Reading Is Different Now
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
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I feel like this isn’t a reading issue. It’s a social media is awful problem. If you get sucked in, it WILL ruin the reading experience. But it also creates opportunities to connect with readers we never would have. I mean, just look at the comment section here ❤
Agreed
Well said, bodine219.
Amen.
@@colin1818 No place for BIBLE (KJV)? Among the other books? Practising reading but keeping far from BIBLE?
BIBLE is the only book which is filled with the
basic instructions before leaving earth = BIBLE.
Never had the interest of knowing how to live on earth?
exactly, none of this changes my ability to turn my wifi off and sit down with a book. fuck anything that affects anyones ability to do that.
"Talking about the same books over and over and over and over again...", says Merphy while Lies of Locke Lamora sloooowly rises up from behind her 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 (sorry Merph! 😂)
Talking about the same books over and over and over again.... ". says Merphy while Lies of Locke Lamora Slowly undulates from behind her.
@@arjana3862 daaamn. Shoulda thought of that 😂
And don't get me started on One Piece!! Lol
@@arjana3862 - Good point. Not enough undulating
You know, i just read those Books because of her (three), and i liked, at least the first two, but no so much the third, hated the romantic part of it all, skipped all that part basically hahaha
As someone whose main hobby is reading and who sets aside a good chunk of the day for it, I've gotten so many snotty replies when talking about in real life - the classics "you must not be doing anything else with your life" and "that's so cute, I could never find the time for that" and my favourite, proudly stating "I haven't touched a book since middle school".
I've found pretty much the same replies in the comments of book-related content. No matter how much or how little you read, whether you like physical or audio or ebooks, or you subscribe to a hundred other preferences, someone's gonna pop up to tell you you're doing it wrong.
It's heartening to find someone talking about it in such a chill way as in this video. You're one of the very few people I've come across online with the "you can read how you want, i'm gonna read how I want and we're all good" vibe and it's the reason I love your channel ♥
I've heard similar things regarding not "having the time" to read from people who probably spend 2-3 hours a day on social media lol. A few weeks ago I actually read an article that said just cutting out 30 minutes a day of the endless scroll can equate to something like 13 average (and I think what was considered "average"was between 200-400 pages fwiw) sized books a year.
@@jgamez215 That's probably very true. I know for sure I complain about not having time for things, but I also sit here, like right now, watching CZcams for hours every week. XD I think the internet steals a lot of time from people, and many don't even realize just how much time that is. I used to read like 4-5 books at once, and I sped through them despite not being a fast reader. Now I'm happy if I finish a book/year. XD But I also currently write books myself, make CZcams videos, care for my flowers and bonsai trees, (watch youtube a lot), watch movies, paint and draw, and work full-time as a teacher. So I have less time for books, while I also spend less of the time I have on reading. But in the end, it comes down to choices. You choose what to do. And if you choose not to read, that's your own fault. :P But people needn't be so upset about what other people do or don't do, right? Or how they do it. XD I love this channel because it's friendly and chill. :)
@@SysterYster oh I'm definitely not immune to the algorithm based modern internet. Hell, on average I probably spend two hours a day just on CZcams. We kind of are living in a paradox- we are living in a golden age or content. But we all are (or at least seem) busier than ever. Lol
@@jgamez215 So very true. XD It's both great and terrible at the same time. So nowadays, people need to manage their time way better or it just slips through their fingers. ^^;
We are all given the same 24 hrs in a day. "Not having time" is a personal problem and just means that they dont value reading (even with its myriad of advantages). I have this problem too with some people that are close to me. Live your life how you choose, but saying we have the luxury of time is condescending because I MAKE time to read because it's good for my health.
As someone who fell out of reading books a bit, I always assumed that people were falling out of reading too cause of so much other visual media out there.
I am just happy that its still trendy and thriving
For me it's not that I fell out of reading, I just have a hard time finding something I'm interested in, (that and I was kinda exhausted after reading Marx)
@@jashinsdisciple8512 weird flex but okay
I can't speak on this too much as someone who didn't fall out of reading, but from what I understand I believe it's just a representation of the direction art has been trending in for the past decade or so. Nowadays, people don't like to invest too much into their entertainment/art. That's why most art forms have evolved to short-bursts of entertainment rather than longer ones. Long-form entertainment is accepted to be more rewarding but also takes a lot more dedication, both in terms of time and in terms of mental effort. This is why in the last decade, movies have steadily become more and more unpopular, and TV shows have become dominant in the visual medium. Likewise, social media is all about short bursts of entertainment, literal seconds of content before you move on to something else. Even the length of popular pieces of music has shortened from 4-5 minutes to about 2-3 minutes, though this is a bit more subtle and inconsistent.
So basically, books as a medium now apply mostly to a niche audience rather than the general public, who usually prefer to consume shorter-form art. That said, I think people are starting to get tired of the unending and repetitive nature of short-form media and are starting to dip their toes back into longer works, so I believe reading will start to become less niche as this change happens.
