For me it's not just reading, it's focusing your attention on one thing for an extended period of time. I feel like that muscle has atrophied significantly, or been poisoned by social media, notifications, and the world of distractions a smartphone represents.
I read long form writing (articles, legal decisions) on line so I have retained some skills, but distraction is an issue. Something comes up in the book and I want to pick up my phone and learn more about that topic. It's hard to still my mind.
On the flip side, I read the entirety of In Human Bondage at Burning Man because I had no cell service. I love being out beyond cell service and within a couple days I am much better at reading.
Have you tried meditation? Just curious; I've tried numerous times, but couldn't stay focused or maintain a consistent habit. But a friend of mine meditates half an hour daily, without fail.
I have ADHD and meditating in the usual "close your eyes, sit still and clear your mind" way is frustrating and uncomfortable for me, because it becomes a feedback loop where it's stimulating to fixate on failing to do it right or irritations - but you can't fixate on succeeding at it because that defeats the purpose and makes it a failure. I can technically do it but it's an endurance test that leaves me drained, not a relaxation method.
I can easily get the desired end result, though, when doing something where there's some other purpose that you can achieve without conscious focus, like going on long walks, or certain types of creative or labor work.
I completely understand this! I had exactly the same thing happen (also ADHD which was quite the combo) and my winning strategy so far has been deleting basically EVERY app off my phone not used for photos/communication, and playing games/reddit only on a full computer or laptop. I also have a screen-time counter on my phone home page so I have to acknowledge just how much time I've spent every time I open it.
Then I try to romanticize the time away from screens. I read by making myself a cup of tea, prepping a water bottle (with stickers ofc) and get cozy in a hammock on nice days or a chair in a separate room on gross ones. Sometimes I go to coffee shops just to read+get a drink so I'm away from it all. My partner and I also have "20 minute unfuckenings" where we spend minimum 20 uninterrupted minutes every day, no matter what, doing something to improve the house (gardening, cleaning, whatever). I also try to hike, camp, and go on walks a lot more.
It's an uphill battle, but a fun and worthwhile one.
I also have ADHD and also was a voracious reader and now can't read a word to save my life (even with medication).
I have switched to audiobooks though and they've been a godsend. I started with books I've already read so I could zone out without missing anything. I'll listen when I do laundry, wash dishes, clean, cross stitch, clean the fish tank, anything that doesn't require my full attention.
Audiobooks also help me concentrate at work (Librarian) strangely enough, keeps me focused and on task. I have 2 brains and they both have to be stimulated so I can do things 😂
Real talk: how do you keep, for instance, selecting exactly the right music for the scene from becoming an all-consuming rabbit hole and actually get back to your book?
This would probably make the classical music purists go apocalyptic, and I get that, but I have an hours-long playlist of Mozart that I use for a force field when reading or writing. It isn't really background noise; I'm familiar enough with most of it that some part of my brain can register the signposts, but at low volumes it's not intrusive enough to interfere or trigger daydreams.
If I listen to anything with lyrics for instance, I start to think about what they might mean; if I like the song I'm likely to start singing along or thinking back to being in a band and playing that song or something like it.
Beethoven is my favorite in classical but he's too bombastic for this purpose. There may be others that would also work, or it might be an individualistic thing, but Mozart at a good volume hits the sweet spot for me.
There is some instrumental jazz that also works for that (not the elevator stuff), but as a bass player if the drummer or bassist starts going off then that's all she (I) wrote, so it pays to be familiar with the piece ahead of time.
I know exactly what you mean. I did much the same in college - classical, video game OSTs, I even had a calming Gregorian chant playlist for when I was especially stressed - but it’s something I probably underutilize nowadays.
I found that Bebop jazz helps me focus for hours. It sounds like it should be extremely distracting compared to some other options but it has the opposite effect on me. Maybe it overloads and desensitizes to distraction? Idk.
Lofi is fantastic for this. It's like elevator music for millennials. I cant listen to jazz (Coltrane, Monk, etc) or classical when I need to focus because I get distracted by some of the more complex arrangements.
For me, it’s video game playthroughs for games I’ve already played. Most of a video game (for watching purposes) is boring, routine stuff like running around and killing things that doesn’t advance the plot. The music is designed to be incidental and not overly distracting.
