why you stopped reading

[@answerinprogress]

I hope you liked that video! If you did, consider giving it a share. *What's your favourite book?* Currently, mine is Why Fish Don't Exist but that might just be because I really hate exercise. - Sabrina

[@xiala_]

My sentimental favorite is The Grimm Legacy, which I absolutely loved escaping into… in middle school. And then I really don’t have a favorite book, but a tie for my favorite series between The Red Queen and Throne of Glass, by Victoria Aveyard and Sarah J. Mass respectively. All fiction since I know for a fact that escape is what motivates me to read

[@icarus1756]

I read Ender's Game about 50 times over quarentine, still my favorite book

[@KenzyAli]

The book that I read most recently, City of Brass - I was so immersed I was yelling about old nobles having too much time on their hands by the end of it.

[@topiaz]

The entirety of The Secret Series and the sequel series to the secret series yes that is mildly confusing but i think its fine Edit: i'm glad some people agree!

[@SylviaRustyFae]

Random aside but... Audiobooks have been a huge gamechanger when it comes to readin for me. I cant focus intensely on a book and read it as an escape from all other input anymore. Thats sadly a skill i lost as a late teen. But if i put on an audiobook while doin something else it makes it so i can fully enjoy the book and not find my mind wandering as easily (and when it does i can rewind easily enuf) and it lets me focus my body on a task like walkin or chores. The best part is i get almost all my audiobooks for free as libraries have decent archives of audiobooks nowadays; esp moreso if its a recent book.

[@rilke3266]

For me, school IS the reason I stopped reading. I’ve found that being assigned something makes it inherently unenjoyable and makes it feel like a chore. Reading was no exception.

[@nmikk10]

I'd have to agree. Books like 1984 and Brave New World were assigned to me in school at a time I wanted to do literslly anything. I just read chapter summaries to get through the year. Now, 4+ years later, I've actually found that I want to read said books because its what I want to do, not because I have to. Forcing a teen to do something actively makes them loathe it. Allowing kids to find what books they like instead of forcing "classics" that are so mind numbingly boring in the youth is the worst thing you can do

[@Andy_Pri]

That and also i feel like i don't find myself enjoying the books I want to read cause in the back of my mind I'm always thinking about how i should read something 'productive'

[@NormalWinterFox]

Same. For me it started back when I was in high school. My school used to assign the whole school books to read during the summer and write an essay before the school year started.

[@Raphael-2]

Personally I stopped reading when I got my first smart phone. I was a big reader and people till this day still think of me as a big reader even though I haven't read a book in years. This is honestly sad. The phone totally replaced my books and I hate it but I feel stuck. But my point is that yes I agree with you, reading books for school made me sick of reading. I had really stopped reading while following my literary studies at highschool and having to read book after book for school. The last thing I wanted to do afterwards was to start reading a book, so o definitely agree with you even though without my phone I would probably still be reading before every night.

[@paranira6466]

same, when i read classics outside of school and they were fun, but as soon as it was assigned i couldnt stand read nothing of Goethe anymore

[@Erik-pu4mj]

17:45 "I still have life outside of reading. And it's pretty hard to escape into a book when you are *vividly* aware that that life is still going on." It's not that I don't have time, it's that I _feel_ like I don't have time because I'm stressed by what I'm not doing.

[@r3bs]

Thissss

[@PeaceofSanity]

Real💯

[@morganrenee6392]

Yes.

[@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460]

I feel the need to give you an offering because you just PREACHED!!! Amen, and YES!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@spaghettiisyummy.3623]

Focusing for a while is hard when you're very stressed.

[@BB-te8tc]

I think I actually read as much as I ever did.... just not books. Articles, documentation at work, video game flavour text... anything but books. It's always reading in service of doing something else.

[@Astra3yt]

"video game flavour text" - you might probably enjoy the Ready Player One book. It's way too different from the movie and it got me into the zone very swiiftly. That is, if you know you enjoy dystopian novels/movies.

[@NZsaltz]

@@Astra3yt I would honestly disagree with that. It has a plethora of video game references, but it doesn't read like video game flavor text. It's just a sci fi book, and if they don't enjoy other books, they won't enjoy it any more.

[@riddixdan5572]

been also reading a lot for past year . . . blogs and documentations on programming stuff

[@MAlanThomasII]

I read interesting U.S. Supreme Court (and occasionally lower court) opinions for fun. It's something I learned to enjoy when I had to do 100-200 pages of them per night for a single course in grad school.

[@Gr95dc]

does reading youtube comments count? 🤣

[@WikiSorcerer]

One thing I learned in college that always stuck with was there is no shame in putting a book down without finishing it and starting a new one if that book bored you.

[@Eclecticgirl17]

Thank god someone said it. It makes me feel guilty

[@metallsnubben]

And I feel like reading _anything_ kinda gets my "reading momentum" going, to where reading a different book might actually be what gets me to finish the book I dropped/paused before

[@PrincessNinja007]

I learned that information reaching your brain is information reaching your brain. There's fundamentally no difference between reading Shakespeare for your English class, and finding it on Librivox and going on a hike- I got an A, a smiley face, and "I can tell you were really immersed in the story"

[@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460]

I will tell you a 'not-so-secret' about me that my kids can vouch for. When I was in 12th grade (1987), we had to read *"A Passage to India"* by EM Forester. I was always an absolutely voracious reader, but Passage to India was one of THE most boring books I've ever attempted to read. Five weeks later, I was still in the first boring ass chapter that described an ant crossing the road in excruciating detail. Finally, I gave up and just paid really close attention in class, took notes, studied my notes, and got an A+ on the test. 20 years later, having heard that story many times, my sons bought me a copy of that book for Mother's Day and told me to "finish what I started" like I always told them to do. This time, I made it all the way to page 110. And now, 17 years after that, I still haven't finished it. I recently told my granddaughter (she's 10) about it and she said, *"We can read it together, Abuela!"* Uhmmm, ... 🤔😔😭😭😭

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

This!

[@jasminele]

i used to read so much when i was child and it recently had the realization that i havent picked up a book for fun in a decade. i finally found out that im a sucker YA/romance and im so happy to be reading again!! also i missed Answer in Progress ily guys ur the best

[@caylawaddington385]

Also a sucker for YA novels

[@isaacdavis7774]

So true. I've spent years trying to read non-fiction and a small amount of 'traditional' adult fiction, but have got reading again in the last year or so by accepting that I'm just a massive fantasy nerd and reading adult fantasy and loving it. I think that starting with a few shorter books probably helped, too.

[@stadi7992]

I forgot that YA means young adult and legit thought you meant yaoi for a second since it has gotten very popular so I was like “oop- 😳 you do you boo!” Then I realized 😭😂 (But even so, you do you :)

[@_-_-_-_-__--_-_-_]

@@stadi7992 same lmao

[@viennaainsworth1085]

YA fantasy/SciFi will always be my favorite 😍

[@emmalynncraft9636]

“Finishing a non fiction book is kind of just like…’ah I’ve done my homework now’” never heard something more true lmao 💀

[@elektra121]

I'd say the exact opposite. I looove nonfiction, am mostly bored by fiction.

[@AmberyTear]

After I finished reading whole local library of fiction for teens, I had a passionate switch towards non-fiction. Glad that I don't feel this way anymore.

[@dustinalecxander8647]

@@elektra121 bruh you're a robot jk

[@elektra121]

@@dustinalecxander8647 Well, if you say so, I surely must be. Loving your life in little boxes?

[@appa609]

you don't read a nonfiction book to finish it. You read it to gain insight and obtain the couple dozen useful sentences

[@evadietz7359]

Whenever I’m in a reading slump I choose from one of two categories: 1. I either read a children’s book 2. Or I read a raunchy, cheesy romance book. You know- the ones with the shirtless guys on the front This usually gets my brain used to reading again without overworking it.

[@kidsha6721]

@EvaDietz instruction unclear subject stuck on step 2 forever

[@hannahsutherland9329]

I do the same, but I combine the two categories and go for ya romance

[@angelsartandgaming]

I tend to enjoy books for younger audiences myself rather than adult books too. I don't know if it's because it's easier to digest or if it's because it's much more fantastical. Hard to say

[@bluegirlgraphics]

ever read the Barbra Cartland novels? So silly and cheesy period pieces

[@1234cheerful]

@@angelsartandgaming I do enjoy them too from time to time--I'm past the phase or stage of life the characters are in so it's kind of looking back with a wider more independent, self-responsible perspective...and a lot of what YA audiences deal with doesn't exactly go away but changes as you age (relationships of various levels, healthy eating vs eating for fun/emotions, physical condition vs. will power to move around, politics of the personal, etc).

[@TimeTraveller2054]

I was a passionate reader as a kid, and loved studying english literature. But once I reached aged 16-18 I had a teacher who seriously doubted my ability, would publicly humiliate me in class, would make back-handed compliments about my work when I did well. I did below average in my exams and came away from education feeling like I'd failed. But I've read 7 books so far this year! I am making time to reconnect with it.

[@arshiyarahee7031]

omg i'm feeling the same thing with my english teacher this year! i had an amazing one last year who encouraged me alot and made me fall in love with storytelling and writing, but the new one is so focused on matching the markschemes over going over my own analysis about the writer's work i feel really demotivated and frustrated. my grades hadn't dived too greatly yet but i sometimes feel myself losing my edge at times. but i'm stubborn about my love for it so hopefully i'll pass through. sry if it became a rant but your comment just reminded me of it and gave me hope that it'll get better. congrats on finishing 7 books!!

[@WatchingWhileAsleep]

It's truly horrible that such people who feel threatened by a teenager's enjoyment of "intelligent/sophisticated" hobbies can be allowed to have such a huge influence on them. That teacher was an immature asshole and they can rot for ruining something that you loved. I hope you continue to embrace your hobbies again and feel better about yourself ❤

[@nicopavvi8494]

I've read a book where there was a similar teacher. He ends up killed by a Snake.

[@alexwright4944]

Get that teacher out of your head! Rewrite that experience to empower you!

[@polly2900]

I'm sorry you had such a shitty teacher.

[@HeinzeC1]

Not cheating. You said "5 books in 5 days", not "1 book a day for 5 days".

[@vincentngo9186]

first reply after no replys after 6 months

[@HeinzeC1]

@@vincentngo9186 Greetings. I had no idea this comment had any likes so this was a nice suprise.

[@productiveprojects6800]

The reply section is very interesting 🤔, lol

[@farhant.3214]

@@mudkipalpharius indeed

[@ap1jpanimations920]

@@farhant.3214 Very much so

[@creativenamegoeshere2562]

“Is it a problem if I don’t want to solve it?” Famous last words of every high schooler who has an English assignment due in 5 hours.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Ah, but the problem will only be there for another 5 hours. After that, it'll be a completely different problem.

[@creativenamegoeshere2562]

@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 problem metamorphosis.

[@GaminGuy_]

well you know what they say, if you’re not failing, you’re passing

[@pippin7016]

i feel so called out right now

[@creativenamegoeshere2562]

@@pippin7016 GET OFF KZbin AND DO YOUR WORK

[@なぼ-q8s]

No. 5: You spend so much time reading texts for your studies/education that you cannot fathom sitting down and reading after you're finally done with 6 hours of academic reading 😥

[@vivianecorreia9848]

yeah!!!!! I read so much content for college and after I'm done I just can't read nothing else. I just wanna do nothing and let my brain rest a little bit lol

[@bubbledoubletrouble]

That sounds like it falls under “out of energy”.