I kinda feel like the way many of us (at least in the U.S.) are taught literature in school definitely has an impact on the enjoyment of reading. I know the copious amounts of structured and assigned reading in high school and college, and the insistence on being quizzed on the least interesting aspects (looking at literally every English instructor who's ever assigned John Steinbeck) of the book definitely impacted me. I had a solid six year period where I didn't read for fun because of how I was "supposed" to do assignment reading.
@@jashinsdisciple8512 Same. For me, finding a book I like is so exhausting and just puts me off reading.
When your hobby becomes your job, it is no longer a hobby. And when your hobby is your personality, it becomes a challenge to your personality when people do that hobby differently.
I'm so glad reading is trendy - the more people picking up books, the better. Content creation is a job like any other; if it's making someone unhappy and stressed out, it's time to change. That said, I believe the consumerism in the bookish space is absurd. I've seen content creators buy entire series when they haven't even read the first book to know if they enjoy it. I believe books are meant to be cracked, written in, loved, read, and given away, but not everyone agrees. But at the end of the day, reading snobs are nothing new, and I just want people reading.
When it comes to buying full book series. I just don't really understand. If I want to start a new series I get first book from library to see if I really like it. But my favourite series I collect.
Isn't that the problem with everything now? We go overboard, reading, learning languages, bullet journaling, study and so on. We fall into the rabbit hole of consumerism to feel like we belong and it's hard specially if you're an overachiever that wants to do all.
I will say I tend to buy secondhand so if I see like all five of a series I think I’ll like or is on my list for like $3 total I’ll probably get it
I agree with you, but we also have to understand that this is the way authors make money. Without them buying these books, the authors wouldn't be supported.
@@emmawagner8915 I'm a slow reader so I stick with a book for awhile so it's worth it to me to get the best used hardcover I can from Amazon.
I actually find the ‘competition’ and goal setting on goodreads changed my habits for the better. It allows me to justify setting aside time each day and prioritizing it in my otherwise busy life. If it weren’t for booktubers like Merph I probably wouldn’t have got back into reading in such a substantial way, thank you!
For those who struggle with the time commitment like myself, that's the key. You have to be intentional and specifically set time aside for it.
Yeah it's almost like game-ifying reading which is fun. In my case the reading challenge is more of a motivator. I don't fuss about it too much but it's just that this year I feel like reading as many books as possible.
The voice switch when Merph said "you haven't read this book? Ha I've read it twice" killed me 🤣
Also, without Booktube (specifically Merph and Daniel Greene) I probably never would have gotten back into reading, found some of my new favorite stories, or started writing my own book.
Any time a group or activity becomes "us vs them," it spoils it. Preserve the joy of reading as a social activity by being compassionate and inclusive. 💙
"pressure to meet reading goals sometimes means you feel like you can't naturally ebb and flow out of your hobby" THAT HITS OMG. Feeling guilty for being behind on a goal because I've had an intense few weeks at work or because I've gotten into a video game or show... my goodness! That captures it so well!
I agree. Reading is, to me, a solitary activity, and the challenge is always to find enough uninterrupted alone time to get absorbed in what I’m reading. The only social activity related to reading that I enjoy is discussing books with friends.
The online book community seems a little … frenzied. How many books do you read? Have you read this book? This series? Are you following this author on Twitter? Are you a patron; did you read the ARC of their forthcoming book? How do you rate your books? How can you tell if you’re rating them fairly? Are you part of this this online book reading group? Or this one?
Reading should be less accountable.
I mean... I see reading like you. I am not a competitive person and I never EVER needed motivation to pick up a text - be it on paper or an e-reader or a short story magazine. I - therefore - avoid the frantic group like the plague. However ... I need a little accountability concerning exercise. Telling my boyfriend or collegues, "I've been hiking/to the cardio center/whatever" x times this months, and having a hiking buddy sometimes helps me to go once more. I know it's good for me, and I feel great afterwards - yet no intrinsic motivation exists. I gather it's similar for the social reading group. They actually like it, and it's good for their brains and they know it, but they need the outside oumpf to actually do it. Idk, maybe I am completly off, but this train of thought is why I don't want to dump on other peoples systems, even though I have nooo idea why booktok exists...
I'm sixty-four and read more than ever (I can't wait to retire). Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods, I don't come across many readers (they're mainly Netflix and Prime junkies). Therefore, Book Tube is a breath of fresh air. A very pertinent video. Thank you.
omg!!! i retired 4 years ago and my most favorite thing is to read!
i don't "do" book clubs bc by the time they meet --usually once a month i've already read quite a few books since...
i get a lot of good book recs on yt. and i enjoy hearing what the young readers think of the classics!!!
I think there's nothing wrong with romantizicing a hobby (I.e. redecorating your bookshelves to make them look pretty, taking pictures of your favourite passages in books) ☺
I partly think that’s also just part of making any hobby into a career.
Take any hobby and add a monetary reward to it and it’s going to make it less enjoyable over time.
