the problem with booktube and booktok: overconsumption in the book community + role of influencers
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 21. 03. 2024
- I explore the phenomenon of book haul videos and how they contribute to overconsumption in the book community.
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something that is disappointing to me in the booktube/tok/gram community is the rejection of using libraries in favor of doing massive *new* book hauls, usually from barnes and noble. the consumerist part of booktube leads viewers to believe that in order to be a real reader, you should only read books that you've bought, that are new, or that you got from kindle unlimited. booktubers could still get the content they are looking for by going to a library or using libby/hoopla/onedrive, but instead, they're purchasing new and letting books just sit on shelves until they unhaul them.
outside of being vital community spaces, libraries do an amazing job of keeping up with new releases, creating interesting displays, and providing readers with suggestions and recommendations.
As someone who doesn't buy physical books (I buy 5 books a year, at most), I just don't get the appeal of watching book hauls. I get my recommendations from reviews (reading vlogs, individual reviews, wrap ups, etc.), not from book hauls talking about all the new shiny things that the booktuber hasn't read yet đ. It doesn't negatively affect me, because I just don't engage with that content, but I see how it may influence others who, like myself, cannot afford to keep up with the overconsumption we see in social media
I LOVE watching book hauls sm but only buy about 5 books a year myself too. I couldn't have that many those influencers have. I think buying online books too still counts as buying cus its still money spent tho
Same. Excellent points of view â€ïžđ
I love hauls! I still get all my books from the library. But since people are buying more books that means more books written for me to read!!
Due to money struggles, Iâm making an effort not to spend a single penny on books this year (gift cards and gifts donât count of course)
Iâve read 28 books so far in 2024 and all have been from the library, Netgalley, and KU
I watch book hauls and unhauls, but my favorite people are the ones who read the same number they haul/unhaul each month. Some of them do read-what-you-own challenges which is a great way to work on those old books on your shelf.
When I am influenced to read a particular book I add it to my library holds for the next month. Most books I donât feel the need to reread and the library is great for those.
Use your local, public and academic libraries, people!
Don't allow these influencers to make you feel like you have to purchase books that you're not even guaranteed to enjoy.
Please take advantage of your library's physical and digital collections. Provide them with requests for items that they might not have yet and if you decide to make purchases after the fact, do it then.
I'm telling you this as a library public services manager đđœ
I completely agree with you - they are incredibly same-y, with the same small handful of books mentioned over and over. Usually new releases, usually books that are already hyped on social media, without much to break it up. I don't mean to sound like I'm judging people for reading popular titles. I just don't have any interest in watching people haul the same books I have seen hauled by three other channels already. I think the main potential benefit I can see from a book haul is the possibility that a new book would be put on my radar that I've never heard of before - but these book haul videos so rarely feature backlist or midlist titles. I sort of love when channels review whatever is interesting to them regardless of what's popular or will drive the most clicks, because it helps me actually discover new books and authors, which feels so vital in this space where things can get VERY repetitive.
It's also strange to me that the library isn't more widely spoken about or made use of in the online bookish community. Access to libraries vary, obviously, but it seems like a very under-utilized resource.
âš GREAT ADVICE!! The library is a great resource to mention as well! âš
My library has a huge ebook collection also
Its like ppl saying buying books and reading books are too different hobbies... maybe it shouldnt be lol and that applies to everything
I definitely buy more than I read and I blame haul videos lol. In my defense I mostly buy when books are on sale and buy used from thrift stores and libraries.
I don't mind book hauls, but then I'll see channels that will have a book haul and then immediately have videos where they get rid of books that they didn't read! And make videos about it. To me, that's so shameful!
I like them. It gives me the feeling of buying new stuff without spending my money. đ
I love book hauls, but yes frequently book hauls can be repetitious in what books are being shown. And yes there can be feelings of FOMO when booktok and booktube are showing me the same 8 books.
But Iâm starting to see a lot of unhaul videos from influencers who have waay too many books, and a lot more promotion of using local libraries.