[@aviecenna8579]

Yes, in addition to the cognitive wear and tear, a big part of the physical fatigue I feel at the end of the day is eye strain from reading. Doing even more reading after that just adds to the problem

[@alisonmcalistair]

I’ve found that leisure reading is good training to build my reading skill that helps me get through academic reading faster. I’m political science so I read a lot of dense theory and old texts, and reading classics, creative nonfiction, poetry, and short stories is a fun way to practice that skill. If I keep up with leisure reading at least once a week I can get through my homework twice as fast.

[@なぼ-q8s]

@@alisonmcalistair I think it also highly depends on what kind of academic reading you have to do. Personally, I did global studies, so I had a lot of language theory. On top of that, I took a minor in identity and its connection with the written word, which often made it difficult to 'turn off' the academic reading mindset, since I'd either a) start analyzing the content or b) focus on sentence structure or word-choices. Of course, reading is like training a muscle, so it makes sense that reading in your free time will help you get through your academic work faster, I just think it really relies on your field of study in this particular case.

[@Jo-ky3qf]

It's been a year since I watched this video and since then I've read about 30 books. I forgot how great it felt to chill out and be completely consumed in a great story. Thanks for the reminder guys x

[@hastalasopasequemo3645]

Hi today is day 1 imma start wit nonfiction wish me luck

[@hhwhehehehe]

@@hastalasopasequemo3645 how are you doing?

[@panpukinart]

Hey, how are you faring? :) @@hastalasopasequemo3645

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

That sounds awesome. I have literally never been able to truly experience being completely consumed in a great story. No matter how good a book is, I read so slowly that it feels like a chore, so I am mostly focused on getting the chapter finished so I can take a break from reading and do something else.

[@stevenmorgan4758]

Idk about for others, but I stopped reading for pleasure because of guilt while I was in college. Anytime I'd go to pick up a book, I just felt guilty for not studying or reading a textbook. It also made me feel childish because I felt that as an adult I should be reading more advanced books for education. . . .so instead I watched cartoons all day and ignored reading altogether for years. That didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to

[@bjhouse817]

Same, I studied chemistry which is so broad that I always felt guilty for not studying. But I've been out of school for a decade... not sure what my deal is now.

[@joursdeTJ]

Same

[@stevenmorgan4758]

@@bjhouse817 I had the same problem, I studied psychology and it's so engrained in everything that it's like a never-ending pursuit trying to learn it all. The only way that I've managed to get back into reading was by diving into it further once my degree was finished. And now somehow I'm in the middle of studying Dostoevsky and Confucius because philosophy was the foundation of psych. Idk which subjects combined to form chemistry, but you may have fun reading about older versions of chemistry and its history to better understand the things you know now

[@bjhouse817]

@steven that's an excellent idea!

[@MarokoJin]

Story of my life... Now I'm trying to read again and I did succeed to read a few books last year knowing that "I should have done something more productive" but that's an illusion, I'm productive in my own way when I read what I like.

[@derekfnord]

I used to beat myself up a bit over how I used to be such an avid reader, but wasn't anymore. Eventually, I realized that I *_do_* still read, all the time. It's just moved to the Internet. Now, instead of reading books or magazines, we're reading web sites, or reading Facebook, or reading Twitter, or reading Reddit, or reading emails, or reading text messages, etc. I don't think we should be concerned that we're *_not_* reading; I think we should be concerned about *_what_* we're reading...

[@GogiTavadze]

Wow man never thought this way

[@coocoointhebrains]

Woww you're completely right

[@ymaysernameuay1113]

Yeah but thats not the kind of reading that makes you smarter.

[@lizziefg10]

@@ymaysernameuay1113 it really depends. The internet allows us to have contact with many different perspectives and cultures, which can stimulate our critical thinking

[@nouanni]

reading helps to lengthen your attention span which scrolling on twitter etc definitely doesn't soo I wouldn't say it's the "same"

[@scorpioigor]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention phones and social media as a reason why people stopped reading. Seriously, my attention span is completely destroyed due to social media. Our brains are being molded by the information dump that we get from pictures and short videos everywhere. Everything has to be instantly all the time, and that is making any activity that takes time and engagement a true hassle.

[@saffrown]

I’ve started downloading books to my phone for this reason!! unhealthy escapist coping through social media,, but it helps that I can have fast access to reading when I momentarily get sick of scrolling through whatever app has me in a brain dead daze.

[@ecnallatnac1026]

ive thought about that too, referring how our attention spans may have a part in finishing a book. Because reading needs focus and patience, with how everything is instant nowadays and constantly ingesting information is rewarded through unlimited scrolling, maybe that's also a factor why trying to read a book nowadays can be a little difficult for some

[@PrincessSachiko]

exactly... i recommend occasionally setting one day aside where you don't use your phone/computer/tablet/tv. i did this recently and it felt weird but i liked the feeling of having a calmer, slower day. of course i love social media and technology, but the downside is that it reduces my attention span. so i have to take a break from it all sometimes.

[@__-zb9vz]

I´m not sure if this is really part of the main problem. Sure, it seems like most people have a short attention span because of social media, including me, but i am able to write an 5 hour exam, i am able to play the piano for multiple hours or get focused on my work. But reading? In my 7 years of studying law (german system, including 2 years more or less practical work) i might have read 25 books. That´s what my fifteen year old me would have read in one year. What i know from my parents and their friends, that´s not a new phenomenon. They were all big readers as kids and stopped in their late teens, years before social media was a thing.

[@Arlothed1no]

I definitely agree with this but I also do like how having an app on my phone for reading is super helpful especially since I can enlarge text. But I wish more print books came out with large text editions because the light from the phone hurts my eyes sometimes.

[@CourtneyCoulson]

I used to read as a child, because I had literally nothing better to do. These days, reading more than a few paragraphs is exhausting due to a head trauma. Now I work as a seamstress, so I technically read for six + hours a day because I listen to audiobooks. I used to think there was something inferior about listening to books, but now I'm actually consuming more books than I ever have in my life. Work smarter, not harder.

[@beatm6948]

And reading is so much more than the physicality of it! I have some audiobooks I want to listen to, but we'll see if I get to it 😅

[@Denali327]

I love that! In addition to physical books, I started buying audiobooks on CDs!

[@SRR-rh7id]

I can't seem to keep my concentration if I'm not reading it. I have trouble concentrating on reading anyway, but if it's converted to an audio it would just keep on playing while I think about something else in my head

[@Clarita98]

I learned how to sew in the last year and I also realised that audiobooks while sewing is just perfect! I tried audiobook whilst cooking/cleaning but it just did'nt work for me, I don't know why. But while seing / knitting/crochet it is perfect because I feel it's a slow-pacing hobby!

[@LINUXLINUXLINUXLINUXLINUXLINUX]

I do both now, I listen to audiobooks while owning the paperback. Sometimes I start the audiobook before or after, don't let people gatekeep how you read 🙂

[@EayuProuxm]

"The complexity and depth of the characters, was honestly.... confusing" We stan a queen being this vulnerable in public

[@khalilahd.]

She is the main character and I accept that. She has helped me get my life together in so many ways 💜

[@ioneastra1104]

"It's pretty hard to escape into a book when you are vividly aware that life is still going on." That is actually one of the reasons why I stopped reading :( I didn't want my hobby to become something like a chore

[@tonyp9313]

Yeah that's true. Reading should be something you enjoy like watching tv or playing video games.

[@turtleanton6539]

​@@tonyp9313indeed.

[@marcuscho1166]

That’s also true, since time is in your way and videos are more consumable.

[@anastasis-cm5hw]

Sometimes it’s about doing the fulfilling thing, not the easy thing.

[@juliastms]

as someone with ADHD, listening to the audiobook whilst reading the "physical" book helped me SO MUCH with my ability to read for longer periods of time, more consistently and just overall to enjoy reading more

[@mikefromco]

Same. I’m very likely undiagnosed ADHD and discovering audiobooks was something that really helped me for sure. That’s multi-stimulation really helps me

[@liliyapetrenko615]

Same

[@Flutterbyby]

Oh so not just me? :)

[@lilyludwig4323]

Same except I don't read along with the text. I found out I can focus way better if I'm multitasking. Like, I'll be listening while I'm grocery shopping and get two things done at once!

[@UnusAnnus3]

I am also ADHD and my favorite way to read is also listening to the audiobook while following along with the book. I think I’m also like the gal who made this video in that it’s hard to focus and comprehend just audio

[@bogdanavovk9194]

Exactly what happened to me: a major traumatic event that sent me into a deep depression for 3 years. I hardly even used my phone during that time. Just work and sleep. I'm only now starting to come out of it and starting to get interested in my hobbies again

[@bobthegamingtaco6073]

Good on you for working through it. I know from experience how rough that can be, and I'm glad you're starting to recover

[@avi4875]

LEGIT. I used to read like "adult" books and have not been able to read for about a year now and I picked up Percy Jackson in an effort to get my little sister to read and flew through it.

[@Wendidyoutubestartusinghandles]

Same with Percy Jackson books! They’re so good 😭

[@sophshep556]

Rereading Percy Jackson was how I got out of my years long reading hiatus too. It's not only nostalgic from my childhood but just a great well written book with complex characters & a compelling storyline.

[@hepthegreat4005]

I feel like books targeted to younger audiences, tend to be less hard to read, because the purpose of writing them is to make them "fun" not to make you think. I like books that make you think, but..... "fun" books are what I read in my free time. I also tend to use them to learn languages.

[@rusttytoasttz]

“Damn, it sucks I haven’t read in so long.” -they said, just finishing the fourth 300,000 word fanfiction of the month

[@auridazahra3340]

NOOOOOOO THIS IS WAAAAY TOO ACCURATE 😭

[@margot356]

STOPPP😭

[@Scarletcroft]

Ah the fanfiction rabbit hole. I know it well. ( its also a bit like digging for treasures in a pile of trash, which is always fun)

[@JinMeowsoon]

“Damn, it sucks I haven’t read in so long”, Do I say, just finishing this week the fourth 70 chapters of a poorly fan translated Isekai novel.

[@kidsha6721]

✋Stop calling me out

[@codyshilliday4615]

The biggest thing for me that killed my drive to read recreationally was late high school through university. suddenly I was spending hours a day reading for assignments, and the last thing I wanted to do after trying to crush 4 chapters of my textbook was to pick up a novel and read. It forced me to turn reading, something I loved, into work, and I haven't been able to break that connection yet

[@itsyaboinadia]

i feel that. for me it was reading one too many tedious books i had to suffer through and not wanting to subject myself to that again.

[@kaleb_barbour3]

Nothing ruins something fun like doing it as a job.

[@aSpectrumofDorky]

Yeah I just commented the same thing. Lost the joy of reading with summer reading requirements in early high school. Finished my first book this summer, Star Wars novel and I had a blast. Also realized that watching the movie before the book kept me so engaged!

[@WorriedtheCircusDemon]

Reading assignments with deadlines is murdering my joy for reading. Trying to get back into it now, but it's hard when picking up a book reminds you of grades and a matter of success or failure :( so many essays...

