The Lost Art of Reading

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I have a google document bookmarked on my computer named “Books to read,” featuring an expansive list of both English and Japanese books from all possible genres. Despite having more than 40 books on my “to read” list, the last time I’ve set my hands on, or actively tried to read one of these books, is probably last year. Since then, despite wanting to start a new series or finish an old one, I just haven’t been able to. With a school library and a Kindle bookstore at my fingertips, access is clearly not the problem. So despite so many interesting books finding a place on my to-read list, why haven’t I read any of them?

The short, simple answer I’ve tended to gravitate towards is “I just don’t have the time to read anymore.” Which is, at least, partially true. It’s the answer I give to my mother or my family friends when they ask what happened to the avid bookworm they remember. In becoming a senior high school student, I’ve observed that I don’t have the same liberties with time I had in middle school, where I could come home from school, take a nap til dinner, and have my homework done and dusted by 10. Now, coupled with my academics, my athletic and extracurricular responsibilities take precedence over my free time, and when previously I would have spent time unwinding by reading or napping, I now have to get to my work ASAP. With assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities, the idea of picking up a book for leisure feels like a luxury I can’t afford, as endless essays and deadlines hunger after my attention.

However, time isn’t all there is to why I don't read anymore. In an era dominated by technology and fast-paced lifestyles, the once-beloved pastime of reading for pleasure takes a back seat in the lives of many, as other forms of pleasure and entertainment take precedence in our free time. 

The onslaught of high-paced, digital distractions has undeniably played a significant role in the decline of pleasure reading. Social media, streaming services, and video games compete for our attention during our free time, offering instant gratification and constant stimulation. And although a captivating novel or thought-provoking prose compilation offers its own pleasures, it’s just not the same as the constant rush and high digital and online entertainment brings. For while a novel’s true strengths reveal itself at its acme, a twitch stream or video game is jam-packed with entertainment from the start. In terms of time efficiency in obtaining pleasure, books just can’t compete with the dopamine rush of a new notification or the excitement of watching the latest episode of an anime. 

The rise of visual entertainment is another factor that has led to the decline of reading for pleasure. With the prevalence of high-quality movies and T.V. shows, many students opt for the passive consumption of visual media over the more engaging act of reading. Especially as many hit shows or movies are based off of an original novel, students may consider watching the show equal to having read the book. However, this is a gross overstatement as the show only provides one interpretation of the original manuscript, and fails to truly bring to life the characters as reading the book might. And, in the interest of time, visual modes of entertainment often fail to completely address the full depth of the book itself. For example, the movie Percy Jackson & The Olympians : The Lightning Thief was based on the book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Sure, the movie may have been a commercial success, but the film was absolutely nothing like the original. Taking their own twist on the story, the dramatized film not only deviated from the original plot but also completely reworked the characters. While the original series took at least multiple books (and years!) for the protagonist, Percy Jackson, to admit having romantic feelings for the heroine, Annabeth Chase, they immediately developed a romantic tension in the film (which honestly felt rather forced). All in all, as films can never truly capture the essence of the book, we must remember that films are only one interpretation, and not always fully loyal to the original. 

In conclusion, while the reasons behind the decline of pleasure reading among students are multifaceted, it's essential for us to recognize the value of this seemingly lost art. Rekindling a love for reading requires a conscious effort to carve out time from our busy schedules, resist the pull of digital distractions, and rediscover the joy that comes from getting lost in the pages of a well-crafted story. After all, the benefits of pleasure reading extend far beyond the immediate gratification of entertainment; they shape us into more thoughtful, open-minded individuals.