I feel like an outsider in this conversation, first on Daniel's video on this and now yours. I literally can't remember the last time I actually had a conversation about reading with someone, even online.
None of my friends read really and most of my interaction with readers online is just looking for recommendations and occasional bits of sleuthing like with Cosmere connections etc.
Its sad because one of my fav parts about reading its the conversations about what you read, even when its just with yourself in your head. but finding people to go and have a coffee and talk about what you read, that's pure joy
Same, I’m still kind of normie, and read in ebbs and flows so I’m not super deep into the booksphere. I just look at all the booksphere content as fun and light hearted.
I feel like some of that is...if you're going from an online perspective, some things are more popular than ever. If you look at online, EVERYONE reads, the 'geeks won', and the culture accepts things like fantasy and sci fi,etc..more than ever. But when you step outside, the crickets are chirping, and saying the equivalent of "huh...looks like we got ourselves a reader." You really have to go out of your way to get a book club , or have that circle of friends where everyone is reading. I'm 41 now, and it honestly doesn't feel like things have changed all that much in regards to how reading is regarded. You still get looked at as if you're a unicorn, a lot of the time. What's more, people aren't really branching out and reading widely. They're reading YA and picking up a beach reads. Before I left the industy, the most rapidly growing sector was kids books and YA and manga. Pretty much anything else was stagnant. There's nothing inherently wrong with that..but it does leave the people who don't find much in those genres left out in the cold unless you find a good forum online..and that's just not the same sort of connection most of the time these days.
@@mattwhite4302 from what You are sharing I'm noticing a generational thing, and if You feel alianated I'm gonna tell You that I'm 23, and I'm not into YA as most young people are, but neither am into heavy old books or books about normal things. All I want, it's to read something special. But how to find that? Booktubers are recommending only the most popular YA books. And the "classics" are actually few. So I'm just trying to find this great stories and, instead of looking for reader Friends, I look up for Friends that can hold a conversation. I share a lot with My girlfriend and we don't read the same things. So for a conclusion, I hope You find these people that are smart, kind and Open mind enough to talk about anything and everything. I try my best to be that person
I'm 100% the same, everyone around me has other side hobbies, online chat is always recommendations rather than conversation. I just dont talk about them.
It only really sucks when you want everyone to experience a story you really love, but know they just never will.
This is not a book problem. This is a social media problem.
I think the whole drama is that we have too much to consume and we want everything all at once. Just recently stumbled on a youtube channels where pretty much every big classic is an audiobook. I was stunned 😭 Where do I start, what book should I read?? So then you kinda fall into the trap of buying everything so that to upon a random whim, you can decide to read anything at anytime because it's right in your shelf!
I think another point is how fragile author (especially indie) reputations are. If an author makes one misstep or says one thing that another person finds offensive, it can quite literally ruin their careers. And god forbid if you're a reader and have one of those authors' books on your shelves.
This was a fantastic video! I do find it kind of funny that the place I feel free with my reading is at university studying literature, where I anticipated to be judged for reading genre fiction etc, and the place I feel judged and measured the most is online lol
Also, I completely agree about the idea that almost all of this has existed forever. My dad is 60 years old, never talks to anyone outside of the house about reading, but the man loves setting aside the day to reorganise the bookshelves throughout their house just for himself to sit back and appreciate. But if bookstagram existed back when he was young, I'm sure he would have been all over it.
Since starting booktube, bookstagram etc, I found myself trying to conform to what is expected, and instead have now abandoned this romanticised vision of reading, and try to embrace the complete averageness of sitting down and reading lol.
The thing about feeling judged on the internet more than at university studying literature is a little too relatable. I'm in my first year of uni and i was so nervous about that, but i was plesantly suprised.
The whole yearly goal really got to me. I felt like I had to speed through books to reach my goal. And I’m not even a content creator. I had to take a step back and realize that it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I enjoy what I’m reading and however many books I read is enough. It’s been a competition with myself and now I feel like I need to stop and slow down.
I'm so glad booktube exists, I got such great reccomendations from you and other booktubers. And sure, some of the content is "clickbaity", but it is easy to find the one which suits you. I don't watch bookhauls (and any other hauls), specificly to not promote the more consumerism side of things, but it doesn't mean I think people are wrong making them.
Let's all chill and enjoy whatever we want to enjoy.
Also, nobody is forced to watch anything. I have the feeling the drama queens are drown to drama content, and then they complain it exist...
oh, reading the short books and feeling guilty - that hit home. you are so right that people should just focus on their own business, but that would require (gasp) introspection :)
6:08 I also would like to add fanfiction to this list. So many people, even in the book community, still see it as just “guilty pleasures”, or “something childish”, but it can be SO much more.
I get that there’s some fanfics that are not super great, but there are books that are not super great as well! Like sheesh, reading is still reading, and I got valuable lessons from the many fics I read.
