just want to veg out in front of the TV or party to blow off steam. Then you enter the real world (I was even worse bc i went real world back to school for law school then back to real world), stressed and insecure figuring out life as an adult and when you come home from your first big kid job, you want to either veg out in front of of TV or party to decompress. Now your momentum for reading is dead until you intentionally pick it back up. It’s so sad! Thanks for the tips! I will try these 🙏🏾

[@DelphiaOrlova]

I think other helpful tips are: - reread your favorite books. The positive and nostalgic connotation might give you more joy! (Mind that over time our taste changes and we become older, so sometimes things might be less enjoyable or feel "childish". Embrace the things your younger you loved about them!) - read the book to the film you liked: you already know what the world looks like and what happens. So there is no problem when you don't understand something while reading. All the important things about the story you usually already know. You don't have to mind that part. - read fanfiction to stories you like: you already know and like the characters. Have fun watching them go through other adventures. (Fanfictions are not rarely written in a simpler language). - read more comics/graphic novels/mangas/webtoons: less descriptive text, more dialogs - which is usually a more familiar vocabulary. Also, they work with a lot of visual storytelling like movies. - "bookfriends": if you find someone you can share your book experience with, it can be even more fun to read and share you current progress of your book. (Be careful, it there are many people involved (like a book club) and if there is a fixed shedule because you might put yourself under unnecessary pressure!)

[@cronkthebookguy]

👏👏👏👏 This is REALLY good!

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

Awesome video! And very enlightening. I've never really thought of why someone might or might not read beyond my assumption that people either like to or they don't. The part about trauma is very relatable - that's what actually drove me to start reading more, which eventually led me to creating a Booktube channel. I'd never have even realized it without this. Kudos to you!

[@FlexibleFlyer50]

I went to parochial school where reading was mandatory. We learned to read via the old phonics route. Twice a week in the afternoon we had our individual reading programs for new vocab, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. We had a school library where we could go before class began and after school. We read full length novels in high school all four years. Today, students are lucky if they read a chapter of a book and call it quits. Teachers can't be bothered. We had reading groups that met after school in the library, and those became a springboard for further reading. I belonged to the groups focused on Ancient Rome and the American West. College saw me reading a book a week for most of my courses (five courses a semester and 15 weeks in the semester, so you do the math). Papers mandatory on every book we were assigned to read, and discussion groups assigned by the professor. Grad school and doctoral program saw reading as the foundation for studies, and those students who thought they were going to get a free ride were out of the program by the middle of their first semester. Parents and teachers have to encourage reading skills, writing skills, and math skills. Key into your child's interests. Actually get a library card if you can't afford to buy books. Reading is an invaluable skill that opens doors to lifelong learning and enjoyment. Today, if you can't read, write, or do math, you're doomed.

[@Paien75]

I randomly came across your channel late last year and watched your intro to the Malazan series. I just started Midnight Tides and I have to thank you for inspiring me to pick it up….this is the best thing I’ve ever read. Cheers sir!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Wonderful! Midnight tides is one of my favourites!

[@peach9265]

I'm currently learning Chinese and I find what you said about literacy to apply to that as well. I'm currently at a level where I'm reading graded reader content made specifically for language learners and the fact that I am able to read it at all is so encouraging to me! It really helps me see that if I keep at it, someday I will hopefully be reading full native content novels in my target language! Loved this video and the lack of judgement for aspiring readers who are struggling!

[@recoveringknowitall1534]

58yr old married man here. my wife and i both read widely and constantly. 9 full, burgeoning bookshelves tell our story. cheers. :)

[@Vuden13]

Unc 😂

[@atuljoshi1990]

People say they don’t have time to read yet they spent countless hours on Netflix and Instagram and Facebook.

[@rogerlewis2618]

A friend recommended to me the Feist Magician books, and I read Magician Apprentice as fast as I used to read Goosebumps books in middle school.... So yeah, definitely agree with finding the right book and reading whatever you WANT to read. I haven't read 1 whole book in years until now

[@explodingxlights]

Hello! I just got this video recommended to me by the algorithm. It was a pleasure to watch and I wanted to say you have great energy and seem like such a kind soul. Keep up the good work! Subscribed!

