Reading has become an intimidating experience for most Americans now. This is even more the case with the advent of a recent phenomenon known as “tsundoku,” a Japanese term for the practice of acquiring books and letting them pile up unread. This mounting concern will strike a chord with many, particularly in our ever-increasing distracted modern society. The idea of tsundoku goes back as far as the 1800s. Today, it seems spookily prescient, as more Australians, Americans and Britons read less and less.
In fact, recent data shows that Australians — especially men — are reading less than ever. In Australia, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics (HILDA) survey has been following this decline since 2012. Meanwhile, reading for pleasure in America has fallen to a 20-year low. In Britain, a shocking 40 percent of people haven’t read a single book over the last 12 months. The drop in reading has many worried, for good reason. Reading is a gateway to different perspectives and ideas.
There are plenty of people out there who’ve mastered the art of reading books at lightning speed. In fact, one reader just recently shared on social media that they had completed 63 different books in one calendar year. It’s a big accomplishment, but it reminds us that reading can and should be fun and easy if we do it with the right attitude, techniques, and skills.
The Transformation of Reading Formats
In a time where tech rules the world, reading has transformed into something more than just holding a printed novel. Readers today have options formats from print and digital to eBooks and audiobooks. Audiobooks specifically offer a unique experience by giving readers more flexibility and convenience, allowing them to consume content while juggling other tasks. To some listeners, nothing beats cranking up the listening experience with a little extra speed. In fact, they usually listen to audiobooks at 1.5 to 2.0 x speed.
Freelance journalist Lee Tran Lam has taken this even further, recently sharing that she came to habitually listening to audiobooks at double speed. This approach not only provides for quicker consumption but fits seamlessly into on-the-go lifestyles. Short volumes of poetry, graphic novels, things that aren’t prose narratives, those are really breaking through now. They offer short reads that even the busiest readers can fit into their schedules.
“This is not good material for somebody trying to sell a book” – Hua Hsu
Such sentiments sharpen the ever-present sense of publishers’ struggle to capture the attention of an era of ever-scattered practitioners. These new formats provide interesting answers to those challenges. They align beautifully with contemporary lifestyle themes and engage readers to explore fiction and nonfiction genres.
Innovative Strategies for Reading More
Countering these growing forces of tsundoku and the diminishing appetite for reading is crucial. There are many approaches people can take to find ways to make the reading experience more enjoyable. One of the best ways is to really begin to invite kids in commitment-free ways where reading is really just less of a chore and more of a pleasure. Being able to read just a few pages helps people fit reading literature into their routines without it being a daunting task.
The time pressure that comes with library books can be a more motivating factor for readers. This sense of urgency can lead to a speed-reading rush and help people focus their time reading out into the world, not just on books.
New book tracking and discovery platforms have gained a foothold in social media, such as Instagram, and especially TikTok with #BookTok. Apps such as StoryGraph and Bookshelf allow users to organize their reading goals and document their progress, making reading a more interactive experience.
The Value of Diverse Perspectives
Reading presents a deep opportunity to expand our imagination and understanding. Recent books by Katie Goh, Foreign Fruit, and Patrick Bringley, All the Beauty in the World, reveal literature’s power. These new memoirs transport readers to varied and vibrant lives and experiences. These stories help us understand the complexity and beauty of our world, opening hearts and minds while bringing all of us closer together.
Regardless of what history may bring next, the need for great literature is greater than ever. Books are a passport, allowing people to safely venture into different worlds and experience a variety of perspectives. Thus, making time to read—even when that feels like an overwhelming task—can be a deeply personal experience that opens up the world in a new way.