[@leasting]

College was exactly this, and for me it carried through to grad school. All fun reading was guilty because it wasn't school reading, and school reading was also guilty because I was always so behind on it. Now I have a job and the fun reading is still guilty because I'm not studying for professional exams lol

[@leelahasan3988]

This was a ridiculously relatable video. I used to read a book a day every single day after school. I was reading literally hundreds of books every year, but I stopped reading for fun completely after graduating high school. I've been trying to get back into it now that I have some free time over summer. One thing that I find to be a real challenge is just finding books I would like. YA feels wayy too kiddish for me, but I have no idea what to read in adult fiction and it's too much work to start books I don't like. I did start reading comic books though, and that's helped me get back into reading books. Good luck to all the other former bookworms out there.

[@gchungus]

Same! Reading was fun as a kid because the stories were fun and generally uplifting/happy. Adult books seem to be so...depressing? Idk I don't want to read a fantasy series about a 17 year old chosen one anymore, but I also don't want to read about the sad failure of a marriage. I want a slice of life that is kind of calm but also not boring but also not bogged down by the aches and pains of life y'know? I read A Gentleman In Moscow, and it's a great book that ticks all the boxes for me! A bit exciting because of the time period, but also no high stakes, and a heartwarming cast of characters :)

[@leelahasan3988]

thanks for the recommendation@@gchungus

[@jessicaaustriaco]

Look into the cozy fantasy genre to avoid sad but also avoid childish books. The Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a good place to start. Margaret Owen’s Little Thieves is a bit more high stakes but fun and playful. I find a lot of friends’ recommendations to be great reads, especially when you figure out what sort of taste in books they have.

[@CainXVII]

@@jessicaaustriaco friends' recommendations are great. I take a lot of tips from my mom. I have found the tiny genre of weird fiction and am enjoying it thoroughly. China Miéville's Kraken (action thriller set in London) or UnLunDun (fantasy about a kid but def worth reading as an adult, a lot of wordplay) or The city of dreaming books by Walter Moers. The Master and Margarita is a Russian classic that is a confusing mess but also fantastic. Winter's tale for a slower, more poetic fantasy about New York.

[@DemiMurgos]

I studied publishing and editorial work as a "throwaway credit" during university and got a great method on how publishers actually decide if a draft eventually makes it to becoming a book that can also be used as a "layman" reader as well. Before you start reading, check the cover: 1. Blurps are made by PR people trying to sell you the book and more often than not they don't reflect the actual tone of the book itself. It will be blickfangy to get you in, but if it's well-written, it is usually a good first sign. 2. The more recommendations a book has and the more awards it is presenting on the cover, the shittier it will be in my experience, so be cautious. Good stories sell themselves. Once you opened the book, read the first sentence. The chief editor, if the first sentence doesn't stir anything in them, will bin the entire draft - this gets rid of about 80% of drafts at a publisher (in Hungary at least). If it's hooking enough, read the first paragraph - then the first page - then, if you have time in the bookstore, the first chapter. Through this, you should have enough sample to know if this book is worth your time or not. If you don't have much time, read the first paragraph, a random sentence from the middle and one from the end (maybe the last sentence). If these 3 doesn't make you curious about what's going on, put it back. Non-scientifical +1: I never had a good smelling book with a shit story in my hand. I gave chance to many REEKING books, but they never lived up to it sadly. Something just...smells different about bad stories.

[@ashleypoole7151]

I understand this feeling. It’s like, ‘a 300 page novel’, no thanks. A 200,000 word fanfic, hells yes. I feel like I don’t have the energy to learn new ‘universes’

[@viatomic]

omygosh yes. i haven't pick up books in years because i find it exhausting nowadays but i lost sleep reading longgg fanfics

[@1234cheerful]

THIS. I got a discarded copy of Game of Thrones at the library and started it but halfway through I didn't WANT to learn all the lore. I have enough "lore" to keep track of in my real life.

[@thetinmaamfromozthemagicdragon]

That word choice really hits

[@vivianneven]

I can definitely relate. Just my working theory, but I do wonder if fanfics make our interests last longer by keeping us in those worlds longer. When there’s a really good book with no fanfiction, there’s only so many sequels or so many times you can reread without needing to give it a break and move onto something else

[@TheWrathAbove]

@@vivianneven I can't speak on general interest, but as someone with aspergers I can say that while it provides extra content to enjoy during a hyper-fixation it usually won't elongate the hyper-fixation past what just engaging with the original media over and over again would.

[@KaiHenrych]

One thing I’ve noticed about my reading habit is that it hasn’t gone away, it’s morphed. I spend obscene amounts of time on my phone, not watching social media or videos, but reading on a q&a site and reading on wikipedia or random stuff I look up on google. I love to find new stuff to read on my phone, and digital books helped with that. What has happened though is that I have less transit time to read (on the subway, for example), so i find myself reading around tasks I can do in autopilot. I’m not reading 20 books a month like I did as a teen, but I’m probably close to the same amount of reading, even if the actual content I’m reading is different.

[@TheChiful]

I do the same thing!!

[@milcos.i8168]

"20 books a month" waw

[@ose5226]

This is so true. Everytime I'm watching a show or on KZbin or social media, i think to myself, "i should be reading"

[@Bootoomee]

This is me!

[@crazydragy4233]

Also weird she didn't touch on fanfiction, or video essays bc theyre supper relevant to the topic

[@intothepale3551]

Saw the Mutual Aid book paired with Hank Green's novel in the thumbnail and knew I had to jump in. I relate heavy to the struggle of bookworms just going illiterate as we get older so great topic choice as usual!

[@clotildevivier8650]

Sameeeee

[@smileyface81mc77]

I’ve started a job as a teen librarian and I’ve just now started reading again. Two books later, I had fun!

[@gamermapper]

I'm someone who also enjoyed reading back in the day, and I kinda feared that I now became someone not enough intelligent to read and concentrate overall (yeah that's my bad self-confidence), but actually I know that it's mainly because I now have mainly other entertainment types, and I got less used to reading books, but I know that it's not exclusive only to books. For example, I rarely watch series and movies, except when I'm with my family, so when I've tried to watch something this felt kinda similar.

[@dianamart.239]

Are we the same person? Because honestly seeing Hank's book is what lured me into watching this

[@martinasophiaisaksen3034]

@@dianamart.239 Same tho

[@yalilitman849]

I got back into reading when people in my office started doing 15 minutes of reading together. I can't explain how useful comunal reading is

[@Pingalu2]

Hey, this sounds incredible, do you mind telling a little bit more about it? What is your field? Who had this idea? How was it organized?

[@PrincessNinja007]

Yeah we're a social species, there's a very strong instinct to do whatever people around you are doing

[@barbara_LL]

omg yes!! communal studying is also so great, last week my boyfriend and I did a study afternoon together and i was SO GOOD, he is a college student for much longer than i am and his rihtm of study is much better than mine, so he helped me to keep my focus and we bounced ideas of each other, it was great

[@pazavrahami]

Had a similar experience with a friend

[@Bacon_Duck_13]

The title "I read 5 books in 5 days" wasn't as good as "Why you stopped reading". This new title absolutely worked for me! Keep up the great work y'all!

[@angelvu]

Same!

[@thanvirdiouf]

Same

[@juniperjones4310]

Yaaaaaaaaaaa me too

[@Bacon_Duck_13]

Yo what the heck I’m shocked my comment got so many likes! Thanks y’all!

[@paperwitch83]

My answer to why I “stopped” reading: work. Once I needed to be a “real adult” 24/7 I could not read anymore. No time or energy to read anymore. The corporate life is BRUTAL. 😔

[@furaigames6837]

Saaame. First found western comics and japanese manga as easier-to-digest alternatives.. But I eventually got too burnt out for those as well.

[@Call-me-Al]

Same, I can't afford to hyperfocus the same way anymore even though I don't have kids. I used to be basically dead to the world while reading (at a really high speed), but as an adult there are so many little things you have to pay attention to all throughout the day. You can't just skip meals and ignore chores in the evening, while as a kid your chores usually ended in the evening after house chores and homework and you could use that time however you wanted as long as you got enough sleep to wake up in time to get to school. ...being poorer doesn't help either: I have to spend more time on reducing long term costs, while one can just not bother with a lot of money saving chores if one can afford to for instance throw money away on takeaway food, not having to repair clothes, and so on.

[@AmazingRebel23]

I don’t wish that hell on anyone. I don’t see why we don’t just boycott anything corporate.

[@humanrays]

4HL blues.

[@voldy3565]

This is why I'm terrified of life after school. I won't be able to do anything anymore because of work. In that case, I'd rather stay unemployed.

[@tfkns_14]

Why I stopped reading: 3 words. Undiagnosed, untreated ADHD. What was once my escape and hyperfocus as a child and pre-teen became a concentration-sapped chore once I got to the academically demanding years of later high school and college. When I was 10 I had the reading comprehension of a high school senior. Now I'm 3 years post college grad and my brain just feels ruined.

[@therealbeanbot]

That’s 3 words, right? Anyway not the point, sorry your ADHD has made your reading difficult.

[@andrew23456able]

oof same

[@YouNeedABento]

Not to mention any distraction can potentially derail the entire thing if you do manage to get immersed

[@jasmintea8825]

This is a bit too relatable

[@notacomputer5486]

That's three words 🤔 Also you're probably right, mine was "Diagnosed but willfully untreated ADHD" and I went though the same experience.

[@jenniferholt-molina]

I am a community college instructor, and because of time, I, too, turned to audiobooks, but I love that you mention pacing. I recommend it to students because it has always worked for me. I even remember the reading better. There is a great deal of academic research that supports this.

[@gwendolynmadden6566]

I think what’s helped me is not feeling pressure to read “mature” books. I don’t try to force myself to read nonfiction or novels with complex characters. I enjoy YA fiction, if I want to read a book made for 14 year olds, I will.

[@tammyd.970]

lol! I go even younger than that. If I want to feel better, I indulge in Roald Dahl, the kids' books, not the adult short stories. I felt a little weird reading Pratchett's 'Nation', but then got sucked in and realised I didn't care. It is so important to read books that you connect with, whatever the reason or intended age level. Good for you for reading what you like! 😊

[@atherapists3331]

@@tammyd.970 I read too much fan fiction

[@starofaetherius]

Im sort of the opposite, its sort of weird. Reading nonfiction doesnt feel like studying anymore, so now when I do occasionally read its history or science related. But also I totally see how you got where you did too. I remember reading Warriors when I was 12 and I would totally read about those cats again at 25... damn that was half my life ago.

[@malinalikeskpop]

@@starofaetherius oh my god I have half a bookshelf filled with Warriors (named Warrior Cats in my country)! I even met one of the authors, Victoria Holmes, when I was 10 years old. She came to my city for a reading and I got an autograph in one of my books. It was a lovely experience. I really need to re-read the whole series, I adored it when I was younger.

[@malinalikeskpop]

@@atherapists3331 you can never read too much fan fiction as long as you enjoy it!

[@themaggieMACfly]

I'm shocked no one here has said they stopped reading out of pure mental exhaustion from college years, I read so much for my degree. it was all good stuff, I liked the books so much I kept most of them (english lit, native am lit, anthropology, various topics in creative writing, literary journals)... but i was so drained from those years in general i just wanted to lay still for the next 10. reading is not hard for me, but it doesn't excite me the way it used to. I read articles and I research when I want to understand practical things. if I didn't have to do anything at all, and i could devote time to doing nothing, long enough to feel recovered and re set.. and then do more nothing until I felt bent on finding a focus...then I think i would want to read. I really enjoyed the experiment you have here, setting a time constraint is probably the only thing that would get me back in the habit.

