I think we--well, not all of us, but a significant portion of various online reading communities--have a problem.
Originally, I was thinking of describing the problem as consumerism--not in a materialistic sense of buying too many books, but in an attitude of mindless consumption, treating reading rather like a hot dog eating competition. The number and speed is the only thing that matters, not the quality or savoring of flavors or value of the thing consumed.
But maybe a better word is actually performative. I think in many active reading and reviewing communities, reading has taken on a performative aspect--again, kind of like the point of a hot dog eating competition isn't enjoying a satisfying meal to satiate your hunger, it's more of a performance and about winning recognition through setting records and beating the competition.
Reading goals can be a great way to self-motivate to do more of something you enjoy or you know is good for your brain function and mental health but know you don't always prioritize the way you'd like. But a healthy goal doesn't have unhealthy consequences. This past December, when I saw jokes about neglecting yourself or your responsibilities or your family because “I'm behind on my Goodreads goal,” they didn't make me laugh. They made me sad.
A healthy goal doesn't have unhealthy consequences.
When the number in your monthly or yearly wrap-up becomes a competition that makes you feel self-conscious if your number is “low,” rather than being something that you're happy to see as proof that you made a point to do something you enjoy and benefit from, there's something broken in the approach.
When you check page lengths before starting a book and choose the shortest one not because it most appeals to you but because “I need to read 8 books this month for my goal and I'm behind,” something is wrong.
I recently saw people discussing book lengths they prefer, and while long and short books are both great and there absolutely can be valid reasons for having a preference, some of the statements troubled me.
“I prefer short books because I can read more in the same amount of time.” Aren't you reading the same number of pages, though? Why does the number of books finished matter so much?
“I can finish shorter books faster and get a bigger sense of accomplishment.” Again…whether you read a 400 page book in a month or two 200 page books in a month, you’ve read the same amount. What is this “sense of accomplishment” based on? Getting to share that you finished a book? Or how much you enjoyed it? Has reading become more about the ends than the means, more about the destination than the journey? Is this something you’re comfortable with, or do you want to consider getting your sense of accomplishment not from seeing your Goodreads Challenge counter go up, but from stretching yourself or contemplating what you read or improving your focus or reading comprehension on a “denser” book? (Which isn’t to say you can’t read quickly and still fully enjoy and comprehend a book. But are you?)
“It'll take me months to read a 600 page book. I'll forget what happened.” Maybe this is valid, or maybe we're forgetting that reading and memory and focus are also skills--ones we can improve or can lose. I've been reading The Happiness Advantage, and it talks a lot about studies that show our beliefs affect what we can do. People who are told something will be too difficult for them do worse on that task than if that same person is told they are capable. If you believe you can't focus on or remember a long book, of course you can't.
Our beliefs affect what we can do.
I'm not just pointing fingers or trying to be better-than-thou. I've been thinking about this because I’ve caught myself doing this during the past year. Picking novellas because it's “less of a commitment.” Procrastinating thick books because they're “daunting.” My mind wandering while I read. Thinking about what I’ll say in a review instead of just enjoying the dang book. Checking page lengths to pick the ones I can finish faster so it looks like I read more, even though longer books might actually sound more appealing. My number of books read in 2023 was the highest in a year since I started tracking around 2015. But it wasn't the highest number of pages in a year.
I want to change the narrative and thought patterns in my own life this year relating to my reading habits, and I challenge you to do the same.
Not just length, but which books, too. How many books do you really want to read but keep putting off to prioritize books you “have to” read because everyone else is? Fear of missing out on the latest sensation? Guilt over not having read that recommended book or that acquaintance’s book yet? Feeling like you are obligated to read a book for market research? Do you feel your love of reading diminishing because you aren't reading what you really want to? Because that book won't get likes on IG, or you're worried what people will think if you do read that book or don't read this one, or you need a fast read so you don't fall behind your goal?
Or are you not reading at all because comparison has you feeling stupidly slow, and since you can't compete, you don't read at all? Or because someone said you “should” read that book but don’t want to, so you just don’t read? Skipping that re-read you're longing for because you're “behind” on the new releases all your friends have read? Not getting to that book that sounds awesome because the online hype has died down, and it feels pointless to post about it now that you're behind…and you’re just reading to post?
And speaking of speed…are you racing through books on a speed run because you're actually enjoying it and that sucked in? Or because you're trying to beat the clock, beat the goal, beat your friend, beat the hype machine? Are you fully enjoying and getting the depth and richness of the books you read, savoring them like a 4-star meal, or scarfing them down as fast as you can like a cheap hot dog while you’re already reaching for the next one with one eye on the clock?
I want to change the narrative and thought patterns in my own life this year relating to my reading habits, and I challenge you to do the same. I’m looking at my motivations and reasons for my choices--for what I buy, what I read, what I post. Am I doing this because it nurtures, refreshes, enlivens me? Or because I need to win the hot dog eating contest?
Maybe you're good with being in a hot dog eating contest, that's totally chill. But ask yourself honestly: do I want to be? Am I enjoying this?
Am I telling myself any demoralizing narratives that are harming my mind, happiness, and potential--like “I can't focus” or “long series overwhelm me” or “I can’t read non-fiction”? Do I have a fixed mindset about my reading that is holding me back from reading books I genuinely want to read? What if we tried breaking that thought pattern and believing we can improve our focus? Manage that series? Tackle that non-fiction read?
Am I doing this because it nurtures, refreshes, enlivens me? Or because I need to win the hot dog eating contest?
Obviously there are seasons of life and there can be valid reasons for any choice. My point isn't to stop reading short books or standalones or to quit reading books in a single afternoon. Just…be intentional. Challenge beliefs that limit your potential. Evaluate the voice that wants to dictate your reading habits based on being as fast of a reader as Joe, or posting the most reviews in your FB group, or reading the latest hyped book only for IG likes, or choosing your next read based on how you think others will perceive that choice, or joining that book club or that street team or ARC team not because you have the time and are excited about the book but because you hope you’ll get something in return, etc. See if that reasoning is actually in alignment with your values and desires for yourself and your reading or not.
Is this the same choice you'd make if the Internet crashed and no one knew what you were reading? The answer doesn't have to be yes, but if it is no, maybe dig deeper and decide if you're really okay with that.
For me, this is a factor in why I'm not setting a Goodreads goal this year, why I'm not publicly tracking all of my reading, and why I'm not sharing my 2023 reading stats.
Is this the same choice you'd make if the Internet crashed and no one knew what you were reading?
Here's to a 2024 of de-influencing, de-consumerizing, and de-performativizing (all very real words 😉) our reading. 🥂
Here's to a 2024 of believing in a growth mindset as relates to our reading (and writing, for those of us who write, but that'd be another post entirely 😉).
Here's to a 2024 of reading and savoring the books that bring us joy, builds us up, encourages us, challenges us, grows us, fulfills us, entertains us--not just merely what we think will look good on our wrap-ups.
Or not. After all, I did say don't worry about what other people think, and that can include me. 😉