I just wish it wasn’t so looked down upon outside of online fandom spaces
I honestly can’t think of why someone would dog on reading fanfics, other than ‘it’s not an officially published work, so therefor it doesn’t count.’ It’s never been my jam, but if it’s something that people enjoy and they’re *actually reading* and not mindlessly scrolling through social media, then that is a win. I would only encourage fanfic readers to try more published works, not to invalidate what they enjoy, but to possibly broaden their horizons and find more communities to be apart of. That will turn into more available fanfics to read, and it’ll create a positive feedback loop that keeps people from doom scrolling.
I used to feel bad that I didnt read as much nowadays but then I realized I probably read more than I used to. I started paying attention to the word counts on some fics I read and they're often 50k-200k. Fanfic gives busy ppl a way to find EXACTLY the kind of story they currently want to read without having to pick up a book they may only get half way through before they lose interest. I love that you pointed it out.
This is such a good point, sure lots of fanfics on Wattpad sound like they were written by a twelve year old who just discovered the wonders of whatever they stumbled upon, but some fanfics (especially on AO3 for some reason) are genuinely the most eloquently written pieces of literature I’ve ever read.
@@nadial8531 in AO3’s case, I’m pretty sure it’s the age of the users. Most writers on AO3 are older, which (usually) means more experienced writers and such
@@erincorcoran5936 also YEAH!! Fanfiction is so convenient! It’s free, it caters to your interest far more than books do, you don’t have to follow characters you don’t know yet, and it’s easier to find shorter stories if you enjoy those more.
Since I began reading fics, I have read SO much more. I chugged them down, one shot after one shot lol.
And the quality!!!! There are so many stories that are incredibly well written, characters that are well put together even when they’re outside their usual realities… there’s so much I could talk about fanfiction. It’s pretty neat, and I wish it wasn’t written off as “less than” simply bc it’s “not original”
This conversation reminds me of when the anime and gaming community were talking about this whole thing. You're right, nothing is new!
I read the living-shit out of comic books back in the day, and my late-mother, a die hard reader, when confronted by her friends about my habits her response was "I don't care what he's reading, so long as he's reading."
As a watcher only of booktube (not on booktok at all and gave up on bookstagram) for the last 5 or so years, I've found that I actually have distanced myself a lot from the aesthetic/over consumption content that used to draw me in and make me feel insecure. I don't like TBRs, hauls, or even wrap up videos anymore - I seem to only like vlogs bc I like to see people read and review books in a more casual way that's not scripted or rehearsed. The people i follow don't do the "filming myself reading" thing very often and instead it's more lifestyle abd casual discussions. That makes reading and getting book recs seem more appealing to me.
On a personal note, i actually sold probably 70% of my owned books bc I realized I had bought things simply bc of hype or bc a cover was pretty and none of the books around me reflected my actual taste. Now if I buy a book, I really think about it and take my time, or I go for an ebook - I'm just tired of having so much stuff! I also rarely pick up new releases in the same month or even year they come out bc I use my library and 1. There's a long wait time and 2. I don't care to be "in the know" of what everyone is reading at the time. I'm loving finding older books that I never got around to or even revisiting ones I read when I was younger. I think a younger generation is going through what all of us seasoned readers did a few years ago - it'll even itself out eventually. 😋
All the social media performance aside, I love the way books and stories change and adapt with the culture and new technology, it evolves right alongside us and reflects the events, ideas and problems of the time the stories were told
I totally get this. I'll read Caves of Steel or The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov and though it's set in the distant future, the '50s cultural norms still come out as an author is a product of his times. The language is even more formal. When you read Dragonflight by Anne McCafrey it has a strong female co-protagonist, but it is very standard sci-fi fantasy for the '70's, but you see her evolution and feminist thought creeping in by later books in the '90's.
@@rogerhuggettjr.7675 yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about, books/stories are steeped in history even if they're fantasy or scifi, it's so cool 😀
It’s really confusing to me that “aesthetic” reading bothers people so much. I kind of just view it as a parallel hobby. For example, I keep a book journal. I put a lot of time into it to make it look very aesthetically pleasing. But it doesn’t have anything to do with trying to become “a reader”. It’s because I like making and looking at beautiful things. I like to read but I also like to be creative, and because I spend so much time reading, books often become the source of inspiration for creative projects. That’s always what I assume when I see those beautifully curated Instagram photos or someone who spends so much time annotating or painting their books’ edges. Reading has inspired them to be creative in other ways and they’re just sharing that experience. Why can’t we just let people enjoy things!!!
I don’t do any of that artistic stuff and I completely agree with this comment. Same goes for bullet journals and planners. I don’t decorate mine but many people love to. It’s just a separate hobby. It doesn’t mean they don’t plan/journal/read as well.
Agreed!!
The aesthetic thing is funny because it's not new. I remember a joke about how Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose was the best seller that no one had read because people had bought it to look smart/cultured back in the nineties.
It's because people have been reading for pleasure for like at least 3000 years and that makes people snobby.