Overconsumption is a problem throughout our entire society thanks to social media and influencers, look at Stanley cups! But I think as viewers and consumers we do need to use more judgement when purchasing and if weâre just buying to buy or if weâre really wanting to read a book. Maybe borrowing from the library 1st and then if you love it then purchasing it later is the better way to go
I donât buy books. I read almost entirely ebooks from KU and the library. And Iâve had a channel for years. Itâs very doable.
Weâre all gonna die anyways so I feel like people should buy as many books as theyâd like to lol. This is a constant conversation in the book community and with so many different forms of media if you have self control and live for yourself youâll get the books where you can ie a library or kindle or ebook. You donât have to keep up.
For me when I do book hauls I usually have books Iâve already read and I include books from subscription services and the library you can always participate if youâd like in a way you can afford. Everyone should live within their means and do what makes them happy as long as it isnât harming others.
Iâm new to your channel but overall I enjoyed hearing your opinion on the topic đ
My only disagreement is that overconsumption is a huge problem, especially in industries like book manufacturing where there isnât a lot of supply chain or working conditions transparency. All of these things take resources and labor to make and transport, I think if youâre going to buy books itâs more sustainable to buy them used and be sure the books youâre buying are worth it to you.
Iâm not gonna shame anyone for their spending habits. I just donât agree with using consumerism to deal with peopleâs dissatisfaction in their lives, despite advertising constantly being forced down our throats.
@@zkkitty2436 like I said I donât think anyone in this community can MAKE you do anything. If you donât like consumerism support your library and buy used books but what other people do has nothing to do with me
This was a great video and reflected a lot of my feelings as far as reading burnout and overconsumption. I was talking to my therapist about getting book FOMO and anxiety around reading. What seems to be working for me is reading less and not forcing myself to read. I always keep my TBR two-three books or less.
Hauls are my least favorite videos. I watch for ideas on books I want to read, and if they haven't read it, they can't really speak on recommending or not. I don't get the excitement over hauls at all. Not to mention, competing for "biggest TBR" isn't really bragging rights, like some of booktube thinks it is. Also - I love booktubers who use the library and try to follow them more!
I skip any and every book haul with the quickness
as a college student who doesnt buy a lot of books (expensive), im just not the target audience for book hauls. as with anything else, i think its important to be mindful of the things we buy. i only buy books that ive read and enjoyed or know i will enjoy. i believe that a person's bookshelf should showcase their reading tastes, so with this mindset, im less likely to randomly buy books and more likely to reread and lend out my books. the library is free!! (and, classics are free)
same! The books on my bedroom bookshelf are from throughout my childhood, free books from my library's summer reading programs, and books that I've bought/were Christmas gifts though the years. I do like (not love) watching book hauls to get a quick visual of new releases and just seeing other book buyers, but I know that lifestyle is noooot for me, I can't afford it for one đ Like you said, I only buy books that I know I'll enjoy. I have 2 completed fantasy series on my bookshelf that I'm very proud of, and some of those were gifts so I didn't really buy ALL of them. I LOVE everything about the library so I hope in the future, the booktube/booktok community focuses on libraries more too, especially when wanting to read a book published from the previous year
A few years ago I stopped buying physical books bc Iâd spend crazy $$ and then they end up being overwhelmingly 3* or under lol I canât justify a physical copy for myself unless I read it digitally and LOVED it- if itâs a 5* book of the year for me then I buy a special edition. But Iâm finding I love reading digitally a TON more these days.
Yeah I also only ever buy books I know I will love so like you I have read it before and loved it and then buy a copy or a series Iâve been reading but Iâm definitely not tempted to buy every book, if anything I just add them to my ever growing TBR đ
Itâs so crazy. I buy books regularly, though I donât get to them right away. But I think my best book choices lately have come from raiding displays at the library. The librarians are SO underrated!! At my library in particular they curate such intriguing collections that I rarely get past the lobby where the displays are đ€Łđ€Ł
Love this video đ I was thinking about this the other day...that a lot of the books shown in hauls are the popular ones already, sadly :((
I used to buy over ÂŁ100-200 a month of books, but 2 years ago I got rid of 600 books I didn't read...I use to want every book but now I don't.