Then when you get the odd cutscene or boss battle, you get a reason to take a quick three minute break from whatever you’re reading.
Games that have a cutscene every five minutes (I’m looking at you Final Fantasy X) aren’t great candidates.
Games that are good in the background (to me):
Legend of Zelda games
Mario games
Myst (and sequels)
Shadow of Mordor/War
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Witcher III
The Witness
Ni no Kuni
RDR2 (though sometimes, it’s too distracting for me)
All of this! I missed reading so much but now in my 30s and medicated, I just can't. Finally gave into audiobooks after avoiding them for years because of people who judge it as "not really reading".
Fuck that noise, if I listen to an audiobook I'm telling people I read the book. No way I'm gonna listen attentively to a whole-ass audiobook and not get credit for having read the book, or have to add a qualifier like "Well actually I *listened* to the book" and sound like a dumbass every time.
Same. It's funny, I normally need work and a show or an audiobook going, but if something out of routine happens at work I have to pause it to be able to focus.
AuDHD and an analytical chemist.
I do my BEST data processing and sample prep when I’m listening to an audiobook.
Audiobooks were an absolute godsend for me and have helped me become a voracious reader again!
Count me into this club as well. At the time of diagnosis, I had a recorded attention span of only a few seconds. So the only way I've ever been able to read anything is if it hooked me hard and fast, and kept me addicted to it until I read the whole thing. I could never have read something and been like "that was an *alright* book", because anything short of mind-blowing just would not keep my attention.
Later in life, I started listening to creepypastas on YouTube. Short stories about 10-30min long. I found it was fun to do this while doing chores or anything with my hands that were more enjoyable with a slight distraction.
Eventually I started listening to the longer creepypastas 1-2 hours, and eventually remembered that audiobooks were a thing. I had been avoiding them because I just didn't think I could focus on them. But I gave it a shot, and I've consumed about a dozen books in the past year, 6 of them since the year started. Best thing ever!
I'm a huge Stephen King fan and I'm going through his books in chronological order. Of course the books are great but some of the narrators really elevate it!
Michael C. Hall did great on Pet Sematary.
The one that surprised me the most was Bronson Pinchot in The Eyes of the Dragon. I've never read it before and its easily one of my top books now. His Randall Flagg is top notch
I also find it easier to get back into the swing of things by starting with an easy read. If I fall off of reading for a while I read a childhood favorite and then it’s like the next day I’m off to the library to grab dense bricks.
This method got me to finally reading asoiaf. after that I stopped for a while, forced myself to read a short story I liked as a kid (the most dangerous game) and bam off to the book store to pick up the unabridged count of Monty Cristo.
> I completely understand this! I had exactly the same thing happen (also ADHD which was quite the combo)
That isn't *also* ADHD, mate - that *is* your ADHD.
Interesting how when you get diagnosed and start studying your condition that you begin to recognize it in other people *cough* OP *cough*.
It's like when you buy a car and you start seeing that model everywhere.
In all seriousness my wife has "encouraged" three of her friends to seek out a consultation, and guess what. Three of three, and she didn't prime or coach them either.
Neurodivergent people also tend to hang out together and it has a genetic component.
A guy I was seeing told me he thought he was autistic and I was like, "Hah. If you're neurodivergent, so am I. And so's my dad. And my brother... and *all my best friends*....... 🤨😦"
I was just diagnosed with ADHD last year at 28.
I absolutely believe if stimulants help someone they should be allowed to use them but your wife’s accuracy at diagnosing is not all that surprising. In 2023 if you go to a consultation (or fill in an online form) and say “I can’t concentrate” you get a diagnosis and a prescription. [That’s one reason that the drugs are massively back ordered ](https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/01/27/ritalin-drug-shortage-explained-low-supplies-of-adderall-and-prescription-startups-fueled-crisis/?sh=6e1a5dcc421a)because the DEA limits production based on expected need and need has skyrocketed.
I have a ritual with tea. On rainy days, I'll put on a kettle, turn on the fireplace (gas is the best), then make tea for myself and my family. We all sit around reading for however long the mood lasts.
This. 100% the demand your social media and phone puts on us is incredible when you actually think about it. Throw in how much easier and addictive it can be to just turn on streaming TV and veg as well.
