Is reading a lost art?
It is no presumption that fewer and fewer people are turning to literature for entertainment. As more people shift to social media and other online forms of entertainment, it seems that the classic art form of opening a book, sitting down and enjoying it might be lost in the past.
A study published in the iScience scientific journal found that daily reading for pleasure has gone down 40% from 2003 to 2023. Conversely, screen time usage is increasing: a 2023 CDC study found that the majority of teenagers have a screen time of over four hours daily.
But it isn’t too late. Revamping a love for reading is still possible.
The first step is choosing a good book to read. In this case, good does not necessarily mean rich. While an acclaimed and difficult classic is an important read after a dry period of reading, often the best thing to read is trash.
This isn’t to say that all romance or fun beach reads are meaningless, but they are no doubt less enriching than a classic. However, this lack of substance actually proves necessary. Often after not reading, just like after not eating, what we crave is candy and junk. Is it the best thing in the long term? No. But, there is a time and a place for everything and a digestible page-turner is the perfect thing to pick up.
Buying a new and interesting book means nothing if it gets thrown on your bookshelf to collect dust with the rest of your collection. After choosing a book, it is important to set aside time to read habitually. Whether by choosing a certain number of pages a night, a set amount of hours a week, or aiming to read as a break from schoolwork on the weekend, building set habits is necessary to keep reading.
Still feeling unmotivated?
Incorporating reading into social interactions is a surefire way to gain motivation to read. This can shape in many different ways. Most simply, apps such as Goodreads or even TikTok connect readers across the internet by allowing them to share book recommendations, reviews and even engage in discussions.
A more traditional approach to making reading a more social activity is reading the same books as your friends and discussing them throughout the year, whether through formal book clubs or casual dialogue.
By simply picking up a book and engaging with it in any of these ways, leisure time can be turned meaningful. Reading provides a relaxing way to stay entertained, rest and even learn something new. By making reading a regular habit, we can keep this timeless art alive and enjoy the countless benefits it offers.