Being part of the OnePiece community, I know people often feel pressured to "catch up" or intimidated to even start the series because of it's length. What I always tell them is: This is not a competition. And this is true for all long series, like "The Wheel of Time" or Terry Pratchett 's books.
People should take their time and enjoy their hobby whatever that may be.
How does one start OnePiece? I was looking and I can't find a way to access the begining. The online story seems to start at chapter 1000.
Merphy, you are completely right that this is not only concerning the book community but many others. :)
I am not only a reader but also a vivid a knitter and very involved in the knitting community (knitstagram), and as much as I love it there, I must say: the pressure is REAL to finish a certain amount of garments in a certain time frame, to follow some Trends etc... I guess I have found a way for me to not give in to the peer pressure and (mostly) just enjoy my craft. But still, it's not always easy. 😅
Thank you so much for the insightful video, loved it! ☺️
That’s so interesting how every little niche community has their own pressures that you would never realize as an outsider 😅
@@ediev930 A friend who collects dolls told me there is a lot of drama and cliques there as well lol
When I was looking at finding a career, someone told me, "Find something you would love to do for free, and think of a way to earn a living off of it." Well, I'm still trying myself to figure that out, but I say thank goodness for things like Booktok, CZcams, Goodreads, and others. People are able to monetize their passion for reading and talking about books. Maybe not much, but perhaps enough to pay for the hobby they love so much.
3:24 as a Puerto Rican I really appreciated this!
Trying to "fit in" with your peers is an age old human trait that's crept it's way into the book community. Everyone wants to be like the cool kid, so they start imitating what they see. Next thing you know, everyone has fairy lights, holding up the same book, creating the exact same video(s)....but they never stop to ask themselves "why am I doing this?" For some, I don't think it was ever truly about reading books. It was about trying to fit in and make friends. None of which is a bad thing by any means. But you have to be true to yourself. Reading is a very personal hobby, and you're never going to find joy in it if you're just imitating how others do it. You have to find what works for you. And if that's reading 1 book a month, great! There's nothing wrong with that. Read for you, not for others.
“Ebb and Flow in and out of your hobbies” is a wonderful way to think of juggling different interests. I often feel like a bad reader bc i read books so slowly. Sometimes spanning a month and a half. Being an ADHD individual, I struggle with consistency in any area so I’m def going to think of it more like that!
I remember all the criticism about e-readers. People saying "you're not really reading." I flip back and forth with my books and e-reader. I have always been a reader, I'm 63. Funny story, my mom got mad at me when I was younger, because I brought my book "Jaws" into church!
There are always fake "content creators". And they can be identified in their first 30 seconds of their videos. You, Merphy, are the real deal. Authentic and insightful. Thank you for this video, excellent as always.
Like Superfans of that shitty show Rings of Power. Nobody there really readed LotR
Reading is personal for me I could care less about how I look online. It just makes no sense 😑🤦🏽♀️
Your assessment of other communities being the same is so on point. I'm a knitter and the knitting online community also have a "competitive knitting" feel sometimes. Everyone talks about the "slow living" in association to crafting but sometimes it feels like you have to crank project after project to keep up. I'm all about the "ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it" so even if I end up knitting half a sock between 2 podcasts, i'll still have valuable info to share with people in the end.
I am not the biggest reader. Im the kind of reader that reads because I tell myself that I should. I do enjoy it when I manage to get lost in it. Your channel is amazing and keeps me on track. Keep doing what you do, you are so naturally talented at it and its captivating.
I see a lot of people in my book groups on FB showing how they read more than 400 novels a year. That’s more than a book a day! At that point is it even enjoyable? Or are they skimming these books to have a certain image on social media.
I’ve tried going for my record number of completed books and I found that once I was done with a book, I couldn’t remember anything about it. I might as well of never read it and said I did. Now I’ve gone back to reading for enjoyment and relaxation. How it should be. Bonding with a book and ending with a lasting impression of the story instead of blaze through it like it’s home work.
I love the paintings of people reading. It’s such a commitment of both time and money to commission an artist to sketch then paint you sitting there with a book, and you probably would piss off the artist if you turned the page because you’d have changed the composition 😂
i didn't even realise this was a thing, i mean hasn't reading always been a social thing, maybe there are also people that only read privately, or keep some of the stuff private but i think as long as reading for entertainment has been a thing so has the social aspect of it.
I never really had a problem with reading as an "aesthetic". It's simply a way for content creators to showcase their creativity and skills in photography/videography. I don't see anything wrong with that.
However, the issue of reading as a "competition" truly affected my personal enjoyment. I once felt pressured to read as many books as I can, only to end up reading books that didn't really leave a mark on me. I also felt the urge to read more novels when I'm reading a lot of mangas. Because of this, I made it my goal this year to read books that I'm actually interested in (regardless of popularity and format).
I think the problem lies on this mindset that people have where they consider readers who posts pretty pictures, or who read more than 100 books a year, or who scribble beautiful annotations, or who read classics as the "standard". Having this standard of what reading should look like and pressuring yourself to meet that standard is detrimental.