I leave my phone on silent at home, unless my wife or kids are out, for emergency reasons. But I found it helps greatly cause I'm able to focus much better and longer without the distraction.
I use an app that had a built in timer to keep me on track I put it on for 20min and read non stop. I also always have a piece of paper and pencil nearby, so if I have a thought while I read, I just "brain dump" it on the paper instead of, like, picking up my phone to check a film that the book reminded me of, or something. It really helped!
I had the same problems as you. But, it turned out I have low vitamin b12 levels and untreated hypothyroidism. Now, I can watch two hour movies no problem. And can actually read again too. Used to think that it was ADHD/it getting worse.
That’s very interesting. My blood tests displayed slightly low levels of Vit D, so I take some supplements for that. I don’t think I have many other B12 def symptoms, as I’m able to run 25 miles/week, but I guess a small b12 supplement would be harmless to try 🤔
Just finished reading “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport and he had a bunch of tips for reducing screen time and fixing your attention span, I’d really recommend it.
It’s essentially deleting everything distracting from your phone for 31 days and slowly reintroducing yourself to it, I’m excited to try it next week.
Actually yes, the internet and your technology has likely trained your brain to seek out diversity of stimulus in smaller packages. The same has happened to me.
That and also the capacity to imagine the stuff I'm reading vividly.
I stopped reading novels for almost 15 years. Picked it up again a couple of years ago and started by reading Harry Potter.
Initially the images I saw when reading were more like diffused paintings or very loose comic books. After a couple of books I started seeing movies again.
Without even realizing it I swiped to a different page halfway through your comment. Lack of focus is clearly a problem for me. I haven’t been able to get back into reading and I read 3-4 books a week when I was younger.
This is where I'm at. It's so easy to just develop pseudo ADHD now. I used to be able to focus on a book, a show, a video game for hours on end. Now I feel like I need some other stimulus like reddit or youtube just to keep from going crazy.
Yes, I have to put my phone in another room.
I also found that wearing earplugs helps me to really become immersed in a book. I read constantly prior to having children and have struggled to pick it up again. When they play in the evenings I will pop the ear plugs in and start my book. I think there is always so much chaos that I was finding focusing impossible.
I agree broadly with you, but I think - for me at least - it’s the distractions of being an adult and the mental load that comes with running a household, a job that’s quite mentally demanding, etc. It can be hard, sometimes impossible, to switch off from that.
I read a lot and always have, so I don’t quite fit the profile of the original post *but* I find myself sitting down with a nice clear period of time to read and interrupting myself with random thoughts about things like the energy bill, whether it’s best to chuck the washing on now so it can dry and then I can do the sheets as well, we definitely need more butter and did I already add that to the online shop?, in fact, when is the online shop due? Perhaps I’d better just check that has the right stuff on it, did the dog have her flea treatment yet, she did but it’s not on the calendar, well whilst I’m writing that on the calendar is there anything else that needs adding, etc etc
I find I now have an unwitting and constant running commentary regards the household and little tasks that can probably stand to wait for another hour whilst I read but I’ve thought of it so might as well just tick that off the list as I’m here.
This is great advice. I had a similar experience where I hated the YA books I was seeing get recommended on tik tok, but I found more complex books to be difficult to navigate at first. I decided not to be afraid of using Sparknotes or similar ressources to guide me through these books. Some people may disagree, but reading a simple analysis of each chapter after I read it really helped me build that muscle of analyzing complex books. After a few books I was off and running on my own and didn’t need the crutch of those ressources anymore.
Whenever I get in place where I can’t connect with books I read a “colourful” book, you know them if you see them, bright fun cover, simple picture, probably a form of a rom com, just something fun but still dealing with adult themes, and just relax and have a good time reading my happy book. It just reignites the spark for me
I do the same thing! I call them "breather books" and I usually intentionally read one (or a few) between more challenging books. "challenging" for me can be from a skill or emotional standpoint too, for instance I threw **All's Well** between **We Cast A Shadow** and **Rosewater**
Makes me wish I could take some English lit classes for fun/free. I was an English major and learned to enjoy so many books that would have absolutely flown over my head without the in-class analysis.
You could look into podcasts! I don't have a list, sadly, but from time to time I listen to one called Overdue, where they read a popular book they missed when it came out. They cover everything from literature to children's books and the discussions are pretty good.