[@VenturesBeyond]

It's sad how people leave books behind when they get older. Thankful for Book Guy for keeping the reading game alive!

[@keturahspencer]

Ugh, thank you for this! I'm trying to get back in with physical books. Thank goodness for audiobooks. They really help with the time aspect.

[@patrick_nilan]

I love this video. I find it so disappointing when people make fun of books that are “less advanced”

[@krystelhardesty9960]

The literacy rate may be a little misleading because those states have a large population of people that don't speak English. I live in Florida and most of the people around me don't speak any English my own grandparents never learned and they moved to the US in the 50's.

[@roberts5394]

It's funny how he uses propaganda as an example of something that harms the illiterate in the same sentence he literally spits out nonsense propaganda about americans. The two most illiterate places are literally stronghold blue states.

[@SparklyCoconut-le3fu]

I have adhd and it has kept me away from reading. I have to listen to audiobooks and even that can be difficult. I listened to the girl on the train back in 2017 and I loved it. So I’ve been trying to get more into reading domestic horror/mystery since I find that genre to be really thrilling.

[@veraanastasiaramirezrozas1633]

For me it started when I got laptop at age 14. As well an iPhone. They simply became the new source for distraction. Eventually I started to read again, not as much as I wish. Then I discovered I more of a mood reader and that’s even worse for me. As it leads often to reading slumps.

[@pinetworkminer8377]

What do you mean by "mood reader"? Can you please elaborate?

[@veraanastasiaramirezrozas1633]

@@pinetworkminer8377For example, one day I might feel like diving into a fantasy world filled with adventure and magic, while another day I might want to read a thriller. I love fantasy but I don’t always feel like I want to read that genre. I want to read something else. Now something else can be anything. The problem is that it takes awhile to find the right book for what I’m feeling right now.

[@jsmxwll]

pick two books: - Book A: is readable but uncomfortably difficult. it should challenge you to read it. this is the book equivalent to eating your vegetables. - Book B: is easy to read and enjoyable. this should be the book equivalent of comfort food. try to read Book A until you feel yourself being challenged by the effort. push for an extra page and then jot down the main things that happened in your reading. then relax and switch to Book B to finish your reading time.

[@cap10newport95]

Thats probably the ability to read in English, those states look like they have more Spanish speakers.

[@reminiscentoss681]

Happy to be part of the 4.1 percent of Australians who support this channel 👍

[@islombekabdullaev4692]

Reading is becoming a super rare activity or even habit now as almost everyone who can access the internet may find it an archaic habit. I personally used to read few books a year, yet for a couple of years that number went up substantially. I no longer have a day without reading either fiction or non-fiction and besides all the encouraging benefits reading has an incredible therapeutic effect on me personally and makes me much more tolerant to other folks and cultures. By the way, I read books in three languages and English is my third language, yet I try to read in this language as well which also helps to boost my vocabulary. Thank you for propagating a healthy intellectual habit!

[@alexanderlavoie5461]

I'm going to share my trouble with reading just as message to other people who may be struggling. I'm from the US (one of the green states on that map), and I have struggled with dyslexia my entire life. Reading has ALWAYS felt like a chore to me. But I have just recently jumped back into reading books at the ripe old age of 32, and only having read 2 or 3 books in all my life prior. The key for me with reading was finding out the rest of the storyline being more rewarding the not reading because its can be hard for me. I happened to get sucked into The Licanius Trilogy and now I'm hungry for more. Those first 100 pages were tough but once I got into the groove it became easier.

[@t.t.greenshaw]

Here after you fantasy news appearance 😁 This video was so thought provoking, thanks!!! The bit around reading on what appeals to YOU really resonated

[@Draxtor]

I have been hosting a book club in Second Life for almost 4 years and I thank you deeply for this video. Our goal in SL is/was to be as inclusive to readers from all backgrounds as the virtual world itself is to folks expressing themselves without being judged. You laid out clearly what has been sloshing around in my head/comes out rambling at times when a soapbox is provided. So important to remember: shaming people does NOT create new readers. We have to be mindful and have deep empathy about people’s place/origin/anxieties. Ok, now off to a weekend of rereading “Infinite Jest” 😎🤘🙏

[@oanapotop3900]

I just discovered your channel and absolutely love it! It's so heartwarming and positive that now I want to pick up a book just because I feel like the book guy would love that for me.