Read the books you enjoy. Read at your own pace. Read in any format you prefer. Read a book, or 7 books, or 153 books a year. Every reader is different, and reading- in any form or speed or amount- is still reading.
Other people can't force you to get sucked into social media in a way that ruins your hobby.
I like to point a fact that the discussion is not taking in account:
I live in a small city in Mexico so small that in fact i cant go and buy a copy of almost any book classic or a modern one sure maybe some store can help to get but it will be expensive and this make even harder find people to share reading and the experiences of it and despite all the problems have the book content it give me a window to share and enjoy the hobby even more so its really weird to me that people says that book content is killing reading when in fact was book content what make me start being a reader at the age of 26 .
So no book content is not killing nothing sure is not perfect but internet is a tool to connect whit others and book content is just other form of people connecting
The thing is... I genuinely don't think it's possible to "fake" being a reader. People can do the aesthetics and the content, whatever makes them happy, but the book sphere is not exactly the place I would go if I was looking for an easy avenue to an audience. I'm happy reading is able to be such a social thing -- it does change it a little, but for me personally I've gone the loop of "Reading what I want", "reading what's trendy", and now looping back to "reading what I want" again.
And on the note of whether creators are actually reading or not -- I notice that some people will have the camera on them for a bit and then turn it off. I don't think I've ever questioned if they were actually reading, I know they are because they are giving updates in their vlog. I think this is such a weird thing for people to get upset about honestly.
this is sooooo true. I say this all the time lol, if you want to make content for views or attention or clout or whatever, the book space just isn't the place for it. This space is made up of people that are truly passionate because, it's such a small corner of the internet and if you want to fake something for an audience, there's MUCH better choices lol
@@merphynapier42 please read the promised neverland and my hero academia...
I got burned out after doing Goodreads goals a few years in a row, plus other things. I had a hard time reading for a while, and it had become a huge part of my life until that point too. Deciding to stop being a snob over audiobooks (and then a huge advocate for) got me back into reading. I can even read books in hard copy and ebook again now, when I have time. I tend to be pickier about books I read lately, because I read so many that I didn't like before just to get the point towards a reading goal.
5:06 Merphy drops a book to the ground and my soul shatters thinking of the potential damage to the book. Yes I'm weird. Brilliant video btw.
[Toph voice] Reading is popular! Oh no... [/Toph voice]
I honestly can't see why "reading is trendy" is a bad thing, TBH. So what if some people "are faking it"? So what if some people read genre fiction or posting about it?
So what? At least they're reading or encouraging others to read, which is always a win in my book.
Love it. Every scorn has been scorned before. Wholeheartedly agree! I think everything has the Compare and Contrast element. Even living out in the "middle of nowhere" I have seen humans doing that very thing. About gardens. About hats. About tractors, for pities sake! Humans are naturally good at it.
I really liked hearing your thoughts on this. Maybe social media has changed the state of reading but if it helps more people to pick up a book and read it then that’s a good thing. I think there will always be people reminiscing about the good ol days for any kind of hobby whether it’s books, video games, movies, tv, etc. I think you provided a great perspective on this. ☺️📚
I've been a bookworm since I was a kid and my love of reading continues to stay strong even as an adult and is my main hobby. I think that reading is a unique experience for all and that so long as you're enjoying what you read, the format and amount of books read doesn't really matter. I do love seeing how many books people can read in a year though weather it's one book read or three hundred both are valuable. There is often a lot of pressure to read a certain amount of books in a short amount of time particularly ARCs or to get out content, all of which are valid. Overall, reading is my comfort and while it would be nice to have the matching bookshelves and a certain aesthetic, I'm not bothered by my mismatched shelves, I just need to get more bookshelves because I've run out of space on my current shelves.
For me, the social aspect of reading has made reading so much more enjoyable! I grew up before the time of thriving online communities and reading being cool, and rarely had friends who loved to read, so reading was always a very solitary thing for me. Finally being able to share that love and talk about books with others who love them has been nothing short of miraculous for me. Being in the book community, both as a consumer and a creator, has also led me to read literal hundreds of books I wouldn't have otherwise, because I'm discovering so many more books than I ever had before and I'm driven to read more-and not because of comparative or competitive feelings, but because reading is just more fun when I can share the experience with others and explore my own thoughts about a book through reviews. And as someone very structure- and goal-focused, I LOVE putting together TBRs, most-anticipated lists, end-of-year stats, and so on. The book community has turned reading into so much more than just reading for me, and I love every minute of it.
This video brought to mind the saying “comparison is the thief of joy”
You said it best, who cares about what others are doing…worry about yourself. Spot on merph
I am thrilled that people are reading more!