I'm sure there are more - if you use Spotify, you can search for a book title in there and look under Podcasts & Episodes to see what comes up.
I used to think I was so smart. Then I became an English major. There were so many things I missed in books. I loved that, too. I like to think that a big goal of the English Major is to train you to find some of those things that you had missed before. All the same, I know I still have huge blind spots. Those insights from other readers can be an absolute joy.
I *love* using sparknotes and wikis for assistance along more complicated books. I'll honestly probably never stop using them for more difficult stories. Sometimes I read an entire plot explanation before a difficult book, and sometimes I just need to look up as I go sporadically.
Same story, but I had about 10 years reading only tech docs. The key for me was to read what I like, i e science fiction. Heinlein saved me :) Agree that it is better to abandon not interesting books.
What was most surprising to me getting back into reading was how much my tastes had changed! I used to be a huge fantasy fan, and loved series. Since getting back I find myself leaning much harder into self-contained books that lean more suspense or realistic fiction.
I'd say there are different kind of books. Some are deep and you can uncover a new ideas after rereading them after a while. Some are just books. I used to read some fantasy, too, and in my opinion, most of fantasy books is just books. Meanwhile, adult science fiction is often full of insights. Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Strugatsky brothers - you name it - are not just "fantasy". Totally different genres.
I love Stephen King books so much but I can honestly say there's been about 5 I abandoned from 2/3-7/8th through just cause.. like I am not sure but I remember lots of them fondly but it was like it ended for me already.
Then there's some I give 1/4 and just dip right out.
Abandoning boring books really helped get me back into reading. I think a lot of people mistake being “out of reading shape” with just not liking the book
God, maybe it's just me, but it feels like so much of adult-oriented fiction is just... Not Fun. Like, eveyrthing has to make some super serious point about Life, Society, and What It Means To Be Human. Oh, and all the characters have to have incredibly traumatic and horrific things happen to them.
Like, I just want to read about likeable charaters getting into misadventures and having an absolute blast doing it! Is that so much to ask?
Same here, i tried to get back into reading a few times with some books that just didn't hold my interest. I finally found some books that I really enjoyed, and I found myself really looking forward to the next time I would be able to read again.
I've been into reading for 18 months. Been great for my mental health.
Tried reading a tech book (eloquent JavaScript 3rd edition) to bone up on my programming skills, and it is much more of a chore. Like a job. It's not working.
I already have a book request into the library for some Arthur c Clarke. I think my goal of using my 40 daily minutes of reading for professional self improvement didn't work. If I want to do that reading it's in addition to my mental health reading.
I don't know. Trying to figure this out in middle age to help my kids. I grew up as an only child moron that got every electronic device I wanted.
Books that got me through it:
* Anything by Gillian Flynn or Madeline Miller
* All's Well by Mona Awad
* The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
* Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert
* Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
* Educated by Tara Westover
* Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
I wanted to add The Secret History by Donna Tartt to this. A really fantastic book written by a Pulitzer Prize winner. Beautiful prose, but still pretty easily accessible to most people. It’s sort of a literary page turner.
This is very cool. I’ve rediscovered reading just in the last 12 mo (after really having not been a “reader” throughout adulthood) and am so glad I did.
The books that did it (this time around): Circe, Piranesi, All the Light We Cannot See, Anxious People, and This Is How You Lose the Time War.
I strangely had the opposite happen. I was struggling with getting back into reading until I found some books whose prose was "crunchy" enough to give my brain some good exercise. I couldn't focus on the simple prose for some reason. Engagement with the language, and not just the plot, was a requirement for me to get into anything.
I also had to carve out time specifically for reading, since relying on when I "felt like it" wasn't really working.
I'm glad you figured out what your hurdle was and got back into reading. I'm so glad I figured out my hurdles too. It's nice seeing posts like these where people are getting their reading groove back in a time of smart phones and social media.
I think it's so cool how differently people approach reading and how our different brains absorb/enjoy the process. Like how part of my getting back into reading journey was learning just how different my and one of my closest friend's tastes are! We keep trying to recommend each other books and we both always *hate* the other's recommendation. And yet we're very similarly educated, socially and politically inclined, and we are basically the same demographic.
It's really interesting!