[@dayru_ru]

I really appreciate you bringing up trauma as a factor. I was raised by a teacher and my reading abilities were pretty advanced when I was a kid. But due to growing up in a high stress environment; my anxiety contributed to a lot of attention issues around reading. It wasn't that I was a bad reader, but I wasn't able to focus because of the millions on thoughts and fears in my head. Because the anxiety and stress prevented me from sticking with a book, I rarely finished them outside of school assignments. This was also when Harry Potter was really popular and everyone was reading them for fun. I struggled immensely to read for fun and because I struggled; I thought I was less smart and capable than everyone else. The shame further limited my ability to enjoy reading. Fortunately now I've realized that it wasn't a failing of me and I wasn't a bad reader. As I've gotten older, I gradated from university with a philosophy degree and I feel my reading comprehension is the best it has ever been. Really happy I found your channel; thanks again :)

[@spacehexagon]

Thanks for making such a wonderful channel! I was a reader as a kid, then switched to audio for years because my concentration just wouldn't support visual reading anymore. Anxiety just wouldn't let my brain be quiet enough to read, or I was so exhausted I fell asleep within a page. Big ups to Robin Hobb for curing me by writing the most perfect books ever. I hope my life is still okay when I finish RoE 😂

[@cronkthebookguy]

@spacehexagon thank you! That's awesome! It seems you found what works for you. Everyone reads differently. Robin Hobb is an excellent choice!

[@chaseramos5316]

You have fantastic energy! I watched your whole video I have a hard time sticking to long videos. Thanks man now I feel up to it to begin reading again. Looking forward to enjoy more of your content videos.

[@amandag5072]

I was an avid book reader as a kid and teen. then life happened and 30+ years later I just don't read as much, if at until any more. I've tried to get back into it, but can only find a few minutes a day. I bought a Kindle earlier this year, I find that has helped get me back into reading, as it's easy to pick up and transport about.

[@lightworker221]

Very on point. I think I've been dishonest with myself about what i like to read. I blame a combination of book blogging and my college's English department years ago. I need to really think about what I enjoy, not what I should read or can read.

[@mmgringoire2]

I love books and reading. I always have, but I strangely lost the drive to read as much once I started working at a bookstore. I bought, and was given, so many books that I want to read one day, but I just haven't gotten back to that same level of reading since. I think one of the reasons was just being surrounded by so many new reading options every day and the other was just stress from life and work. I'm working to be better since I know I feel better when I do read.

[@TheDanEdwards]

2:49 That map of literacy rates does not make clear that the data appears to be for _English_ literacy. States with large immigrant populations tend to have lower English literacy rates because the immigrants are only skilled in reading their native tongue.

[@christopherrivera9299]

I stop reading for years because i am addicted to video games however im trying to get into reading. Thank you for your tips

[@Lewp17]

That map is just highlighting where immigrants are due to only considering English literacy.

[@sundayINmorning]

My work in life is promoting reading, so I checked your video out of curiosity. And it's a great tool!! Thank you for being so kind! I personally am reading a lot, though I'm learning French and I'm mostly reading in that language, which can be very tiresome. That's why I allow myself to read in English too :)

[@anjapinkau3737]

Great video! I enjoyed it a lot, thank you! You have a new subscriber. You were talking about a "bad book experience". A few notes on that: 1. A bad book could never spoil reading for me as a whole. 2. When money was scarce and I had to decide between a new book or lunch and I chose the new book, I always read it from cover to cover, even if I enjoyed it less than I had expected at the beginning and sometimes I discovered that it was actually quite good. 3. My eyes are turning bad and audio books have become easier. I always listen to a chapter or so before sleeping, it's like someone is reading you a bedtime story. But it is not the same. Books of paper give a deeper reading experience. You can go at your own pace, re-read passages, create your own idea of for example a person's voice etc. 4. Watching the film or series before finishing the book has killed two series for me: Percy Jackson and The Song of Fire and Ice (nowadays known as Game of Thrones). Never watch a film of a book before finishing the book! Never!