[@jigneshganja]

My attention span is so short I gave up reading your comment half way in lol

[@toughrocks890]

You are right on the money here! I loved what I read in college but it was draining. Now reading feels like homework unless it's literally the same author/series I read when I was in middle school.

[@elouisecc]

The same thing happened to me. Even when I did have time to read for fun, I was already doing a lot of reading for history classes and such, so I would just be tired of reading. Now that I'm done with school, I still treat reading like a homework assignment. "I'll just read one chapter today.... I still have three pages left?? I'm almost done, gotta force myself through...." Becoming obsessed with anime and manga probably didn't help my falling out with reading, either. But this video makes a good point about reading the right books. It's been a while since I've read novels for pleasure and I am therefore out of practice with reading in that way, so Dune was probably not a good choice for a comeback title.... Before, I think the most complicated books I read were the Lunar Chronicles.

[@BoolianKazooka]

@@elouisecc This is exactly it for me. Throughout all my years of school we always got reading assignments. I was never the kind that liked homework, it was always intolerably tedious, so I just learned to associate reading with boredom. It didn't help that 95% of the books we read were some of the worst, most pretentious garbage that has ever stained paper. It eventually got to the point that I just stopped reading entirely and just used sparknotes for book summaries. The last book I read fully was A Catcher in the Rye. It was easily the worst thing I've ever read and I consider it the straw that broke the camel's back.

[@k80_]

Yeah it’s kind of like how going to the gym to get fit feels like a chore, but going on a hike for fun tires you out just as much in a fun way. It’s about having intrinsic motivation to do the thing, ie have fun instead of gain a reward from someone else. Also, everyone, neurodivergent or not, has a mental budget or a number of spoons they can use in one day. When you’re reading for work you don’t really have anything left once you get home and have time for fun.

[@FoggyMooseBog]

I used to read for the escapism. My home life was so fked up. When I finally moved out on my own I just wanted to live like a normal person so reading felt like I was missing out on life. It is a complicated thing to have loved reading so much because it was how I survived, but to resent reading because it symbolizes my lost childhood.

[@shannonfitzpatrick5011]

I completely agree. I went through a depression which left me wanting to escape. I used watt pad for years and then stopped for a couple months and then I used kindle for a year and I’ve stopped for another 2 months right now. I have found that I love love love romance books but they always make me feel bad afterward. I think the best thing to do is find healthy habits. I do resent it a lot because I missed out on most of highschool. Thank you for reminding me not to get pulled in. I was about to read another romance book and decided not to. I do think books like that are addicting because the dopamine and you miss out on life.

[@mollycblaeser]

This! 100%.

[@polly_nah]

I never thought about this before, but this examplains a lot... I used to read not to feel lonely, but now have youtubers for that (jk)

[@evflyleaf]

Same!

[@kaitlyn__L]

Yessssssss

[@CelestialsStorm]

I’m still a very avid reader… of fanfiction. One of my favorite fics has over ONE MILLION WORDS AND 305 CHAPTERS. And I love rereading it occasionally. I have so nearly 600 bookmarks on AO3. Fanfiction takes plots and characters I already love and mixes it up and makes it new

[@ChaoticClaire]

What I like about fanfics is that you don't have to get into a new world with new characters, history, rules, etc., because you're already familiar with it. Sometimes new things can be exhausting, so it feels good to dive into something you already know.

[@scottishemu159]

What fanfic has the 305 chapters?

[@CelestialsStorm]

@@scottishemu159 Ashes of the Past by Saphroneth. It’s very good, it’s over 1 million words iirc. He’s started posting it on AO3 in smaller, easier to read chunks!

[@hyrulebaelfire]

That's true; I read a 100k+ fanfic in three days but still it took me a month to get through a 220 page anthology 😅

[@Evelyn-ur9gd]

Oohhh are u an avatar fan??

[@kayri687]

"my fiction reading ability has never really progressed past my Percy Jackson and The Olympians phase" Sabrina, you're winning. There is no progression past that phase

[@james__anna_burns4885]

nah i was like, wait youre supposed to go beyond that? i read kinda regularly and about 60% of the time im probably reading something ive already read

[@nenmaster5218]

@@james__anna_burns4885 There’s so much to say to this Topic. People just dont Read OR WRITE enough. I tried telling Teens i know Tiktok decreases their attention-span and i tried a lot online and offline to get Kids and Pre-Teens to try writing some Stories and become Noob-Authors, but it does not work enough. Writing and Reading are such amazingly valueable skills; if those had never existed, the World would look drastically differenct.

[@redninja595]

@@nenmaster5218 lol this is why wattpad exists

[@meredithsanderson6808]

I decided to reread the percy jackson series at the beginning of 2021 and it was got me back into reading for myself. finished 2021 with 41 books read (':

[@nenmaster5218]

@@meredithsanderson6808 That is a very good series; so good that I'm very proud whenever people donate those books after having read them OR EVEN COOLER: Just buy a whole bunch of them for Children around their Neigbourhood.

[@Vailskibum]

I keep trying to get back into novels, but manga pulls me in instead

[@thepinkestpigglet7529]

Yeah I for some reason ended up reading less word books and more graphic novels and magna in the past couple of years

[@frostboi77]

might be the art dragging you in lel. they feel a lot faster to read to me, probably bcos of the cool art making it so that there's less words in one page and so that you don't have to form the picture in your mind, it's already there

[@frostboi77]

thus the faster pace makes it more attractive???

[@maximellow5745]

Feel that. I gave up and just kept reading more manga

[@vaanivijay6552]

That’s the same case for me. Now, I just go on my tab, open a manga site and just continue from where I left. And I just binge-read like 10-15 chapters, in 45 minutes! That hasn’t happened to me with books in a long time honestly

[@clairelin5058]

I feel like Sabrina really said “let’s just show off how old school of a nerdfighter I am” in this video with the nathan zed shirt and the green brother books

[@twumz]

This comment takes me out😂

[@Bubby-vc5fv]

Also, 'Why Fish Don't Exist' is a book John recommends in one of his book videos.

[@ergotoxicosis]

DFTBA

[@ElleLSings]

“When I hear things, don’t know where it goes!” Is my entire experience with audiobooks haha

[@afuantics175]

I actually kinda love the “it’s good” reviews lol. I spend a lot of time on booktube & goodreads where there are so many strong opinions on books that it makes you question your taste/your favorites. Sometimes it’s just good 😌

[@aditisk99]

I know two words feel assuring.

[@isaM08]

The feeling she had in that last book is the feeling I had when reading as a kid, and the feeling I miss having so much. I would get so immersed in the stories that the world around me would completely fade away, and it would feel like I was watching a movie as my imagination took over and I could see every scene and character move in front of me. It is magical. It's a feeling that only someone that has felt it before will ever understand. My parents would complain that they would call my name and I wouldn't listen. When I paused reading because I had to go do something I sometimes would even forget who or where I was for a brief moment. I miss having that much imaginative power, that much time, that much magic in my life. Books are amazing. If you have ever felt this before, you know what I mean. And if you haven't, I encourage you to try.

[@Oxyleya]

Beautiful comment & so true

[@GBfanatic15]

the harry potter books have always felt like coming home to me, and getting lost in them is incredibly easy...it feels akin to being in the pensieve and SEEING the book play out like I was IN the novels...I think that's why inkspell was such a heady experience for me

[@pendlera2959]

I've gone back to reading kids/YA books for that reason. They're written to make reading as easy and fun as possible, which is what I need when life is hard. Also, with my depression and anxiety, I can't handle the stakes and tension that most adult books have (which is a problem I have with movies and TV, too).

[@PrincessSachiko]

@@pendlera2959 yesssss me too! i love kids' books, movies, and TV shows!! it's not 100% of what i read/watch but it's a lot of it. i like the fact that kids' stories are more lighthearted (but still interesting).

[@PrincessSachiko]

i love this comment and yes, i know the feeling! it's what i often felt as a kid, because i read a ton of books back then. i recently started reading again because i miss that feeling. (i still read kids' books!) reading forces your brain to concentrate a lot, and if you read a good quality book with a story you love, your brain concentrates so much that you get absorbed into the book!

[@IzHarris]

I cannot properly express how much I enjoyed this. SO MUCH.

[@vlogbrotherdave]

ME TOO and also WOW IZ HARRIS HI!

[@paulkim6631]

Big fan of you and Johnny!!

[@answerinprogress]

thank you 🥺 👉👈

[@domuuuuu]

It's good!

[@fronzotto]

I know that the way kids books are written vs adult literature, kids books have a more vested interest in getting you to continue to read. Shorter chapters, more riveting content etc. adult lit tends to be more introspective and slower on the uptake. I’ve completely transitioned into reading journals, essays and news articles. I feel sad because I love the idea of reading novels but I also just can’t get through them. I prefer non fiction now.

[@paboland7994]

Everyone on Twitter: She’s gonna solve wordle with ai!! Sabrina: im trying to go back to my fifth grade reading skills where i don’t dissociate after reading 10 words

[@jimmykarago2598]

TBH i love it when she solves things with AI. It's so cool

[@annyone3293]

TBH, you don’t need an AI to solve Wordle. It’s as easy as filtering a list of five-letter words with regard to letter frequency.

[@tekbox7909]

@@annyone3293 thats boring

[@zyrain]

It's a fun one to do with AI. I did it with NEAT.

[@awwastor]

@@annyone3293 that’s AI. Just old AI. Machine learning isn’t what determines if something is ai.

[@shebjess]

Okay, as someone who's been running an internet book club for the past 10-ish years now, a few thoughts! 1. Fanfic, manga, audiobooks and comics books ABSOLUTELY count as reading. It might not be the traditional reading most are used to but it counts. Don't let people tell you otherwise. 2. I don't know about anyone else but non-fiction was always harder to read than fiction. I've been reading for decades and only found maybe 2 non-fiction books that sucked me in. *Shrugs* 3. Around Nov 2020, I downloaded a productivity app that basically locks me out of my phone for a set amount of times and while it's hard for the first few times, it helps A LOT. Sometimes, being on your phone is like just snacking all day on a bag of chips. Are you hungry? Not really but it is there so why not? Find your method to unplug and it helps. 4. Be honest about what you want to read. Much like Sabrina said about enjoying yourself being important, if you're not enjoying what you're reading, it's gonna be hard. Read what you want! 5. Goals/Challenges absolutely help, especially if you're competitive like me, lol.

[@theboxygenie]

What's the productivity app called?

[@mango_float5666]

cool

[@WaterMeLoan64]

Great Response!

[@라면먹고싶다-d5w]

Hi! Would you mind sharing your internet book club?

[@azalon2035]

I don't really see how you audiobooks count as reading unless you're reading along.

[@floggingluna]

One tip is also to drop any pretenses of "good" or "bad" reading. Read what you enjoy, don't read stuff you don't enjoy because it's a "proper read". If you like reading only fantasy books, do that! When you get in the habit there will be room to explore things you usually don't read.

[@ceci9570]

@@Kazenikatze me when I read ao3 fics

[@clarissa.d.pereira]

Yes! As a teenager, we are forced to read certain books for classes. Then later, forced to read articles and books for college and work. Read became an obligation, with time limit and pressure. Not fun at all!! I decided a while ago to do exactly what you mentioned: read whatever I like, even though people "might judge" as a teen book. And I liked it!