I have LOVED reading since I began with comics and continued to books in second grade (Ralph the Mouse by Beverly Clearly.. my first book series i read)…. Lately I stopped reading so much since I smoked while reading and the habits became tied. Now i read, and hear audiobooks, but not at the level i did before…. But since the beginning being a bookworm was a badge of honor for me…. I love them! And to me I feel proud of all that I have read (and will read)
It's definitely fun to have some social aspects to reading, participating in The Discourse about certain books/series, etc., but the feeling of being behind the times if you're not reading the books everyone is talking about can make a hobby feel like more of an obligation, and that's no good. Great vid!
You and Daniel are predominantly the only BookTubers I watch. I feel like you're genuine, I like your sense of humor, you cover books that I find interesting, and I like the style of your videos. I have read WAY more books based on y'all's videos than I ever would have on my own. There are so many books out there and it's often hard to know where to start or even go next without some sort of system and you all are my system.
The first thing I turned off in my E-book readers was the ‘goals’. It’s hard to imagine a more effective way to kill the joy of reading than making it a treadmill activity. 📚❣
Love this video
As Reading is basically a solitary activity who cares who reads what. I have luckily not stumbled across the content providers that are critical of others. Instead they are always complimenting and giving them credit for a tag or an idea or a certain book recommendation. The downside of human nature and the need to criticize, compare and find fault with others has certainly become more widespread with social media through the internet.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
Good commentary Merphy.
This is a great video!
I've kinda struggled with something similar my whole life. I'm a very goal oriented person, and I find myself putting pressure on myself to read because "I gotta." And that really sucks the joy from reading. Trying to figure out a way to get around this and just enjoying reading for reading.
Thanks!
Very interesting topic, great video Merphy!
I didn't know what Booktok was until I walked into B&N and saw a section dedicated to it. I normally read on my kindle because I don't have a lot of space in my apartment but the ones I really enjoy, I want the physical copy.
Thank you for this! ❤Your comment about "it's fine to ebb and flow out of your reading hobby" makes me feel better about not meeting any of my reading hobby goals for this year.
I had originally *started* GoodReads to keep track of and remember what I read, and I only started to "ruin" the hobby for myself by making goals because I felt I should keep up with/compete with my friends, or seem more intellectual, rather than because I get joy out of meeting those goals. I even try to read the same amount of fiction vs. non-fiction (a 1:1 ratio). I *do* enjoy learning new things, but that is an awful lot of pressure on myself because I am not always in the mood for non-fiction.
I am definitely going to start ignoring my reading "goals" (or taking them as more of a guideline) and work to just enjoy reading for the sake of reading.
Thank you
this is one of your best videos! ❤❤
This is a fantastic and thoughtful video. Thank you so much for doing it.
This was just absolutely excellent. Preach.
"The bookshelves are here. They're real" *dumps books on the floor.*
This is why I adore your channel, Merphy. XD
What a great video though, in all honesty. It's been fascinating to watch the way Booktube/Tok/Stagram has changed reading perceptions and rehashed old "concerns". Fantasy as a genre has its own subset of naysayers, which is also an interesting discussion. I think you're right though, people are able to gravitate towards the style of channel or account that they enjoy watching and relate to, make decisions about what they do or don't want to watch and participate in... it's an individual experience just like reading.
😍ALSO thank you for the shoutout!
I started listening to this and was interested in the topic... and right away, there's a commercial! THAT is what I've come to hate about Booktube and CZcams on general. You can't watch anything without people pushing stuff on on you. And there's no way to know if the person actually even uses the product/service.
I think that what you talked about with competition and “fakeness” is more of an issue with content creation than with reading. I see this type of thing a lot with creators who focus on a thing that is highly subjective and creative where they get trapped in the cycle of trying to increase numbers instead of doing the things they want to do and talking about the things they want to talk about. As for reading becoming more social, I don’t see how that’s a problem. When I love something, I want to share that love with other people and find people who feel the same way. Complaining about reading being “too social now” implies that books were meant to be enjoyed in a vacuum.
I agree with you about reading vlogs. I still enjoy them but I'm sure no one would willingly watch me while I read because my face gets all shmooshed and I probably look so serious like I want to hurt people for fun!!😂
Thanks for the compassionate take on this discussion!
Merph, thanks for being so honest and having a great dialogue for us to follow along with. I appreciate your heart in this matter. Keep up the great work.
I like your shelf you have such a different selection ❤️❤️
Really enjoyed reading this in the background while reading. Thanks for your information.
I think figuring what platform works for us makes a lot of sense to me! I don't love tiktok (ironically, I still have one) because it's mostly comedy about books which I have a good time with for five minutes, but I love the in depth reviews on instagram and booktube. And I like talking about books more than writing about them (but before that was reversed, so first I was a blogger but now a youtuber). Also this was such a nuanced discussion and it was handled so well and so balanced. I liked the personal spin as well as the depth of discussion. And had a little shock when my video and channel appeared! Thanks for the shoutout
I loved the way you did this video and the conversation that this focuses on. I do sometimes find myself comparing how many books I read with the amount the book tubers I watch do. But overall I just love the community and getting book recommendations from them all, and hearing there thoughts on said books.