[@GreenGiant400]

Gotta say the literacy map doesn't actually look that correlated with the voting map. Looks more like a north/south divide. Couldn't English literacy be correlated with the size of the ESL population? Just a guess.

[@jasminda7708]

Thanks for this video!!❤

[@M1cr0Man1a]

Pretty much my whole book list for this year are all series you’ve recommended and I’ve never looked back

[@cronkthebookguy]

Haha YESSSS!!! 😁

[@sanecatlady]

I appreciate the compassionate approach. It's very grating to see people shame and look down on others for not reading: this mindset isn't productive and doesn't encourage growth. The normalization of getting instant gratification from social media and technology altogether has made reading books less appealing, and a lot of people aren't even aware how enslaved they are to their devices. I'm someone who struggles to read when I am surrounded by technology. Whenever there were limitations on it, I would naturally gravitate towards reading books to pass the time. I completely understand the feeling of wanting to read but simultaneously getting exhausted quickly because of the lack of dopamine it provides. Like all problems, the first step is awareness, but awareness with compassion. Instead of shaming people for not reading books or not being able to read much, we should use empathy to understand *why* someone might not find reading appealing to begin with.

[@flonyme8174]

I read a book every few days for around 6 months when I was 18. Then partying and fun took over...then as I calmed down that was replaced by video games and TV. It was not until a couple years ago (I'm 38 now) that I decided to read the wheel of time on a fleeting desire and ended up blowing through it in a few months. Since then I have slowly replaced my other time wasters with reading. I canceled my subscriptions one by one replacing them with reading. Now I save so much money! When it all comes down to it we just use something to fill our down time. A book is as good or better than the other options IMHO. Although I do not agree with everything you say I do love your channel and your positive outlook on things. Keep enjoying life my friend. Your appreciated.

[@Silvereaselartist200]

I can relate with your story on reading. Wheel of time was a random book that I picked from the library that sucked me into reading so many years ago. I have since fallen and want to get back to reading again. I did go through some life events that derailed me. I'm looking forward to making reading a daily part of my life again.

[@alfiemckeough3762]

As someone with ADHD, I struggle to read as much as I would like. Basically, I’ll pick up a book and, regardless of how much I enjoy it, I’ll put it down and won’t pick it back up again for WAY too long. Like there’s been entire months where a half finished book just sits on my bedside table without me touching it. It’s incredibly frustrating as I want to read so much but I can’t bring myself to just get my head down and see a novel through to the end without a HEAVY amount of willpower and perseverance. Often a book that would take a normal person a week or so would take me a couple months, most of which would be me not reading at all. And even then I’m a slow reader despite my inconsistency. On the plus side however, I have been writing a book of my own and I’ve actually been pretty consistent with that as of late so eh idk 🤷‍♂️

[@Alkemisti]

The advice on this video is also helpful to us who like to read books in English (because not everything gets translated) but do not speak English as native language. When I started reading in English, one of the books that I read was Django Wexler's _The Thousand Names,_ and every time I encountered a word I did not know, I wrote it on a paper. It was a long list. This year I read its sequel, _The Shadow Throne,_ and that gave me only a less than ten words long list. I'll also add that I stopped reading for a long time, for many years, and it made me depressed and miserable and damaged my university studies. When I found out I am an ADD, I started to practice speed-reading. That is a method that actually helps ADDs to read, and it bothers me massively how so many people say stuff like 'speed-reading is bullshit' and 'I hate speed-reading' (both things I have heard from KZbinrs) without them even knowing what it actually is. There are good resources in KZbin for people who want to learn speed-reading, and I encourage that now and always.

[@adastra0]

When reading in a language that's foreign to you, it's much easier to start small with easy books (like he said in the video in regards to literacy). English is not my native language, and I learned a lot of English by reading the Harry Potter books as a teenager / young adult. I read them multiple times because back then I loved them so much, so that really helps. And then from there I started going to more advanced books. Similarly, I learned some Swedish for fun in the past, and my level of Swedish was never good enough for serious books, but I did manage to read a few children's and young adult books. There were definitely lots of words I didn't understand, but the more you read, the more you learn from the context. At some point I didn't bother to look up words anymore, because I could more or less guess what they meant from the context.

