I love reading. It’s probably the thing I’m most passionate about. But sometimes, it surprises me that every other human being on the planet isn’t just as passionate. (Who knew?)
A 2018 USA survey showed that 24% of adults had not read any part of a book in the last year! This may not surprise you. The truth is, reading can be difficult. Or more accurately, wanting to read can be difficult. There are a hundred reasons why people may not read often, if at all.
As someone who loves reading, I spend a lot of time recommending books to people. I also hear a lot of reasons why they can’t read them. So let’s look at five common reasons people don’t read books. Most importantly, let’s find a way to overcome these problems. Because maybe you can’t remember the last book you finished. Hopefully this will help you take a step towards falling in love with reading.
Reason 1: “I don’t have the TIME to read”
The most common reason, and the most valid. We’re all busy!
Life gets in the way of a lot of things. Between work, responsibilities, and household chores, some of us are lucky if we have time to sleep, let alone read. Reading can also take so much time, especially when some books have a thousand pages. It could take months for some of us. It’s easier not to try.
Answer: Remember, reading is for play, not work.
Think of reading as something you do to relax, at the end of a hard day. Finally, when everything’s quiet, you get to read. You might think that never happens! But think, what do you do to relax? Watch TV, scroll through Facebook, or sit still and stare into the void? Well, that’s the timeframe where reading belongs. If you have an hour of TV every day, maybe steal 10 minutes to read a chapter or two.
Reason 2: “Is there a movie I can watch instead of reading the book?”
I hear this so much! People just want a simple, easy way to enjoy something. Yes, a movie is quicker and more engaging. Not to mention it includes a gaggle of talented professionals contributing acting, music, stage design, etc. You don’t get that in a book.
But book fans will often tell you, ‘the book was better’. Just because a book gets adapted to film or TV does not mean it tells the same story. (The Hobbit, for example.) Even putting film adaption aside, there is still a beauty in reading that you don’t see on the screen. In a book, all those extra roles are done by one author, and your imagination. There is more freedom to make the story your own.
Answer: Practice imagination.
If you take the time to read, it stimulates your creativity. This is a useful skill to have in life and business. Creative people stand out from the crowd and can come up with new solutions and ideas. It’s worth taking the time to read. TV makes you see. Reading makes you think.
3: “Reading is too much work”
If you think reading is work, then congratulations on getting this far in the article!
When someone says this, they really mean, “I’m out of practice.” Your reading muscle is more like a reading gut. You get bored easily. Your attention span is short. So picking up a new book might take a lot longer to get through. Don’t worry, it’s more common than you’d think.
Let’s try an experiment. Go to your favourite online shop for 2nd hand items (Gumtree, Facebook market), and search ‘Game of Thrones Books’. I guarantee you, no matter where you live, there will be five – ten people near you selling the entire box set in ‘brand new condition’ because they’re unread. Why are so many people buying the books but not reading them? Because each book is 800-1000 pages, and that’s a lot of work for someone who’s out of practice. Even if they enjoy the story, it’s easier to watch the show.
Answer: Practice on something easier to read.
If you haven’t read in a while, don’t try to start again with a massive adult novel. Pick something simple. There’s nothing wrong with reading young adults or children’s books. They have simple language, and they’re delightful, charming stories. See my recommendations below.
4: “I don’t know what to read!”
There are so many books. Every year, between 600,000 and a million books published in the USA alone. There are so many different genres and authors. Worst of all, some books are terrible! No one wants to get stuck with a bad book. So how do you know what to read?
Answer: Read what you enjoy.
A lot of us read books only because we think they will make us better people, or better at our jobs. The ‘self-help’ trend is booming. Now I might get in trouble for saying this, but self-help books suck! (No, really.) Yes, I actually read books on self-development, but not for fun. And trust me, you will read more often if you read for fun.
So read whatever you want. If you like crime novels, read them. If you like romance novels or Mills and Boon, just read them. If you like grand, sweeping fantasy epics that have a glossary, read them. My point is, just read what makes you happy, not what you think you should be reading. If you’re still not sure, check out the book’s reviews on goodreads.com.
5: “I just don’t see the point of reading.”
Some people see nothing to gain. Reading is just something they did in school so they could graduate and get a job; there’s no place for it now. Maybe you don’t enjoy it. Maybe there is no benefit.
Answer: Reading is good for your emotional and mental health.
Reading books, even fiction, does two things: improves your language skills, and develops empathy. Let me explain. When you read, you are practicing your language. This helps you to speak better and gives you more confidence in yourself as you communicate. Confidence can help you lower stress and improve your personal well-being.
Finally, when you read a novel, you are living through the eyes of another human being. Even though they’re fictional, they feel real. Seeing life through their perspective helps you empathize with other people. This, on top of language skills, leads to better emotional and mental health.
So don’t wait. Pick up a book today and give it a go. You can do this! I believe in you.
My recommendations for easy reading:
- Harry Potter is always a great start for anyone.
- For children, try Artemis Fowl, The Trails of Morrigan Crow, or Deltora Quest.
- For YA, try the Lunar Chronicles, Throne of Glass, or the Reckoners.
- Adults, anything you want! Easy authors to read are James Patterson, Matthew Reilly, Danielle Steel, Stephen King, etc. Try any one of their books.
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