I am solely a manga reader, and can definitely think of a few anecdotes related to condescending readers. I enjoy stories, but it's difficult for me to get into reading a block of text. I thoroughly enjoy literary analysis, but I scratch that itch with video games, manga, anime, and other mediums for stories.
I love Merphy because she has this passion for the stories she reads that is infectious. And if people get that from other influencers, more power to them. I'll be here though, waiting for her next SpyxFamily skit.
I'm manga reader too. I watch merphy because she has the same taste of manga that i like so maybe i could get some fantasy novel recommendations. I always getting bored because fantasy novels usually have some mainstream plot whereas manga (that i read) have out of the box story and very long series. Although i don't read merphy recommendations but i still watch her because she is so passionate about her hobby
Salute and be blessed ❤❤❤❤
It's just the social psychology of the internet. It tends to suck the joy out of everything. I suspect it's related to the psychological underpinnings of road rage. It has something to do with the semi anonymous nature of online communication. It's a factor even when people aren't anonymous and appear on camera or tack their real name on to their social media posts. It's like people communicating with the idea of another person, rather than the actual person. Something about it lends itself to petty cruelty, opportunism, dishonesty, and a general lack of empathy. I really wonder if the internet isn't just an interactive public bathroom wall that we're all vandalizing.
Fabulous video. It’s something I consider a lot. I’ve brought it up a ton of my podcast and depending on the day I can be loving the social aspect and others I am done with it haha.
I'm so confused... how can another person possibly ruin a hobby, that takes place predominantly inside the hobbyist's head, by existing prettily in front of their bookshelf or reading in a nook? If a person isn't reading but is making book content... how is that ruining it for you (general 'you' not specific)? Spoilers are literally the only thing that can ruin a book before you read it! It's a completely internal, subjective agreement between author and reader that NO ONE ELSE CAN EXPERIENCE! EVER! If the internet is ruining reading for you... isn't it you that's trying to base your enjoyment of the reading experience on validation from others?
Yessss!!!! Social media has been "ruining" quite a few things for me, so what did I do as a responsible adult? I CURATED MY FEED! I limited my time!! Personal responsibility, people!
Oh!! I've been dying to tell you!! I started listening to the Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas from your recommendations and I'm about halfway done now. I love it so much!!!😄 I also bought the Lies of Locke Lamora because you recommended it. Do I know or care what it's about? Nope!! I'm just excited to read it LOL
No one I know in real life reads, certainly not the same books as me. Booktube is such a comforting place and my favourite videos are long, minimally edited reading vlogs as I love listening to someone’s real-time experience with books. 💖
It makes sense for booktubers. When it partially becomes a job, some personal magic can be lost indeed. For what it's worth, I've never felt you or any other CZcams book person was ever just phoning it in for content. This kind of thing starts because of a genuine passion for the medium after all
Yeah, the problem with making your hobby into a business is at some point you gotta deal with the actual business which is boring. . .
Great video! Ive seen those kinda gatekeepie "looking down because they do it X way" in the music sphere a lot.
Thank you for talking about other hobbies! I struggle a lot with prioritizing my reading while wanting to do other things. It feels like if I start a book now I have to get it finished as soon as possible, instead of taking my time to enjoy it. Spending every hour reading a book I might be struggling with because I just want to play a video game, but if I don't finish this book right away I'm scared I wont finish it at all.
Thanks
This is great a different take on these discussions and I am new to booktube as a content created so I love seeing these types of videos
Thank you for your balanced take on this subject. As a previously avid reader who lost the curiosity for reading for 2 decades, you have inspired me to pick up a book again. So thanks!
Is that the Deathgate Cycle in the back? I loved those books where I read them a long time ago
I enjoyed the discussion. I haven’t really thought of it much on my own. I want more of a community with my reading. I don’t really have friends who read, so booktube has been a great way to at least hear other reader’s thoughts and get great recommendations. Murphy, you and Daniel Greene were the first two creators I found before I knew what booktube was.
Great discussion on this topic. The old paintings of people reading caught me by surprise. Not that they existed (because I knew they did, and have seen some myself) but the fact that that is no different than what we do now where we take pretty picture of book, or of us with books.
-T
Thanks for the video Merphy! People just need to let others enjoy themselves how they want! (Assuming they're not hurting others, etc. etc.)
One thing I'd like to add, as a neurodivergent who read a lot when I was younger that ended up feeling like I lost the ability to even read at all. The social aspect of reading in the modern way has helped so much. People talking about how they read and the fun experience listening or watching book content helped me ease back into the hobby. The more we celebrate the positives the better ^ ^.
What the heck is a "neurodivergent"?
@@Yesica1993 someone who has a different neurotype such as ADHD or Autism.
Neurodivergent: People who's brain isn't considered the norm. People with autism, dyslexia, or ADHD are some good examples as neurodivergent people. Often having these, results in a very different perspective and experience in life. The opposite is neurotypical