My rules I have done are these:-
1. I will buy a book on kindle when they are on sale - like 99p or 1.99 to 2.99.
2. I have the subscriptions for
*kindle unlimited
* Everrand (Scribd)
* Audible
3. If i buy a physical book i need to read it within 6 months.
4. A book I will buy if its over 4 stars and its a book i will also re-read.
By doing this I get surrounded by books I love and get happy looking at my shelves.
I do this because I am a spend-a-holic and this way it reels me in.
Also Netgalley has become like my best friend because it cuts back my spending even more haha đ
I love this! Really strategic and intentional and I'm sure your library is amazing! I can't imagine unhauling 600 books at once though đđ that's like my entire library currently
I am tired of seeing the same books mentioned over and over again from book hauls. Any NEW book that are mentioned is a breath of fresh air.
Thereâs a true lack of originality a lot of times.
Really loving your videos! I personally like hauls but not by people I notice a pattern of hauling and ending up NOT reading to review/wrap up their reads. I do also like seeing pretty editions of books hauled since I rarely get them myself đ But no doubt consumerism has a hold on booktube. I've heard booktubers straight up say the hauls do the best on their channels oof.
Great video as always. Overconsumption in the book community does worry me. Not only does it affect local bookstores, and can lead to content creator burnout, but I it can also have a negative effect on the environment. All those books that eventually get unhauled go to landfills. I think the tides are turning with bookhauls. For a while, people may have seen the overconsumption of books as more "worthy", in comparison to the overconsumption of makeup or clothes, as those are seen as vain. Do you think the rampant book hauls also has an effect on the quality of books that are published? The need to capitalized on the next best thing can lead to rushed/underdeveloped books.
actually i see more and more people donating books. also reselling books is something people don't often think of for some reason.
ive never heard of someone unhauling books to literally throw them away. secondhand book stores are very popular in some areas, and i know plenty of booktubers patronize secondhand shops for a lot of their reads that arent new releases
@@auslynrynerson1798 just because you donât see them throw it away doesnât mean it doesnât happen. Even if they take it to secondhand bookstores that doesnât mean that they wonât eventually end up in a landfill. Do you think every used bookstore takes every book someone tries to sell them? Or that they can sell every book they have in their inventory? A lot of these book influencers tend to purchase the same type of books, thus saturating the market. Thereâs only so many copies of fourth wing that a used bookstore wants.
@@katgreer6113 donating, or reselling books does not lessen the environmental impact. Especially if people are trying to donate and resell the same books. When I go onto Facebook marketplace, the number of people selling their Colleen Hoover books is ridiculous. At some point theyâre going to give up on trying to resell or donate those books and it will end up discarded in a landfill somewhere.
I canât remember the last time I bought a book tbh I donât have the space and I think I grew out of it. I did this a lot more in my late teens and early twenties
Mostly it is to do with money troubles, Iâm still in an entry level job and food is more important đ€Ł so I do join the library last year so I can keep reading
Also nothing wrong with older books, Iâm always a few years behind when it comes to my reading. I read books I feel I will enjoy unless itâs a series Iâm anticipating
I don't get the appeal of book hauls. Isn't it more interesting to listen to people talking about the books they've already read? Browsing bookstores might be a fun watch, but then it's more about the experience than just the books. As someone who started a bookstagram, I understand that making a review is objectively harder and more time consuming than just listing the books you bought, but it also has more substance.
I see what you mean and how it can appear as an over consumption. However, I also see it as a âproâ vs con. Seeing people âover consumeâ books is better than wasting money at the club, drinking, fast fashion clothes, etc..Plus, books can also play a 2 part role and be a part of your home âdecor.â Instead of buying expensive furniture or paintings, books are a better âinvestmentâ as it also serves as entertainment. I rather people over consume books than other hauls we see out there. Just my take.â€â€â€
For every book haul, there is an unhaul. That is the flip side folks don't mention. If you are purchasing a whole lot books that you may not read, and may end up unhauling - I would consider that to be a waste of $. Books (especially hard covers are expensive), and the rate some folks buy books - that can end up being the price of a piece of furniture). Not to mention the impact on the environment (fuel, shipping materials, etc.) Where do you think discarded books go? to the same place as fast fashion clothes. Rather than hauls (of any kind), let's celebrate intentional purchases.