[@basilsolomon1176]

You are what you feed your brain though…

[@roblangada4516]

Plenty of good ideas and philosophy in "frivolous" books, particularly scifi novels that can cover themes and ideas that literally can't even exist in our contemporary world yet. Like the morality of mind uploading/emulation. Or how disassociating near light speed travel with time dilation and 30 year journeys between stars can be, or what types of cultures may form as a response to that, like the Ultras in Alistair Reynolds work. They became disconnected from human society at large and become like their own faction of humanity, because they spend all of their time aboard lighthuggers traveling at 99% of the speed of light, living in a totally separate time frame from the rest of humanity.

[@thesoupin8or673]

Smut here we come lmao

[@LINUXLINUXLINUXLINUXLINUXLINUX]

I noticed this while reading Moby Dick for the first time, I kept having like a weird voice in my head going "you are going to be tested on this" and I had to remind myself that I am reading for fun. It's safe to say that the approach of schooling to reading is catastrophic.

[@PrincessNinja007]

Also in school they made us read at our reading level and not whether we were ever going to be interested in it. Like they have books for adults with lower reading levels who want to read about detectives falling in love in Milan, because if you're a full grown adult reading 4th grade books about 4th graders, you'll go mad. When you're a kid though, you're expected to read these books about old people. When you want to read books about kids your age doing kid things, you're chastised for not reading at your skill

[@rion2499]

Another aspect I find interesting is how Fan Fiction works. I too used to read like crazy as a kid, and too find it hard to read new books in adulthood, (though I’ve still been trying to and succeeding read such books for the most part every couple of months, even if it never feels to the amount I consumed as a kid). However I’ve been able to read fanfic almost constantly for over a decade now. And I think a big part of it is both the flexibility in breath of most stories - short, medium, large - plus the serialisation aspect of fanfic, with some authors updating larger stories, like one might watch a tv show. But it’s also the low emotional energy it takes to get into a new fic. You already know the characters and can use tags to curate your fics and know a good bit about the story before you get in. It’s hard to generalise the fic experience but fics still have the great ability to explore new concepts in interesting ways, and are excellent in character studies, as you are diving even further into people you already had a solid enough understanding of from the source material. But it’s also low effort for great reward; you already love these characters and worlds, so reading is like greeting an old friend and getting to know them better, rather than being dumped into a new world with new people and having to figure out who you like, or hate, or trust, out of them. That’s not to say reading “regular” fiction books is not important nor fun, but in a high stress life, fanfic is an old reliable to me and an easy, low brain-cost de-stressor. Fanfic is certainly not for everyone, but it is very interesting and I think there are many things we could learn from it. Books will never not be important as a whole, but I think there is a lot of untapped potential in the flexibility, accessibility, tagged curating and creativity from stories not trapped behind the ability to be published or be marketable.

[@moon2985]

yo holy shit you explained that perfectly. this has definitely been my experience

[@sarahparker7439]

You put the thing into words!

[@tiiti2003]

This is so true

[@typoriver3651]

This!!! Soooo much! When I had to describe why I have no trepidation starting a Fic the length of a Harry Potter book, yet I struggle to convince myself to start a new series when the books are the thickness of a pamphlet. It came down to... not having to put emotional investment into brand new characters and settings, without knowing if they will pay off. Yet, with fanfics? They're a brand new playground for my favorite characters to be in! I already love the characters, And usually the setting, now the author just has to have a writing style I like and I'm golden!

[@PetitPoneyArcEnCiel]

you nailed it. great explanation of why I have so many store-bought, library-borrowed books waiting on my shelves but I can read fanfic without trouble!

[@tianacross6475]

I definitely feel that the issue is the "right book" - I'm a grad student and I read SO MUCH, and lemme tell you that there is 0 energy for a nonfiction book at the end of the day. if I don't have to read it and it isn't brain candy, it's gonna sit there (at least till I graduate)

[@Mady0]

Even when I still liked reading I had this problem. I actually had a romance novel that I HATED that I would keep on me to motivate myself. It made me consider what I'd read next and it would serve as something to do when I didn't plan ahead. It was also an excuse to not read whatever the required reading was during language arts as even reading something I despised was better than reading something for school.

[@andrewstanley1732]

I recently picked up reading again. My tip for anyone wanting to start reading again is to just hold the book. Just hold it. The idea came from how often I pull out my phone whenever I have an idle moment. So, instead of reaching for my phone out of boredom, I just open the book that I have in my hand. I don't know if it'll work for everyone, but boy if it hasn't worked for me!

[@spidergoon5315]

because of your pfp i will take this advice

[@andrewstanley1732]

@@spidergoon5315 How could anyone distrust this face?

[@MynicknameisViolet]

Its hard to break the muscle memory of reaching for the phone. I like your idea

[@lowstringc]

When I went to college in 1993, I decided I wasn’t going to watch tv but experience the many great things incorporated in college. At the end of that school year I thought: if I go to September it’ll be a full calendar year. That went on for 19 years, in which time I read quite a bit, but also did a lot of meaningful things. When I married 19 years later, I made the concession to get a tv and stream for my wife, who loves to knit and watch things. KZbin also became a factor. I virtually stopped reading in deference to low hanging fruit, and frankly: the past decade or so have been a much worse time for my mental health, and life-fulfillment in general. I really miss those years of disconnecting from the media of the time and entertaining/educating myself through reading, hobbies, and making music. This video has brought that vacuum back to my attention, and perhaps I need to challenge myself again…. I was a better person during those 19 years than I am now, and I want to be a better person.

[@stacydean773]

I realized I was picking up books I wanted to want to read - like self-help or bios or educational reads, but would never finished them… it was a chore. Now, I’ve come to realize I can fly through a book if it’s mystery, suspense, or fantasy. Know your genre.

[@corkaczarownicy]

I always feel like I should read very smart, ambicious books. Either about sciene or classical literature. Which in the end causes me to have 6 month long periods of not reading at all. So now I decided to pick up a couple of books at once. I still want to read about philosophy anc classic books, but I will read something super simple about witches and vampires along with it. I donät fall out of the reading train, I get to enjoy reading and still slowly plough through the books that are harder, but still important.

[@OnyinyeOfunwa]

@@corkaczarownicy Oof i loved the classics as a kid i read a lot of them and sometimes id reread some of my favs at least 10 times like moby dick, Anne of green gables, Tom Sawyer, adventures of huckleberry finn, the secret garden, little women etc but now in my teenage years i still love them but I haven’t read them as much as i used to which makes me sad cuz their one of my fav types of literature(idk im a sucker 4 the old things XD) but since im taking ap literature in 12th grade(aka nest semester) i kinda have to read them again lol but I’ve been wanting to after sometime so its a win win! But for the most part i read anything and everything but my most fav genre is psychological thrillers/horror! And i do the same exact thing you do with picking up a lot of books at once my locker at sch is jammed bc of that bad habit XD🥲i keep telling myself im gonna finish some and stop adding more but i dont know how at this point 🤣😪

[@corkaczarownicy]

@@OnyinyeOfunwa You'll figure it out. One thing I learned is to sometimes let the book go and just dnf it, if it doesn't pick my interest. Good luck😘

[@jackb7685]

I've found that nonfiction books that follow a narrative are much easier to read -- something like "The shallows" by Nicholas Carr

[@blah914]

audio books 👌 and Headway

[@samu-wamu]

I feel this. I also went from devouring books as a kid to not reading at all...then the pandemic hit and e-readers were on sale, so I got back into reading fanfic. Physical copy of a commercially available book? Meh. Fanfic that's longer than the Bible? Sure, give me a week (or two). Accepting that reading is reading, even if it's not a published author, has really gotten me to enjoy doing so again!

[@Luke-tg2tl]

Same! I'm trying to read Song Of Achilles atm and while it is really good, I struggle to read more than a chapter at a time and pick it up again later. But when I find a good Fanfic I only stop reading once my eyes can no longer stay open

[@rkah6187]

Definitely. I do read... but only fanfics about characters I already know and am invested in. I just have no energy to start from scratch and have to get to know new characters and universes that I might or might not end up liking.

[@lynstrawberry5645]

Wow this really hit me. You’ve given me something to think about.

[@cecerats]

i love fanfiction. chronic pain and school messed up my energy and concentration, but reading (usually short) stories about characters and worlds i am already familiar with is way easier. it also helps that fanfiction usually doesn't use complex writing styles and narrative, like the books school expects us (a bunch of 16 year olds) to get through

[@mariyashandle]

i think the reason to this is more so the idea behind fanfiction and books. for reading a book, i have a preconceived idea that i need to make time, not be tired enough, be comfortable, not be stressed. for fanfiction my only requirement has been, life sucks im stressed let's forget i exist. of course, fanfiction is rarely "longer than the bible" but i can read many many small fanfictions enough to be one book. i think one aspect to start reading again for me would be to break the perception i have

[@iokei7926]

I'm a professional writer, and for the life of me, I could not read for years. Then I read NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy and The Song of Achilles. Actually changed my life a little.

[@DrMacca]

OMG that trilogy is absolutely incredible!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@secondjulia]

The Fifth Season is one of the best Fantasy books ever written.

[@ariellen4995]

Augh my heart still hurts after reading Song of Achilles last year

[@azul4904]

im 16 and i aspire to be a writer one day, but i have this same issue. i write ALL THE TIME but i have the hardest time reading and its very frustrating, reading is something i used to love and cherish deeply (i also grew up an only child with really busy parents so reading always kept me company)- i hope this video helps me get back on track! what’s your name btw? i’d love to look up your work! if you don’t mind.

[@qumquat]

I've been meaning to read that trilogy for like a year now lol. According to my brother-in-law it's not good but he also fully admits to not liking female authors period so I'm just gonna ignore him completely...

[@roguegreyjedi]

Librarian here with thoughts! 1. Yay Libby! Support your local libraries because we support you! 2. Listening to audiobooks is absolutely also reading, whether you're looking at the words at the same time or not. 3. For day three my tip would be if your mind wants to wander off (to your phone/work/etc), give it a toy to play with instead. For Sabrina this ended up being pacing that tiny hallway, but it could be instrumental music or a literal fidget toy instead if you find that works for you. For me, giving the part of my brain that wants to wander off something to play with keeps it from pulling the rest of my brain away from the task at hand (reading). 4. I totally anecdotally agree that narratives go faster than nonnarrative books; if you want to feel that sense of accomplishment of finishing a book without it taking days and days (and weeks and months and...) I also recommend novellas, graphic novels (also books! and they go super fast), or YA (often have a larger typeface so they go faster by default, plus typically less difficult language than many adult books). Lots of action/adventure/suspense can also keep the pace moving in a way that makes you motivated to read more, but ymmv with that because every book and every reader is different.

[@Lolpitta123]

When I was younger, I read all the books in my local library and had to start ordering from others. I was so obsessed with reading I would read two books in a day. Once I started A-levels my enjoyment of reading dropped and then in university I completely stopped reading unless it was essential to my degree. Now with work, I'm so mentally drained at the end of the day I just can't pick up a book. I miss the days where I had the time to read and how excited I was to pick up a new book.

[@tammyd.970]

I hear that. I think at some point we start to feel guilty about just reading something for fun. I'm not sure why watching TV shows/movies/videos is different. Maybe because it is more useful to social interactions? I do think that reading is a habit that needs to be nurtured, and it's easy to forget that it can be fun. Placing enjoyable reads around randomly (like, in the bathroom!) without the pressure of 'I need to read this' can help ease one into the habit again. I did this with a book by James Herriot (who I have never read), and I keep picking it up and reading chapters, as well as reading funny bits outloud to my partner. I hope you find your love again too!