[@Alkemisti]

@@adastra0 Jag tala svenska också, but only a little bit.

[@gavinpaterniti724]

Thank you for making this. Before watching this video I'd scarcely even looked at a book for 2-3 months. My days were so busy and reading was beginning to fall by the wayside. For the past week I've been carving out small sections of time in my day to sit and read, and it's been such a relief. I really appreciate your advice and words of encouragement.

[@cronkthebookguy]

Man, I don't know you, but I feel so proud of you right now! Small bits of time are perfect, especially when that's all you have. Keep going!

[@rangersmith4652]

Voting for Republicans has nothing to do with literacy. What you're seeing in those maps is coincidence or correlation, not causation. Also, you might want to revisit your voting map now that the 2024 election has ended.

[@neviestix]

Thanks for the vid. My ability to concentrate needs to improve. I can't remember what I read. Thanks for tips. Start with kids books. Start with a regular but short time of day. Practice 5 out of 7 days. Book at bedtime maybe. 🇬🇧

[@lsr2937]

In the 1970’s there was a movement to unplug the TV and read a book. My dad was a professor of education at a university. His students would ask if he had unplugged the TV. He would answer no. If the TV was on we would sit together and interact and be a family. If he unplugged the TV we would all disappear into different parts of the house and read a book. As kids we did plenty of reading. Family is important too.

[@raloria9173]

First of all, thank you for this video. Second, the reason I quit reading was mainly due to being in college. Before college I read lots of books. I loved reading! Then, in my college classes we had a lot of assigned reading. I no longer had time to read books I wanted to read. I could barely keep up with the reading I HAD to do for my classes. Once I got out of college, I no longer had the desire to read anymore. It had become a chore, not the enjoyable activity it had once been. So I've spent many years trying to get back into reading again. It hasn't been easy! Thank you for all the advice. I especially like your recommendation to read whatever kind of books you want, even YA fiction. I've considered that in the past as an easy way to get myself back into reading, but told myself "You're an adult! You can't read those books!". But you're not the only person on KZbin that I've seen suggesting adults to read YA, so it's more encouraging to get another person backing the idea up.

[@billystirling3282]

I have a 3 hour commute to work every day. So audiobooks are my saviour. Would love you to review the two Empire Of The Vampire books

[@andieland1923]

I was the had a bad experience as a young adult so didn't read for a decade person. So happy to be back to reading now. Those shirts are INCREDIBLE! Thank you for thinking of those of us with sensory issues and making it size inclusive! And cheaper shipping? You guys are the best!

[@druelia9485]

When I want to read but my brain just won't focus, I read the book while listening to the audiobook, when both are available. For some reason, having someone read aloud while I read along visually just heightens my focus to new levels.

[@lisajefferies3392]

Like many people, I dropped off with reading for fun after university, because at that point I was just so relieved to not have to do it daily anymore. This year, one of my friends convinced me to read ACOTAR so that we could enjoy it together. I had such a good time reading it! Since then, I’ve been getting into Sanderson, re-reading ASOIAF, and have many other books lined up to try 😊 thank you for your videos, as they have been helping me decide what to read next!!

[@senzo7869]

Today I decided to switch to English booktube to improve my language skills... I'm really happy about this decision, because this one gave me a posibility to find your channel)

[@cronkthebookguy]

дякую! ❤

[@EB-rp9vp]

Thank you for including #6. I have struggled with my health this year, and have tried to get back into reading multiple times. I read Jane Austen's Emma for "light summer reading" when I was 13, and I'm always trying to go back to her. 😂😂😂 I've made it trough 50 pages of an Einstein biography in 3 library check outs and I have to remind myself it's about the habit building; not finishing the book.

[@jackthefrog80085]

Ive only been reading manga on my phone. That's a step up from not reading anything for 8 years but I wanna start reading physical books again

[@bhbr-xb6po]

The statistic you cite is about literacy in ENGLISH. So states with higher levels of immigration would seem less literate, and usually vote more Democrat (not Republican).

