There’s recently been a bit of a furore over a blogger named Alix Earle, who proudly announced that she’s never read a book.
Personally, I’d never heard of her before this, but with reading being so fashionable at the moment, the quote soon gained traction, with social media keen to mock her for saying it.
In the past, other celebrities have also boasted about not reading, including Kayne West and Victoria Beckham, and I’ve personally noticed that not reading has become more of a status symbol among some.
Frankly, it’s not the flex you think it. Saying you’ve never read a book basically tells people you’ve never been interested in a topic and you don’t have any inclination to expand your mind. Reading is learning in a small way, and with the rise of AI and misinformation reading is now more important than ever before.
If you’re not reading regularly, you won’t improve your comprehension or vocabulary. You may also start to struggle to understand points or formulate arguments. When you need to read, such as if you have to fill out a form or want to understand the law and your rights, you might find it hard.
This isn’t, in any way, to shame anyone. I’ve said before that reading is a skill, and one that should really be taught more at school. While books are fashionable right now, with Instagram creating a new book feature and Coach releasing book charms, this is often performative, and many people don’t actually read as much as they say they do.
Whether you’re proud to be a non-reader or just struggle, it is still important. Here are some tips on how to read more and actually enjoy it:
- Start Small: Don’t jump straight into reading The Odyssey or something else equally long and complex. That’s a recipe for giving up. Instead, start with short novellas, long poems or even just longer articles. You can build up as you go along.
- Set Goals: Aimlessly deciding to just ‘read more’ isn’t easy to accomplish. Instead, try to set yourself realistic reading goals, and consider tracking your reading. You don’t even need a fancy app: a pen and paper or a digital note will do. Keeping tabs on what you’re reading and when will make it easier to see how far you’ve come.
- Find Topics You Love: Whenever I’m in a reading slump I always look for books on topics I enjoy. This might be ones based on a favourite TV series or film, or on a specific topic. If you have a favourite celebrity, maybe see if they have an autobiography or have written fiction books that you can try out.
- Use Physical Books Where Possible: While eBooks are usually cheaper, it can strain your eyes to read on a screen a lot. Also, if you work with computers, then reading off a screen might feel like more of the same. Separate work from fun by getting some physical books, which are not only enjoyable to read but also great as they can’t be edited or made obsolete.
- Don’t Let Anyone Shame You: One of the great things about the internet is that it’s helped many people to realise that whatever they like, there’s a community out there who likes it too. When I was a kid, I used to get mocked by my parents for liking books they thought were too young for me, or about the wrong topics. The truth is, as long as you’re reading, you’re improving, so whatever you love, keep reading.
- Never Give Up: It’s easy to get disheartened, but keep going. As I keep saying, reading is super important, so make sure you keep at it.
Starting a new hobby is never easy, but reading is an important part of your intellectual maintenance. You need to keep reading to keep your mind active, and studies show that regular reading can help slow cognitive decline and reduce your chances of developing degenerative diseases such as dementia.
If you’re stuck for ideas, check out this blog, which offers reading recommendations for fans of any genre. Whether you’re an avid reader or rarely read, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments.