[@wismeiry31]

@@tammyd.970For me I feel extremely guilty if I watch Tv shows or movies knowing that I have 16 books on my tbh 😢

[@mr.gryphon]

As a teacher, I actually have done a bit of unofficial studies of this with both High-school students and College graduates in public schools in Arkansas and California. From my small sample size, it seemed most people self reported that they stopped reading for pleasure around 7th-8th grade, almost all students interviewed said they used to read for pleasure all the time when they were younger but now felt little to no interest, the exception being for books such as Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and other young adult fiction novels. I'm glad to see more people becoming aware of the issue, one solution might be YA Novels but for adults and other transition materials set at a fairly easy reading level but with adult content and themes to help get people back into reading. I thought about trying to write something along those lines, but realized trying to write has just as much baggage, still there is the million dollar idea for anyone reading this.

[@emmelinesprig489]

This makes me wonder if there are any formal studies on this phenomenon. School killed the joy of reading for me too. I think we need better ways of classifying books. And I agree we need more writers creating books that are both accessible and satisfying. It feels like most books are either too fluffy or too heavy. I want thoughtful escapism.

[@jordanmarshall6628]

“New Adult” is a category

[@InternetRando42]

The “low reading level” hypothesis is James Patterson, IMHO. That, and other crime and mystery authors. That’s why so many popular book series exist. Once an author can hook you with a style and a cast of characters, and you get over the initial hump, The cost of initial investment emotionally, then continuing gets easier but like someone else in the comments already said, the reward is still pretty high. It’s just that most people don’t want to admit that the vast majority of “adult“ fiction, although the continent is definitely aimed at adults, the reading level is definitely not advanced.

[@fantasyhochzwei8977]

It's the same for me! Stopped reading around 7th to 8th grade and I'm only really interested in young adult fiction novels. I tried other kinds of books and most of the time I stopped not even halfway through. There where a handful of adult books I was able to read but most of the time...Its just not the same. Maybe it has something to do with being an adult is boring? I want to escape the fact that I'm an adult and responsible for so much more shit, so I can't read about adult things, when all I want is to escape and enjoy my spare time. And young adult fiction novels are way better for escaping tbh.

[@keishajones3830]

This is the answer right here… 🎯

[@IsisAlv]

i got into reading again when i gave up trying to read "smart stuff" to convince myself of something and went after the trashy, fast food grade novels

[@annaedward2601]

Same. I tried to force myself to read an autobiography of Steve jobs. Who did I think I was. I found it so dull. I realise that fantasy novel trilogies are my sweet spot

[@HiAndHello-w9l]

I like to read fun and trashy stuff and save the more literary or heavy stuff for audiobooks that I can listen to while resting, taking a hot bath, or going outside

[@FoxWithBrainDamage]

That hazy feeling you get after finishing a book you were fully immersed in is what keeps me reading. While listening to this video I started to crave it but I am not entirely sure why it keeps me reading, maybe it’s the sense of accomplishment. Am I crazy? Is it just me? 😂 Off I go to read a book!

[@LINUXLINUXLINUXLINUXLINUXLINUX]

Read to broaden horizons in ways you can't expect, the reader lives a thousand lives while the non-reader only lives once. That's how I feel about it.

[@MCjossic]

When I was in high school the school library would hold an annual 'readathon'. You come in at 8 in the morning, and leave at 8 in the evening, and read for 12 hours straight (lunch break included). It was fun and we had pizza and every year I would restart Harry Potter, a tradition that I intend to continue for the foreseeable future.

[@the61stbookworm78]

Gamification: I did a reading challenge where I had 60 different categories of book to read (over 3 years or so), things like 'read a book with a number in the title' and 'read a book published in 1999'. This has massively helped me get more back into reading and discover what books I really enjoy

[@CobaltThunder267]

This sounds awesome! Did you get the list somewhere or make it up yourself?

[@dedeadam9698]

Do you have the list?

[@immortal2318]

commenting in case list

[@the61stbookworm78]

@@immortal2318 I am trying to send it and KZbin keeps deleting my comment 😭 OK... Seems to have worked?! I can't send the link bc KZbin is flagging it as spam. The list was by a blogger called Linz the bookworm, I did the 2019 one but she does one every year!

[@immortal2318]

@@the61stbookworm78 thank you for taking the time! Ill check it out

[@hellboy30098]

I'd definitely say school killed my love for books. For a kid with ADHD, being forced to slog through boring yet important books my love for books completely disappeared... Or so I thought. I'm a sucker for a good fanfic, so it seems as though my interests are grabbed in a universe I'm already aware of, and in shorter formed long content. Same for writing... Which is odd. Maybe I need to pick the habit up, but I'm going back to school so...

[@kaitlyn__L]

Yes!

[@jescoheinen161]

I love reading and i absolutly HATE fanfic with every bit of my being

[@hellboy30098]

@@jescoheinen161 You either haven't found the right one, or are being hell bent on the idea, that it becomes impossible for you to like it 🙂 To each their own, but there's been great fanfics written, people have fantastic imaginations

[@jescoheinen161]

@@hellboy30098 Like when i watch movies shows read books or other stuff i can only like the cannon. Like if something is made by people that hav eno say what is real it just becomes like fake to me and i cant enjoy it

[@zahra9890]

same situation here. I love reading and used to read while brushing my teeth or walking down the stairs. but now, especially this year, I have so much school assigned (literary) reading and it feels like every time I want to read I need to read one of those books. so then I just read nothing. I know a lot of literary books are great, and I want to read and enjoy them, but with the level of concentration and reading level you need for it.. I just can't do it. I already have trouble concentrating on books, I skip sentences when I read or i get distracted, but with my lack of practice it gets harder and harder.

[@londynryan1030]

I’m like you, I used to read nonstop growing up. I wasn’t allowed to have a phone even though they existed when I was a teenager, and books were my escape from reality. I stopped after high school. After watching this video, I went and renewed my library card, and checked out some librarian recommended easy reads to get me back into books, and I’m so glad I did. I get so lost in these books and when I stop reading, I’m looking forward to when I get to keep reading so I can find out what happens. I go through almost a grieving period when I finish a book, and I miss the characters. My screen time has halved since I started reading again. TL;DR Please give books another chance, and read at a pace that’s comfortable. It’s not a race to the finish, enjoy the time you spend reading.

[@elysefaith6685]

The conclusion I've made about my friends and I who used to be avid readers as children is that at a young age it was our best escapism from the outside world, but as Sabrina says in the video, reading is slow so when we get older and get phones and such quick access to internet, that form of escape isn't quick enough to satisfy us

[@Maieveryday2]

True, happened to me, until about 5 months ago when I discovered a video narrarating a short story on a reddit. It was a complete game changer. I joined that reddit. Read all the short stories people posted for a few months, and am now halfway through a 4 book series that began on that reddit.

[@nisaeylulk]

@@Maieveryday2 i have been looking for something like that, what is it called exactly please?

[@Maieveryday2]

@@nisaeylulk I don't know if it's for everyone, but personally I go to the HFY reddit.

[@harenterberge2632]

Having to read "high" literature for school and having to analyse it killed my joy in reading for a while. It returned, but nowadays having a job that already requires a lot of reading plus having kids there is not much energy left at the end of the day.

[@roblangada4516]

I think this is what ruins reading for most kids at an early age. The negative association of books with homework and quizzes.

[@humankaleidoscope4989]

SAME. I studied English literature. Graduated in April and haven’t read a book since. I mean, I tried but I couldn’t read for longer than 20 minutes. I do hope my habit of reading comes back.

[@joursdeTJ]

YES! Plus heavy papers each week for my major just made it worse. I still buy books but I can’t bring myself to read.

[@totallyanonymousbish9599]

Try audio books!

[@spaghettiisyummy.3623]

You could try reading with your kids? Like, bed time stories, for example.

[@KMMHealy]

Pro Tip: Read short story anthologies! 1. The stories are short, so it’s a good manageable chunk to help exercise the reading muscles. There’s only A-plot. No B plot. 2. Anthologies have multiple authors who are - most of the time - novelists. Said novelists often write short stories featuring characters from novels of theirs. Or full series. So if you find a short story you like there’s probably way more story out there. And you’re already hooked so reading longer fiction is easier. 3. It’s a great way to sample other genres you may or may not know much about. 4. It’s easier to find free short stories so it’s less of a financial hurdle. An example: Lightspeed Magazine has a podcast where they have someone narrate select short stories. Also LeVar Burton Reads is an incredible short story podcast. 5. Short story is an underrated medium. Culture tends to push novel/book reading, so short stories as it’s own art form tends to get overlooked. So a lot of people miss out on an incredible medium!

[@betweensirachahardplace8812]

This!

[@paullyons6846]

Also short stories tend to be how new writers first get published, so if you want to be hip to the newest trends and follow the newest talents, short stories are the place to look. And not for nothing, writers generally consider short stories to be much harder to write well than novels. So if anything you’re appreciating the more impressive version of the art. With the convenience of being able to read it much more easily!

[@TuesdaysArt]

There are times where I wonder if my creative projects would work better as short stories (and they'd be more manageable), but I feel pressured to make them into novels because they feel more like an accomplishment and I worry I wouldn't be doing my ideas justice if I didn't flesh them out into novels.

[@AltraMe]

This is valid but I recently got in a reading slump because I started reading an anthology and since the stories always change I didn't find myself interested enough to keep reading. As soon as I got into the story it ended and sure, it was rewarding, but I like getting attached to the characters so anthologies are definitely not for everyone. Short stories on their own feel easier to read

[@sylve2474]

While short stories work for some people, it may also be valuable for others to get into a book series, maybe even help you get into it by listening to an audio book for the first book, once you get into the story, you'll be more inclined to keep reading since you want to know what happens next to the characters or in the plot. So I'd say, experiment with what types of books you read and eventually you'll find something you like. Another idea is graphic novels, comics, webcomics, or manga, you don't have to be staring at a black and white page of text for it to be reading, and one people find these sorts of books to be much more engaging, while others like a bit of everything, never be afraid of trying something or think you're too old for it, just try it and see where it takes you

[@rin0ki]

What helps me a lot as well is finding a community and/or book club. A friend of mine organized a very relaxed small book club after graduating and it not only helps us stay in contact, but also highly motivates me to read more because I have people to talk to about said books:)

[@daisyp1670]

“this book really waits until the last ten pages to make sense” is how I felt about A Tale of Two Cities. But it’s still probably my favorite thing I have ever read tho.

[@cassie8844]

What genre is it

[@daisyp1670]

@@cassie8844 classic, charles dickens.

[@danemarksoliveres2979]

This is what I feel towards Alice in Wonderland lol

[@iwasdrunkonhalloween]

Me reading the crucible fr

[@MarokoJin]

Exactly, if it weren't for Charles Dickens being the writer (so I know that I'll "have something"), I'd have kept unfinished...

[@sage7970]

Listening to an audiobook while reading managed to just about entirely reverse my lack of motivation for reading. I went from not having read for leisure for four years to going straight into Dune! I’m absolutely loving it, halfway in after a few two-three hour stints.