[@PrivateTri]

I'm in secondary school in the uk, we're barely even pressured to read here. Audio books, in lesson reading and no book reports are the norm. Which is probably only going to get worse over time

[@wtrbrns]

Do you have any videos talking about how to improve the reading level? Or which books are good for some levels and etc? I can read a YA book in one sitting, but they tend to bore me or make me feel "bad" for only being able to read that. Maybe there is something thats still in level two, but it's non fiction or other genre? Also, I may read 5 of them in a week because I crave reading and then not read anything in four months because they don't excite me, but it's the only thing I can read, so I don't even develop a schedule or routine. I go to a club meeting where we read theory, so I know that I really really love it! But it's different in a group because we read aloud, so I know I can ask anything i don't get or we can discuss it later! If I tried to read the same book on my own, even if I know i would love it, i feel like I can't do it. I don't know how to get past the feeling of being an idiot for not being able to read what i would love to read lol

[@cronkthebookguy]

That's a really good question. I don't have a video on improving reading levels specifically, but I'm adding it to my list of video 'ideas'. 😀 I hope you don't mind me saying, but it sounds like you have some ADHD tendencies. The whole doing nothing for a while, then doing everything all at once, is very ADHD. It can make reading tricky, for sure. Reading in a group sounds like an excellent accommodation. You could also trying listening to a book while doing something else, like housework, walking, or playing games. When my wife got diagnosed with ADHD, she switched most of her reading to audiobooks cause it helped her concentration. But that was her specific solution and everyone's different. Try to find what works for you specifically and don't compare yourself to others. Can I just stress though, you are definitely not an idiot. You are clearly intelligent, well-spoken, and capable. Please read at your own rate, even if that means binge reading then doing nothing for a while, and remember that progress is still progress even if it's slower than you'd like. ❤

[@wtrbrns]

@cronkthebookguy thank u for the response and the kind words! 🥰 I'm going to stick around even if I'm not reading at the moment because all your videos have such a good vibe lol! And here's to hoping the video idea comes true! It's difficult sometimes to figure out if I'm ready for a book yet based solely on genre because the writing styles are so different! And it's even trickier when many of the books recommended on online spaces are not avaliable on my third-world-spanish-talking country to ask my friendly librarian about it lol

[@Awesome_Force]

You could try using note cards. Use one for each reoccurring character, and one per chapter to write a chapter summary so you can refresh your memory before starting a new chapter. Maybe draw a simple sketch of each character's profile/bust for quick reference. Some books have character names that are difficult to pronounce, especially fantasy books, or they have too many characters with similar sounding names, or similar looking characters. I find that to be more of a flaw in the writing than reading.

[@wtrbrns]

Hey! It's cool to come back to this comment because i found my life hack, that it's actually told in cronks videos lol I wasn't reading things that I enjoyed! I kept digging and trying to find something that spoke to me, and I read a fictional book with historical and political aspects to it and absolutely devoured it(nuestra parte de noche)! I learned that I love my country female gothic writers because they have so much politics and history behind it and fell in love with that aspects!! So I'm currently reading cometierra. Also that it helps to have another book that's lighter and that doesn't sucks me in as much as the main one so I finished the first two books of dune! I'm also progressing in reading theory because I found what kind I was craving right now and it was digital utopias, antinaturalism and brujx anthropology! Thank u so much for the kind words, the actually made me want to keep searching around

[@Finnleigh.Jackson4141]

Here is what I noticed: If you read a bad (boring, etc.) book, you stop reading. If you read a good book, you want to continue reading. Unfortunately, there are many bad books out there.

[@wolfyred2054]

i have problems not knowing where to start, there's so many options and I'm on a very tight budget, so going to a thrift store or anywhere and only finding a few books in a series is very frustrating and discouraging . My library doesn't have a great selection of books either and tailored to mostly learning books instead of other books.

[@leet47]

You had me until your political barb. I vote Republican and read 50 books a year across all genres. It's unfortunate you have such a bourgeois attitude about it. Still, I appreciate what you're trying to do overall.

[@LloydBertram]

It was a joke.

