A Return to Books: Why I’m Reading More Often These Days

The Assignment that Revealed my Habits
A few months ago, I was helping my son with an assignment about how technology affects the brain.

“We have to use this article,” he said, pointing to his computer screen.

“‘Is Google Making Stupid?’ by Nicholas Carr,” I read aloud.

Oh this is perfect! Exactly what he needs to know.

“I’m assuming Google is in fact making us stupid, but what does the article actually say?” I asked.

“Umm, it’s about how people don’t read the same… something like that,” he said and then thumbed a quick text on his phone.

“Did you read the whole article?”

“Yea. Well, sorta. You know, I skimmed it.”

Of course.

“All those hours I spent reading to you kids when you were little. I can’t believe none of you reads now. Remember the Magic Treehouse series?” I said.

“And Origami Yoda! Those were so good,” he said.

“Don’t you miss reading books?” I asked.

“It just takes so long and it’s boring,” he said.

YouTube, TikTok, Instagram.  

Somewhere along the way, my kids traded books for videos, reels, and pictures. A fast and furious style of storytelling. Instant gratification without depth.

“Well, how do you expect to write your paper if you don’t know what the article says?”

He gave me the pathetic please help me cuz you’re good at this stuff look I can’t resist. Funny how seem to know when you’ll aid and abet.

I quickly read, making mental notes as I went along…

-The Internet is eroding our ability to concentrate and contemplate. People are easily distracted.

Yes, yes. Thinking of my kids.  No surprise there.  

I kept going…

-There’s a tendency to skim headlines and scan online articles, then quickly hop on a different site. Reading has become more about efficiency, not quality.

Hmm… I do that.

-The result is information overload. People don’t immerse themselves in slow, thoughtful reading like they used to.

That too!

The more I read, the more I saw myself. My habits had changed drastically. How did that happen?

I’d always been an avid reader.  I grew up going to the local library. The musty smell of books, the silence, the return date stamped with fresh ink. If my best friend was busy or my brother was hogging the TV, I’d happily read.  I read on long car trips, in bed at night, on the beach. In college when I had hours of studying to do, I still found time to read for pleasure. When the kids were little, I’d read while they napped.

I had to admit, though, I couldn’t remember the last time I curled up on the sofa for hours with a novel or stayed up past midnight to finish the last few chapters.

Instead… endless notifications and messages on my phone, social media posts and world news in the form of a tweet, subject line headings in my email inbox. And the messages are demanding. They want some reaction- a response, a like or dislike, an emoji, a click, a login, an update.

I’d also replaced books with podcasts. They fit in with my daily tasks, a sort of backdrop while I worked around the house, drove the kids, organized files.

I was in a sea of technology, consistently letting new information in. But what was the quality of these experiences? I was disappointed my kids didn’t read but was I any better?

Reigniting the Flame

A few days later, one of those podcast hosts talked about teaching speed reading courses for Iris Reading. It had been a side gig back in the early days of starting his business.

Speed reading. Hmm… I wondered if I still had the desire and mental capacity to read long pieces of writing.  Was there a way to reignite my passion for reading?

Curious to find out, I signed up with Iris Reading. The course wasn’t just about reading faster. It was about how to fully engage in what you’re reading, how to understand and remember. The techniques were easy. They just took some practice.

As I worked through the modules, I realized how much I missed reading for the pure joy of it. The escape. The way it relaxed me. The thrill of being captivated by a story, invested in a character, and fascinated by a topic I didn’t know much about.

It was like a passion had been sparked again.  I had forgotten how good it felt to read.

The Health Benefits of Reading  

Inspired, I did a quick online search on how reading affects our well-being. Turns out there are a lots of health benefits. Here are some well-known ones:

-It improves focus and reduces stress. Which is rare these days as so many of us try to multitask and are easily distracted.

-It allows us to learn and open our minds to possibilities. Books, especially, do this because they don’t just scratch the surface of a subject. They go deeper.

-It’s entertaining.

-It exercises the brain without overstimulating it.

-It promotes better sleep.          

I mean, why wouldn’t you immerse yourself in a good read?  

(I know, I know… texting, article hopping, streaming, social media scrolling.)

The Good ‘Ol Days are Back, Sorta

Last Sunday, I sat on the couch reading a novel. I had a blanket over my lap and coffee in reach. As my eyes took in carefully crafted words, my imagination drifted to 1914 Sicily. My fingers rubbed the satiny soft cover and every so often, I’d catch that faint earthy scent of the pages.

What a simple, natural experience.  Nothing to click on or respond to, no distractions popping up on my screen. At least, not for that block of time. It was time set aside just for reading, just enough time to reap the rewards.  

I’m not reading as much as I did years ago. And I still scan, scroll, click, and reply.

But, grabbing my book instead of my phone is happening way more often these days. I’m returning to something that has fed my spirit since I was a little girl, and it feels amazing.