[@windflowerrainstorm6497]

if only listening and reading were the same! a newborn baby can hear an audiobook but the baby doesn't brag about reading it

[@miaalmeida4787]

@@windflowerrainstorm6497 wtf lol

[@ethanbehr723]

@@windflowerrainstorm6497 They literally said that they're reading the book while listening to the same book. I find that this actually works for me too; it causes me not to jump around the page when I'm reading or get bored. Also even if they were just listening to it, that still is a valid form of reading/enjoying the story. For thousands of years, story telling was purely an oral tradition, where stories were passed down from generation to generation. In only (relatively) recent human history did we start writing down what was being said.

[@sage7970]

@@windflowerrainstorm6497 I’m reading the book while listening along. I don’t understand why you’re being so aggressive, especially with analogies that make no sense. Even listening to a book like Dune and actually comprehending it would be a challenge for most. This just gives me a chance to get back into the swing of focusing on reading while listening to a very well made piece of audio. You’re not an intellectual, and you’re surely not better than anyone else just because you may go about doing the same thing in a different avenue.

[@sage7970]

@@ethanbehr723 appreciate the kind words. That comment honestly hurt my feelings a bit. This is the first time I’ve read a large, advanced book like this in years. It’s been such a positive impact on my mental health.

[@pipi157]

"My fiction reading ability has never really progressed past the 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' phase." I feel you girl.

[@vibha40]

I will never forget how this video pulled me out of my reading slump of 4 years, on an unexpected 1 am of my life. Thank you❤.

[@kendallcharleswell8489]

A lot of my problem with reading as a woman in her late 20s is that I discovered fanfiction at the beginning of my teens and good or bad, I was hooked. And it was free. And I was still reading, so it counted, right? Now, I need something that really catches my interest. And I need less stress from work and a very needy dog.

[@RP-23]

I feel like that’s been around for a while.. people use to judge crime novels, or pulp fiction in the 50s probably not a big deal read what you like.. I’m mostly into history or non fiction. Never was super into fiction novels for some reason even as a kid

[@alexia3046]

Honestly? Ive read some well developed 200k fanfiction that are way better than some published books. People just judge based on what they think it is and not by what it actually is. Read what makes u happy

[@YasmeenCheM]

Same here! On top of that, buying a published book meant that I have to fork out money for a book that I might not like after reading so why do that when fanfiction is available. Fanfiction is free and there’s a certain level of guarantee that I’ll enjoy it because I’m reading about characters I already like.

[@sylve2474]

Honestly, after I started reading fanfics in middle school, my actual book reading went down, but I think it's just due to the fact that they can't really compete with the versatility of fics. With fanfics, you can find anything you want, any genre, and specific qualifications, topics that published books won't dip into, representation of lives that you'd be unlikely to find, let alone find with a plot not directly related to said identity(I've never seen a published book with characters in a poly relationship, no ace characters, none with neurodiverse characters without that being the basis of the book, and I'm not saying they don't exist, but they are far and few between and don't tend to come in the genres I like), additionally, with published books, as you get past a certain age, they tend to lose the fun fantasy vibes, or cool Sci fi elements, or whichever other fun genre I like reading, and there's a disconnect sometimes when you try to read a book aimed at middle schoolers with 14yo protagonists when you're an adult when you just want to read a fun book to achieve the escapism that got you into reading to begin with, but with fics, you can find witch aus, or magic aus, or superhero/powers aus, or supernatural, sci-fi, space, soulamte aus, aus about anything, and they can be fun, and interesting, a nice escape from life, but aimed at a late teen or 20 something, the characters can be in uni instead of middle school without the need to be all boring and adult in and stuff, and people will go on about how bad fics written by 14yos on wattpad are, but they're clearly ignoring the mountains upon mountains of literary masterpieces that exist(especially if you learn how to use ao3), people downplay it a lot, but there are so many fics that are masterfully crafted, there are dozens of fics I could pull up that I think are masterpieces, written better than published books, some fics written by people who also publish books, such a sheer amount of fics that you can never truly run out of things that you will love, things that I'll fit exactly the tropes you always go looking for, things that will be like nothing you've ever read, ones that fit both of those categories,,,,,,,,, honestly, tl;dr: there is so much variety in fics and tools to find exactly what you want to read(including things you'd be hardpressed to find in published books), paired with incredible quality authorship, it's no wonder one may come to prefer reading fanfics over published books

[@linatwoones]

Dang I never thought I’d relate so much to a comment thread. I discovered fanfiction a few years ago and the number of books I read per year has dropped from more than two hundred to like ten😅. Makes me feel kind of bad sometimes, cause there are quite a number of fics that aren’t of the best quality (like relative to professional published ones) and I get kinda worried it’ll affect my skill or mindset towards language and writing?? But I must agree there are some fics out there that are incredibly unique and well-thought out and beautiful. They are able to enhance and further flesh out the complexities and personalities of the original story and characters, which is a definite freaking pass in my book. And that’s also why I’m a big fan of time travel fics😅😅

[@snowblood74]

I got back into reading recently due to an outside factor. I'm fostering an extremy shy and traumatised cat currently. And so I sit next to his hiding spot and read to him that he gets used to my voice and general presence. So far I've read Desert Flower and A Midsummer Night's dream to him, and almost finished a 3rd book (a 50-60 years old youth novel about Native Americans). Feels good to be reading again, to get drawn into a story like that.

[@galacticwaves6158]

That’s absolutely adorable, I wish you good luck with him. I haven’t fostered a traumatized kitten before but I do know they’re a lot of work and need a lot care. So, I’m sending you so good vibes!

[@theflutefreak]

that is so heartwearming 🥰

[@fayemaka3037]

I replaced physical books with fanfiction somewhere around the age of 15. Holding a book about an original character that had all these literary rules and merits just reminded me too much of the ridiculous amount of reading assignments for school and put me off of it. Yet I would always still read 200,000+ word fanfics online with ease and still do cuz no one is gonna make me write a paper on a fanfic.

[@Sandasara]

me

[@I-must-scream]

Me too, plus fanfiction is free and doesn't require traveling to the local library.

[@kashiichan]

This is one of the reasons I've ended up getting into e-books this year.

[@grandpa6065]

The thing about fanfiction vs getting into a new kind of thing is like why would i care about these new characters when i can go back to these old characters that im already emotionally invested in i could get emotionally invested in new characters but that requires effort - and even if i do, sometimes, it just won't stick my brain craves fanfic the way people can eat the same meal for days or wear the same sweater for years if they love it - the familiarity is comfort and comfort keeps me from doing work

[@basilsolomon1176]

Reading fanfic is equivalent to being on Tiktok for me. If you’re spending this much brain power on garbage, might as well stay on social media.

[@chimominino]

Omg I relate to you SO HARD!! Thank you so much for making this video. To be honest, I put off watching it for some time, because of the guilt I've had about not reading. I'm also glad you mentioned being a former gifted kid - I like that it feels like there's a bit of a community of people with that history. It really has had an impact. When I mention to people I've struggled to get back into reading as an adult, the response is usually "Really? You seem like the kind of person who would read!" and that just doubles down on the guilt and shame. It's like it's a matter of identity rather than activity. Anyway, I'm also really inspired that you made it through the 5 days. Honestly, I didn't think it would be possible lol I guess because of my own expectations of myself. It makes me really hopeful that if I have the right reason, the motivation, and organise my day to make time for it, and perhaps find the right environment to do it in, I could get back into reading, too. That would be amazing. Thanks!

[@legateelizabeth]

"You woke up late because you're burnt out." As a former gifted kid, aren't you used to being SENTENCEd to burning out? All former gifted kids are burnouts.

[@molotovmafia2406]

even if you haven't been properly productive, and therefore have no reason to be tired, in years.

[@mclark8857]

@@molotovmafia2406 bestie that's either adhd or autism. As a former gifted kid i wondered why i felt like this for years before i got diagnosed

[@Cloudy4Days]

@@mclark8857 I was like, "wait, what??" Then remembered i have ADHD 🤦‍♀️

[@fireballreviews4347]

I feel attacked

[@Pensnmusic]

We're all neurodivergent and masking like hell :)

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

_"I think I forgot how to read."_ _"Every time I try to read a book for pleasure, I get through about one paragraph and then the narcissism kicks in."_ _"My fiction reading ability has never really progressed past my "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" phase."_ _"I do find myself pausing a lot while reading and just thinking, I'm reading."_ Wow. This video is just so relatable I'm offended. I feel called out in ways I could never imagine and I can't believe this video describes me better than I can describe myself.

[@asterisque9252]

Honestly, i used to for escapism. After Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, i consumed all of their fanfics and simply burnt out. Fanfics got me in that bad habit of constant dopamine/adrenaline, that i now can't get from other books, so i moved on to youtube. I know I'm on a self destructive path, but it's like i can't control myself any longer. Someone else is driving this thing, I'm watching my destruction along with it.

[@turtle2848]

I had the same problem. Fanfic took over my life and prevented me from doing other things. I recommend taking a break from fanfic. Try watching new shows(Anime) or getting into different fandoms. Or try different hobbies, like gaming or taking walks. And then try slowly getting back into fanfic. I now read 1 or 2 fanfics a week.

[@asterisque9252]

@@turtle2848 thanks! I’ll do it asap

[@turtle2848]

@@asterisque9252 Hope it works. Remember, it takes awhile. So don't beat yourself up.

[@chanuppuluri8726]

You could also try a dopamine detox if you find you are just hopping from one habit to another.

[@lishal5149]

Wow I relate to this so much.

[@MintLemon-e3o]

Reasons I found for not reading books- 1) Social media: It reduces your attention span. Concentrating on a book seems like a tough task. 2)Anxiety: You are always worrying about you life, future. Reading feels like a wrong thing to do in your busy life. 3)Wrong motivation: If you want to read to brag about reading, you'll most likely feel exhausted.

[@tokyotrashvlog]

“I do find myself pausing a lot and just thinking, ‘I’m reading!’” God it’s so relatable it hurts XD

[@twitterienne3679]

personally, I stopped reading because I got more immediate pleasure thing next to me, such as my phone, while reading takes more time. Also, the books I enjoyed when I was young, I can't find the same ones for adults so I stopped reading until I realized I could still read teenage book, no one cared. And that's what made me read again, also diversifying the type of book I read (mangas, webtoons, novels...)

[@Weasleys93]

This is important! Read what you enjoy, read what makes you happy! Don't look at what's "appropriate" or what you "should" read, or what everyone else is reading.

[@kyeoptawerk93ah]

yes to reading ya even as a full grown adult! also reading middle grades! who cares what age "audience" it is targeted to, if you enjoy it or it seems interesting, read it! i think school and society at large really made people feel that we aren't allowed to read anything outside "adult" books once we graduate school years. but like, read manga, read middle grade, read ya, read webtoons, read comic books, read whatever as long as it gets you reading and you enjoy it

[@ChewFingers]

I can sit glued to a comic (in whatever form, webtoon, manga etc.) for hours, but as soon as I pick up a physical book - even though I am devoted to read it, I'm having trouble staying interested enough. Now, it absolutely has to do with me literally being 3:00 into this video and trying to finish Moby Dick, but I'm also convinced that it has to do with the format itself. In comics the information in the visuals is direct and fast - you immediately see what people look like, who's where and who's doing and saying what, and you don't have to visualise quite so much yourself. Repeatedly adding new information when the author for example describes an appearance of a character in a book requires me to concentrate and continuously alter the image in my head of them. I do appreciate writing as an artform, though, and when I write myself it's not hard to read. And, again, I gather that's the same reason why it's easier to read fanfics, as well, because you don't have to struggle with visualising the characters and setting. I'll give books another valiant chance and effort, though. I probably just need to start with something that's a bit easier to read.