I am 6min and 42 sek in this video and I agree complitely with you. More problematic are Haul with Special Editions as SE are for short time so one rushes to get them as they are usually sold out later.
I like seeing new titels BUT now I still debate if 4 books SE set is worth 140⏠when I haven't read the book(s) myself and everybody is creating FOMO for me because " the book is that good " they say.
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I started waching booktube 2022 [looking for japanese book recommedation] 5 months later had my first and only subscription box [ and I skipped till now all 6 book boxes from 2024 and 10 months in 2023] so what do we lern from this...
i Don't like watching book hauls: To me they are boring and exhausting. I want to discover books I might like in the book store or because a friend of mine with a similar reading taste already read and liked it. I have a lot of unread books in my shelves still, so if I add another book/book series to it, I have to be sure that I (will) like it. And that simply doesn't happen if I see recommendations in videos.
I rarely do a book haul on my channel, because I am annoyed with them. The over consumption of books has been going on for years on CZcams, but there is also the problem with fast fashion like Temu and SHEIN hauls as well.
I just recently bought a bunch of books, I think the difference is are you buying a bunch of new books? Or used books? Most of what I buy nowadays are used books. Once Iâm done with them I either sell them, donate them to the library or go find those free little libraries in my neighborhood.
Honestly I would purchase more ebooks, but the publishers set the ebook price too expensive for a digital copy of a book. They are basically forcing us to buy the physical copy if we want to read that book. This is why I have been holding off on reading new books. I have a ton of books that I can read the backlists of. I hate Amazon, but kindle unlimited has saved me so much money.
Do you know if your local library uses Libby or hoopla? There are tons of ebooks and audiobooks on there that you can access without needing to pay money first
I get the appeal of book hauls, because It's fun to see what someone has bought. However, I only watch hauls from certain niche booktubers who mostly buy second hand and older books of a particular genre or something else a bit different. But if I see a video titled "my (month name) haul" recommended to me, I won't watch, because I know those are full of brand new books I've no interest in and I really don't like the overconsumption aspect of these run of the mill haul videos. Unhauls I've never watched and probably never will, since it's just the other end of the same overconsumption problem. It's like watching somebody trash a fast fashion garment to make room for more fast fashion.
I firmly believe that loving to buy books and loving to read books are two different hobbies! If you buy 20 books twice a month and only read 2 whoâs business is it but yours? Also, the mental health thing, people should not hold someone they donât even know responsible for their mental health or decisions they make. That person should step back from social media and take care of their own health. One last thing, I LOVE Book hauls because for me itâs like shopping without spending my own money! I love them†I only buy when, I WANT to BUY. Has buying books become an addiction for some people, maybe they need a 1800 number đI really enjoyed your videos you always give interesting points.
I used to like book hauls but it got to be too much. I actually prefer book unhauls now.
I did ONE book haul and it was of books I have already read and absolutely loved that they belong on my shelf :D But these ones that do it for Tik Tok and such...it seems like a waste.
Not for me, I look at book hauls like anything elseâŠ.entertainment. If I choose to buy a book I get it on my kindle (no clutter) I will purchase a physical copy if I really like it and I also read what I purchase. Itâs entertainment for me such as everything else.
I understand the preasure you mean BUT I think it is not that "they" [meaning videos or booktuber] are putting the preasure but it is the person doing it to oneself!
I believe it was more like some booktuber started this new tipe of videos VOILA we have Book Haul now đ„ł than many hopped on that train as well âšïž but than it blow up and bacame very popular so if you want your own channel to be visited and watched đ€you do the same....untill you get hit with a problem and need to re-think you position...
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So what I do is if I like one book [or all đ ] from presented book haul I download the book cover and write on it the reason like maybe
" FMC with no romance plot in this book" an save on my phone...it does have 128GB so I can have a bigggg reminder of what books sound interesting to me and why, when I want to by my next book đ