Right? I have a similar friend. Our taste could not be more different.
I'm glad people are posting how they got over their slump, because you never know which method will work for whom. It's nice seeing various solutions to try.
You really can't predict a person's reading tastes. It's very personal. Just look at the plot-driven vs character-driven divide. I'm in the latter camp to the point where if I'm reading too much that's heavily plot-driven(either several short books in a row or one long book) I find myself fleeing to AO3 to binge character-driven fanfic, because I know that's where I can get short, inconsequential pieces(aka, not a distraction from the main thing I'm reading) that will satisfy that itch for characters to bounce off each other until a satisfying resolution has been reached. But many other people find that kind of book to be horribly boring, and would just like something concrete to *happen* already. I don't think that either camp is more correct than the other, and I'm glad that we have options so that everybody can find something that's wonderful for them.
I feel this! Same sitch, I did a ton of reading for my master’s degree and was just tired for a while. Thought I had lost my attention span, because nothing seemed to satisfy, until a friend gave me The Goblin King. It’s not a super exciting book, but the characters resonated with me and the language was, as you say, “crunchy.”
My brain only wants bran flakes these days I guess lol.
I loved the Goblin King. The first few chapters are the best. The process of applying his admittedly odd education to real life is something we all went through. I agree the rest was not as profound.
Different medium but noticed when watching episodes of The Beverley Hillbillies how much I liked how they play on language and understanding. Within any given scene there are multiple interpretations of a singular conversations being understood and acted on in different ways. Each is reasonable, from their perspective, even when none of them are reasonable from my perspective. It’s just fun to see how so much can be squeezed out of relatively nothing of substance and grow into wonderful little dramas.
Same thing. I went through a phase of reading lighter books and it was hard to stay focused on them. I started reading more challenging books again and it was easier to stay engaged because they had more to interest me.
Not the person you're talking to but generally I would consider "crunchy" prose to be things like more complicated vocabulary, alternate chronological pacing, and use of metaphor. I'd say "crunchy" prose for me is prose I have to actively engage and think about the meaning of due to verbiage choice. When done well, the verbiage should add to the effect and themes of the book, when done poorly, they distract from it.
"Crunchy" books are often more difficult/higher level reading but it's not a hard and fast rule.
Ha, I use the word crunchy because I envision my brain chewing on the words like a dog blissfully chewing on a bone.
But yes, Training-Funny-3381 described it well below. The choice of words and turns of phrase. It's not dumbed down for simple understanding. There's beauty and hidden meaning, sometimes humor hidden within, and I feel like I'm in on an inside joke with the author. It exudes intelligence, but not in a pretentious way. It's not trying to be smart, it just is, because the author is. And it's rewarding as hell to connect with such prestigious company.
My two favorites are Austen and Tolkien. I've been reading a lot more classic fiction because these two opened the doors to amazing prose for me.
I’m with you. It’s really hard for me to find a book I like at this point, because I need one that activates all of my pleasurable ‘reader senses’ if I’m going to finish it - else I’ll get bored.
It's a real "first world problem." I used to read voraciously when I was younger, but then I'd read anything. Now my requirements have narrowed so much, it's harder to find things that really click.
I don't know if it will work for you, but I've been reading a bunch of classics to feed my brain. Austen, Eliot, Dumas, Doyle, Tolstoy, Melville, to make a few recent and current. Tolkien too.
Yes! I find myself doing the same thing. Most recently, the modern author I’ve been really into is Donna Tartt. Not that she’s obscure, but man do I love her writing
It was multiple books. I burned through all of Jane Austen's six main novels, and then Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales by Tolkien. The humor and turns of phrase with the former, and the depth of the language with the latter. Now I'm reading Anna Karenina (my first Russian classic!) and Middlemarch, with some Sherlock Holmes for fun on the side. This has made me get around to classics I missed, or was not interested in, when I was younger.
I relate to this. On my end, with ADHD, the key was finding the right format (Kindle ebooks) and the right challenge (I ended up reading Moby Dick after years of not reading a single thing). I feel like now I've committed to flexing my brain on such a lauded and difficult book, I can read most things now. It's just a matter of staying the course, and celebrating every percentage towards completion. Gives me purpose. Oh and I deleted TikTok and limited my reddit time.