[@nope8083]

webtoons -> kids books -> ya -> adult fiction -> non-fiction was my pipeline of getting back into reading haha. and that’s not to say everyone else needs to follow that path! but i’ve found a lot of enjoyment in non-fiction books on topics i’m genuinely interested in. i’ve also accepted that i don’t need to push myself with those - they’ll be slow reads, and that’s OKAY.

[@CainXVII]

I think you hit the nail on the head with the reading takes energy and concentration. When I get home from work I don't have any of that left. I was sick and home alone for a while this winter and managed to get through all of Bulgakov's collected works... I got so inspired I borrowed a Kafka (used to love Kafka 10 years ago) but never managed to even open it.

[@worthasandwich]

I remember the exact moment I stoped reading a lot. I was in highs school and reading The Lost World by Michael Crichton in some down time in a class. It was taking me a while because I am inherently a slow reader and also take time and pauses to process what I am reading and think about it. One of my fellow students ask what I was reading, I told her and said that I had been reading it for a few weeks. She then scoffed at "several weeks" Said she could read a book like that in a day. It made me feel small and dumb. It should not have I was reading at my pace and some reading more complex books. But still that messed me up. This is in no way meant to be critical of you or your video, just reminded me of a thing that I need to think about and deal with.

[@enielfblerta428]

It's super weird to make a competition out of a leisure activity. If reading speed was so much more important to her than actually enjoying the book, I can only guess how much of a "reader" she actually was. She just wanted to feel superior, and it sucks that people like that can kill our love for a hobby. I hope you can find enjoyment in it again :)

[@rdormer]

As someone who used to be able to read a book in under a day if I cared to - screw those people. Speed isn't the point. Reading slowly but always doing it beats not doing it, no matter how fast you could, any day of the week. And it's not about the speed, anyway. Not everyone eats really fast - would you make fun of them for that? Making fun of the speed they read at is just as ridiculous.

[@enielfblerta428]

@@rdormer that's such a good comparison!

[@QueenRed2023]

Yea I went thru the same thing in the 4th grade. This one girl who read at a much higher level than me would bully me and brag about her reading level. This is was back when elementary schools would evaluate your reading and give us books to read based on our reading level. They probably meant well but it opened a big can cause of worms.

[@elvinmay54]

I remember the moment my reading declined. The day I decided to read 50 shades of grey. I lost all jope in literature for about 4 years

[@karennaftel]

I've had my goodreads account for over 10 years and can literally see the year I got my first laptop is the same year my book count dropped by more than half. Because reading takes effort, the easier distraction of the internet was so much easier to fill my downtime with.

[@lakshita1408]

For me, it's the year i got smartphone.

[@Souljahna]

Hi Karen: I'm 75 and got my first laptop 15 years ago and the same thing happened to me.

[@sircharlesmormont9300]

Librarian, here. I absolutely loved this content. I really liked how you emphasized that rekindling your joy of reading required you to give yourself permission to disconnect and take a few hours or minutes for yourself each day. I also really appreciated the shoutout to Libby and libraries and the acknowledgement that listening to an audiobook is a perfectly valid way to read.

[@Call-me-Al]

Disconnecting from the rest of your life can be a huge problem even if you never had issues with phones/FOMO. So many things that have to get done, and that doesn't even include socialization with your friends and family. Taking e.g. three or even as much as five hours for yourself in a day to not do any "productive" feels incredibly selfish and antisocial, even though it isn't (exercise can too easily fall into the same unhealthy "too selfish that you're doing this instead of a chore that doubles as exercise" trap, even though dedicated exercise is more enjoyable exactly because it is private you time and not multitasking for some bigger overarching reason).

[@takada5743]

3:22 Thank you so much for this piece of info... As simple as it may sound, I had no idea that my taste in books may have changed from when I was a teenager. I'm in a much happier place and I no longer feel the need to escape. I really wouldn't have thought of trying books that speak to my adult motives!

[@meowmeow3167]

I can really recommend using libby, it is what got me completely sucked back into reading last year. also audiobooks count as reading! listening to the audiobook while reading is amazing esp when the narrator really performs (?) the story its my new favorite thing. BTW i just found out i have read almost 5 books this year! FIVE!? and its still january!! idk i just got rlly happy when i realized this motivates me to get through the 3 books i'm currently reading :)))) thanks for the vid!! i'm happy you're getting back into reading your journey with reading is really familiar

[@xinyi_yap]

YES! The (e-)library is back, and I’m LIVING for it! I’ve also found that the loan deadline is good motivation to finish a book.

[@pixijo]

Libby has made it sooooo much easier to read more. As soon as I'm done with something there I usually have something else waiting for me. And if not it's easy to find something, and I don't even need to pick it up! It comes to me!

[@eve4786]

i looove libby but our national library has the worst picks and i never could do read-alongs with booktubers because they never have the trendy books :(

[@xinyi_yap]

@@eve4786 I have that same issue where I'm at. My rec is to reach out to your friends who are staying in urban cities in NYC and see if they are willing to apply for an e-card for you; those databases tend to have the books you're looking for!

[@Lily-ni5po]

@@eve4786 you might want to reach out to your library about that, even telling them about booktube might interest them if they don't know about it yet.

[@Emh19]

I used to plow through Adult fictions (I was a big James Patterson fan) as a young adult, like I would read a ~400-500 page book in a day or 2... Now the only thing I read for pleasure is Fan fiction, I just hate having to get through all the set up of learning the characters, its so boring to me now.

[@beatrizbrito3897]

same! i've been having a hard time to get back on books. but give me a 70k story on ao3 that i'll eat it in one day.

[@oooooooooooooooom]

I think I would have abandoned reading if I didn't have an hour-long commute to and from work. It gives me time to read and when I get off the bus I'm eager to finish "this one chapter" or just power through the rest of the book when I get home. I don't think it would be the same for me if I didn't have that down time to lose myself in a good story.

[@flitefulwantssubs402]

plot twist, you are the driver and don't use audio books

[@ladybookworms]

Lucky lucky you!! I have motion sickness and can't read while on an automobile. So I turn to audiobooks and podcasts.

[@BeeAndHumph]

I miss being in a city with good public transport! I have to commute in a car each day and I lament the time I know I would have used for reading. I’m too tired to do it once I get home these days :/ a few pages and I’m out. I read in my holidays now. Or “listen” to audiobooks while multitasking. Which means I need to re listen about three times to each book 🤦‍♀️

[@IAmJustR]

Yep. This is what happened to me. I was CRUSHING reading on the train, until my commute got a LOT shorter... like... to the living room.

[@birchiebaby]

For me, the big killer to my reading was university. I went to get a degree in humanities (art history, philosophy, lit studies & linguistics), and having to routinely read so many pages of such complicated material just burnt me out... and left no desire to read even more in my free time. Like my eyes and my brain were just so tired all the time. However, one semester as I was writing a paper, I got into this rhythm of reading some fiction I was interested in *as a treat* during my lunch breaks. So I would read, research and write all morning and afternoon, but interspersed it with my 1 hour lunch break during which I'd grab some cafeteria food and read how ever much I could of my fiction book. Really surprised me how well that worked. I think it was the routine (getting used to it!) plus the mental framework (looking forward to it as a treat). Anyway, great video, you inspired me to do my own reading challenge now with some novels I've had lying around for way too long!

[@MM-qj8ys]

you paid money to have people tell you about art history and linguistics? 😅 lmao sorry

[@Juliacbb]

I used to feel guilty about reading teen books at an adult age, but then I started reading them in english (I'm natively brazilian), so now it's an excuse because I'm getting something useful out of it after all 😅 It's a little slower, once I have to search for meanings once in a while, but it increased my second language skills, plus the stories ain't boring! So it's worth it

[@bluepancake1269]

me, also a brazilian, getting books in english so i can have my little queer romances safe with me: same bestie

[@jhoughjr1]

I think one could argue most books for adults are just bad writers who cant simplify their stories.

[@cosmic-tiger]

I remember hearing when 50 shades of grey was big that people were gluing different book covers onto the book so they could read it in public without feeling judged! So whenever you feel weird about reading teen books, just remind yourself it could always be worse, at least you’re not reading erotica in public while pretending not to! 😂

[@lisa_wkw2046]

Yeah I do the same, I’m German but I only read English books, even classics or educational stuff

[@sinarasimoes4462]

Same! I'm a brazilian too, and read romances and teen books in english definitely relieves the guilt 😅

[@finalcountdown3210]

When I was a kid, I read the hell out of Goosebumps and Bailey School Kids and Bunnicula, Andrew Clements and Roald Dahl. But I never got into longer series like Harry Potter or Eragon. But I remember constantly just re-reading whatever books I had when I was a little kid. That natural curiousity has largely dissipated as I've grown and just...feel like I should be doing "better" or "more responsible" things with my "adult" time. Everytime I try to read, I just do other things because I think it's a "better use" of my time. Even though I actually DO want to read

[@jabble__]

_Little Women_ singlehandedly killed my love of reading from 5th-8th grade. It's definitely under the "escape" category because I wanted to escape having to read it.

[@smgp2023]

Lol

[@lionmuesli4321]

Funny, little women was the book that made me wanna read again because I enjoyed it so much in English lit class. Funny how books can be perceived so differently by different people

[@Quarkycheese]

For me it was black beauty

[@Determinator21]

💣🧨👳🏼?

[@justrandomotaku]

For me it was compulsory Shakespeare reading lol. I gave up and used sparknotes for quizzes

[@themaple_dusk]

I just started watching this channel a few days ago, and I am LOVING IT! The videos are really engaging, informative, and fun to watch! I think Answer in Progress has become one of my favorite KZbin channels. I can't thank you all enough.

[@zhazhagab0r]

I definitely felt annoyed about my lack of reading until about 3 years ago when I read Dune for the first time and it flipped the book switch for me. Just a night and day difference. I can finish a book in a few days again, and it feels amazing.

[@shawnalexandernoticemesenpai]

I was about to comment this exact thing, I finished the entire dune series in about 3 months since after a 6 year reading hiatus - mainly due to the fact that I could not conjure the interesting to finish anything I read up to that point but Ive learnt that reading popular self help books doesn't cut it for me at all, science fiction / fantasy / horror really scratches that itch.

[@robadc]

Just finished Messiah last night (I read before bed and when waking up) I love the books but I'm worried for when I finish Chapterhouse. I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself from reading the sequels.

[@thebcwonder4850]

The second book is really boring

[@zhazhagab0r]

@@thebcwonder4850 It's definitely a different tone than the first, but I thought it paid off a lot of the set up from the first really well. I loved it, but can see why some don't.

[@WatchMeDoStuff]

"When I hear things... ONLY hear things... don't know where it goes!" I felt that

[@nenmaster5218]

There’s so much to say to this Topic. People just dont Read OR WRITE enough. I tried telling Teens i know Tiktok decreases their attention-span and i tried a lot online and offline to get Kids and Pre-Teens to try writing some Stories and become Noob-Authors, but it does not work enough. Writing and Reading are such amazingly valueable skills; if those had never existed, the World would look drastically differenct.

[@jhoughjr1]

@@nenmaster5218 dont worry the elites will still do that for the plebs

[@key099able]

Ah, the series about doing something for fun while life always ruins it.

[@cyamatt]

Oh the irony, that it's been 2 years since i added this to my "watch later" playlist, and it's been just sitting there ever since