[@teacupdreams5735]

I read so much in my 20s and especially in my college years including college written essays and studies cause I thrived in the academic environment but after that over the years depression has just made it where I don’t want to read :/. I’ve even picked up old favorites and just don’t want to bother. Trying to get back in the game! Thanks for the vid. ❤

[@The_Open_Book]

This is so positive, I'm sure a lot of people could use this encouragement! (Including myself 😅) Thank you for your public service sir ✌️

[@ninamosimann1108]

I am not a big reader, unfortunately, but I can manage between one and two books per month. It's neither much nor nothing, so I am okay with that while still trying to read more. I had one really bad reading year when my daughter was born and only read three books back then. Now my main reason not to read more is not being able to choose a new book, especially when I just finished something amazing. Then, every book seems dull compared to this and I loose my motivation quickly. Hence, my subscription to your channel in order to get some recommendations 😁 I love that you included audiobooks. It is always a debate whether audiobooks count as "reading" or not.... For me, they do count but I use Whispersync for Voice quite a lot so that is no suprise. Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Did you ever cover it in a video? If yes, maybe I missed it😓 And last but not least: the Pride and Prejudice quote on the shirt is great😍I love Jane Austen. By the way, thank you for the video on Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: part fantasy, part regency? Yes, please!

[@janoyvinderlandsen]

Hey Cronk. Really love your videos and your takes on reading. I think Dragonriders of Pern by Anne Mccaffrey could be an interesting series to do further down the line. Keep on reading!

[@isaiasherrero7889]

dpends what you define as adult honestly. I know a bunch of people who are adults that read a lot of books in a single year.

[@nicholaszancy4571]

Great video. I’ve always been reading since I learned to read. But there were a few years that I wasn’t reading. Since bout this year I’ve been reading something consistently.

[@PhoenixSuki]

The grief and trauma one definitely hits home for me. I lost my mum in intensive care just before Christmas and while reading can be a great escape at times I have found I have to be a bit careful what I read at the moment depending on how I am feeling that day. I definitely need to give audiobooks more of a try, might make it a bit easier to fit reading in between work and my kids 😂

[@blindbookworm8019]

I didn’t think that people judged people for what they read online…I have a book reviewing channel and I read a variety of books. Even children’s books and YA books. Let’s get everyone into reading!

[@valliyarnl]

He’s back!!!

[@nidhishshivashankar4885]

I can read for hours just not at home for some reason I gotta be in my car, at a park, or a cafe or library. When I’m at home I’m seeking background noise or something to actively do it’s really hard to want to pick up a book

[@kennethfeller3939]

This resonates with me so much. I went 17 years without reading books because I found them boring (LOTR killed me... AND I'M FROM NZ.) When I was 32 I helped my brother out with an art assignment and wrote him a story for his children's book. I liked the way writing used my brain, so 2 weeks later, I rolled out of bed and thought f-ck it, I'm gonna write a novel. That got me back into reading (don't get me wrong, I went to university and got a BSc, but that's a different sort of reading.) Even now, I still struggle to find books I like, but I know they're out there, and most of them are indies.

[@LISSoundtrack]

I haven't read a single book in over 15 years. I REALLY want to but I just can't seem to focus. I do have ADHD and I'm not medicated for it so maybe that's my issue. I recently bought the Hugh Howey books Wool, Shift, and Dust so hopefully I can get my act together and give them a read!

[@KitTheBookGal]

As a fellow unmedicated ADHDer, I totally get it! Personally I find that audiobooks help, because I can occupy my hands with something else like knitting or drawing. And more than anything else... read what you WANT to, not what you think you *should* read. Nothing kills our focus faster than something we have no interest in! You've got this 🎉 👏

[@al700000]

I didn’t read much after I graduated. Partly from burnout, but also I discovered I’m a mood reader through and through. Before I would try to force myself to be something I’m not. I would make myself finish a book even if I wasn’t feeling it at the time. Now if I get bored part way through, I just pick up something else. The first book isn’t going anywhere, I can always pick it up again later. I read so much more and enjoy it more if I have multiple books on the go.

[@smallrose323]

seeing reading as exercise is an amazing way to look at it. thank you!

[@PoetryETrain]

this is great book guy, I am human, and I approve your advice, subscribed, and added this video to a couple of playlists... thank you... appreciated & charm'd... lol, love it when you stir the air/sky, and say, the book guy, modern classic, lol

[@mandicruz912]

Wonderful video and so encouraging! You are definitely a big inspiration in helping me get out of my current reading slump. Love how nonjudgmental you are! Keep up the great work!

