Contents
Lily Ng – University of Edinburgh (PhD Pedagogy, Learning and Curriculum)
Head, Academic Services, Proven Results Private Tuition Agency Singapore
Why Do People Dislike Reading Books?
We have been in a digital age for the last 30 years.
Many of us have become used to having an electronic screen giving us entertainment, information, and knowledge instead of a physical book made of paper.
Some people find it difficult or uninteresting to read books as a hobby because of personal preferences, habits and external influences that include:
The decline in interest in reading books can be attributed to several factors:
- Reading a book requires effort and time. It is so much easier to watch a 2-hour movie, and get around the same essence than to read an entire book – which can take days to complete
- Reading is intellectually challenging. It requires less brain-work to watch a movie than to understand and imagine what the author is trying to convey through words
- Ease of access. To watch a movie, streaming service, or TV show, you just need to turn on your computer or TV. Of course, we can download a book relatively easily on Kindle, and e-books are readily available on many online sites. For many people, if you want to read a new book, you will need to buy it either from the physical store, or from Amazon, or other platforms that sell new or used books. Additionally, traditional print books can be less convenient to carry around.
- Lack of social interaction. Reading a book is generally a solitary activity. Many people prefer to watch a movie or TV show with friends or family
- Insufficient exposure to the right books. People often do not want to read because they haven’t found books that resonate with their interests. Just like watching movies or listening to music, everyone has different tastes, and it can take us quite a bit of time and effort to discover what we enjoy – whether it is fantasy, self-development, mystery, travel, or nonfiction
- Wide variety of entertainment to choose from. Social media, streaming platforms, and video games compete for our attention and energy. Shorter content – such as videos and social media posts – can be more appealing than a long book. It takes much less mental and visual effort for us to have a Netflix binge session or a TikTok scroll, rather than diving into a novel
- Changing preferences. Younger generations may prefer visual or interactive forms of storytelling that include video games or movies – which can provide immediate gratification and engagement
- Slow-paced. We read at a different pace compared to the rushed pace of modern life, and some people find that they cannot afford nor want to slow down. We lead busy lives, and this makes it challenging to find uninterrupted time to read. The fast-paced nature that we are experiencing every day often prioritizes quick consumption of information over deep engagement with longer texts
- Difficulty in concentrating. In a world full of distractions, reading can feel like a struggle for us to sit still for hours. We therefore avoid wanting to read
- Limited cultural emphasis on reading. In some environments, reading is not valued nor encouraged as a leisure activity. This cultural shift can make us feel that reading and books are not appealing, not valued, not emphasized, and not relevant as they once were – especially if there are few respected role models who enjoy or promote reading
- Misconceptions about reading. Many of us think that reading is only for intellectuals, or for academic purposes. This belief can lead potential readers to think that books are boring, or too serious for them. Sometimes, reading may be associated with academic pressure, leading to a negative perception of reading as a leisure activity
- Inundated by choices. There are thousands or millions of books with a very wide range of topics. This can cause us to not know where we want to start. We might want to be spoon-fed our knowledge or entertainment via visual media. This can lead to procrastination, or giving up altogether
- Information overload: With the vast amount of information available online, readers may feel overwhelmed, leading to a preference for shorter, more digestible content instead of lengthy books
How to make reading more interesting
Despite all the challenges listed above, many people still enjoy reading.
You might want to consider:
- Choose genres or topics that excite and intrigue you
- Start with short, fast-paced books or audiobooks
- Join a book club, for recommendations as well as ideas of what other people are reading
- Set small goals – aim to read for perhaps 10 to 20 minutes a day – to build a manageable habit that you can enjoy
- Finding joy in reading usually comes down to discovering the right book at the right time. Once that happens, even reluctant reads can become avid book lovers
- Modify our mindset. We often see reading as a chore, rather than a fun way to learn or to imaginatively escape into a new world. Once we start to think of books as a tool to get ahead – whether in our career or personal growth – we feel more motivated to want to read
Is it important for children to read?
Reading supports crucial learning processes.
The benefits of parents reading together with their children go far beyond literacy.
- Language development. From birth, babies are hardwired to develop language and communication skills. Reading and exposure to words helps our children to maximize their language and cognitive capacities. When we read to our children starting from a young age, we help lay the neurological groundwork for effective language use and literacy. This is partially because books expose children to grammar and vocabulary that they would not normally hear. Through reading, they discover new ways of putting words together, and this expands their ability to build a wide base of background knowledge about geography, transportation, nature, or countless other interesting topics – which is especially useful once they start school
- Empathy and emotional awareness. When children read books about people whose lives are different from their own – and especially stories told from the perspectives of those people – they gain an appreciation for other peoples’ feelings, problem-solving skills, cultures, lifestyles, challenges, and perspectives
- Strengthening the parent-child bond. When we have consistent, focused time together – without other distractions or demands – we and our child get a good opportunity to slow down, connect with each other, and share an enjoyable activity. For younger children, the sensory experiences of sitting with a beloved caregiver, hearing that familiar voice, and feeling a book in their hands are all important for kids’ cognitive development. Keep reading to your child and with your child after they learn how to read. Continuing to read together brings strong, lasting connections throughout their childhood
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