[@kimberlywiederhold627]

In high school we were assigned The Old Man and The Sea. It was dreadful. We were assigned The Red Pony next. After 3 chapters I took the book up to the teacher and informed him I would not be reading the book. I told him I like to read and I want to keep it that way.

[@Yesica1993]

Every time I hear about The Old Man and the Sea I think of my sister. She always hated that book!

[@KatieSwordvideos]

i never stopped... also working on full time job. sometimes i could read in the end of a workday, but usually not

[@mattisj.419]

I never really developed any sort of reading habit at all. I always thought books were boring for as long as i can remember... Not sure where that comes from but I've been wanting to start reading, just that i kept procrastinating. Problem is, I just started studying philosophy at a university, so now i pretty much have to start with some of the toughest literature out there... i now doubt that this will benefit my relationship to reading :(

[@j.rinker4609]

When I was working on my master's degree, I started reading things like the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books. It was better than reading nothing.

[@kevins4254]

About 17 years ago, I discovered that reading is far better than watching the garbage on TV. The librarian at the school where I taught recommended "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova, and I loved it. I've been reading about 20-30 books a year ever since.

[@kristen7623]

I found that audiobooks completely cure the time and energy concerns. I have a dog to walk, so I read at least 2 hours a day!

[@lesereise5752]

That was a great video and very interesting. Absolutely agree with the going through hard times and not reading. Haven't touched a book for 6 month, but they'll be waiting. Whenever I am better and back to feeling like myself again, they'll still be there to be read. 😊

[@regularguy3879]

I was reading tons of different genres from 5 to 25, went through a depressing stuff and honestly? Since i got better i just can't anymore. I still read articles or listen to non-fiction stuff but i much more prefer to listen to an audiobook, taking my bike for a ride or meet with my friends, doing something less passive. I am simply burned out when it comes to books.

[@Avid_Reader]

Thank you for another great video.

[@optimalcat3833]

Thank you for this video, your channel has been a true breath of fresh air! Very very well said points

[@adastra0]

I re-started my reading habit about 6 months ago by reading the "Silo" novels (Wool / Shift / Dust). I watched the TV adaptation, and I was so intrigued by this world that I wanted to read the books after that to learn more about this world. Well, the books were somewhat mediocre compared to the TV show, but I'm very glad that I read them because they got me back into a reading mindset/habit, and I've read over 20 books since then within the past 6 months (including a full re-read of LotR)! Before that, I barely read for about a decade. I was pretty disillusioned by what I had to read for uni, so it took a lot of the fun out of it (Point 4 would be the culprit there). I did (re)read a bunch of graphic novels during that time, as well as the Expanse novels. Now I read whatever I want, even though it also took me a few months to make up my mind on what that will be (to the point that I now have 2 to-read lists on goodreads/storygraph, one for short-term and one for sometime-in-the-future) :D

[@lorimariebee]

The pretty cover of Priory of the Orange Tree pulled me back into reading. I previously didn't think I had enought time to read with evey day work and chores. I decided to make it a priority in my free time and even if i cant read a lot I still try to get in at least one chapter a day. Audiobooks have been an awesome addition to my reading journey. Multitasking!

[@cronkthebookguy]

The power of a pretty cover is real!

[@bazoo513]

14:10 - Reading "fluff" (a light space opera or cozy mystery - for others romance or urban fantasy might work better) helps me through the periods of depression or increased anxiety - try it.

[@spcyfic68]

I really enjoy that kind of videos, so interesting. Reading is my main hobby and it is something I prioritize even though it can be complicated sometimes because… life. Lack of energy is something I experience often because I’m working at the hospitals and after night shifts it can be very hard to stay focused on reading. Audiobooks help me sooo much when I want to read but don’t have the energy. I also really like to listen to books while doing chores or driving. And I also listen to my audiobook before falling asleep. Would totally recommend trying audiobooks ! Reading whatever you want and love is also so important. I recently realized that I sometimes read a huge book way faster than shorter books just because I enjoy it more. Realizing that made me way less afraid of 800-1000 pages books (Stormlight archives 👀).