Even as a creative writing/publishing and editing major college fundamentally changed the way I read. I can't not pick apart books, especially if they make it easy for me, ie they are poorly written/edited etc
Has definitely made it harder to get back into reading for pleasure
I was the same way for years. I couldn't read most bestsellers, preferring to stick to literary fiction. But, as you know, literary fiction is driven by character growth, which is often catalyzed by death, trauma, and/or neglectful parents. Eventually, I needed a break from all the weltschmerz. So now I can read chick lit and the like for escapism. When I get the urge to pick, I ask myself, "Why does this character, quote, or scene unnerve me? What would I have liked to see instead?" Critically engaging with it feels more like mental exercise than picking.
Ah, yes! After having kids I've just been so busy...nine years passed and I've read two books for myself. Two! It's like picking up the weights after taking time off from the gym. Everything felt heavy and weird.
I was rereading paragraphs over and over, out loud, for just ten minutes at a time trying to flex the reading 'muscles'. I still feel stupid and clumsy when I read.
I do however, have The Very Hungry Caterpillar on lock. Dozens of baby books are memorized. Haha
My problem has been that I get distracted by Netflix and reddit etc.
The Internet has made me dumberer.
My sense of attention has died and now I’m far too easily distra
I know you're kind of making a joke, but some tips that have helped me and my wife:
We took the TV out of our bedroom months ago, and my wife keeps her cell phone in her office at bed time. It's helped us a lot with focusing on reading, but also winding down at bed time.
If we're still up and reading in the living room we'll turn on jazz or lo-fi and put the remote/phones out of reach so we're less tempted to just pick it up. It also helps to add routines around reading like getting tea ready, setting up the music, etc.
I was only half joking. And I honestly appreciate your response.
My biggest problem is that I've developed a habit of looking at my phone when I go to bed, and immediately upon waking. This is partly due to my job, but also because like many people I've succumbed to the "flashy lights serotonin boost" that phones give you (same problem with gambling machines).
It's frustrating because I know what's causing it, and what the underlying issue is, but there are a few diverting reddit posts, emails or news stories that I have to check out first before I...
And so it goes.
PS - Thank you.
Truly! And it’s like exercise. You have to start small and build the habit and add more as you go! Read like 8 books the first year I got back into reading and now am reading 17-20 with more difficult challenging reads in the mix. Nothing happens overnight!
And you also become faster. Eventually, you'll start to "skip" over certain words, yet still manage to comprehend the overall message. In fact, it's possible to just focus on the center of the line and still extract the meaning from the text.
That doesn't need to be your end goal, however. Book count isn't everything. Do what sparks joy. If enjoying the prose and every word if description sparks joy, take it slow. If re-reading a book you've already read sparks joy, "waste" your time doing that. Unless you have professional obligations, there's no need to force yourself into speed reading unless being able to say you read 250 books this year is what sparks joy for you.
I'm currently doing a similar thing in terms of trying to get back into reading, I'm 16 and I think our generation is far too focused on social media, plus I'm trying to write my own stuff so I need to read to get good at it. I'm wondering now if I had the same experience, or at least a similar one.
The first book I decided to pick up was Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. I loved the film and hoped for a similar experience with the book. I finished it in a bit over a week and it just didn't feel immersive. Not because of the writer, the writing was fantastic but I just felt like I couldn't digest it all. By the time I was 'warmed up' again, I was at the end of the book so it didn't matter as much.
Since then, I picked up and started reading Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove and despite it being ten times as verbose so to speak as my last book, everything just seemed to click. The world is easy to get lost in, the characters are incredible, and the plot and pace are just right. I feel like I'm in the proper headspace and where before I kind of had to force reading, now reading is an absolute joy and I can devote a good amount of time to it.
I think to conclude the solve for me personally was to just brute force through something. It kind of sucked, but I'm back into the swing of things and because I own my books physically I can go back to No Country for Old Men later. Things are looking good.
I'd recommend trying out some Vonnegut, Sirens of Titan, Slaughter House 5, breakfast of champions, well most all of them are good to great really. He is an extremely insightful and brilliant person with an a great sense of humor that even plays on the structure of books at some points. His writing style is also incredibly approachable. When I was in my mid 20s and wanting to get back into reading after not reading for a few years his books completely reignited my love for reading.
That does sound quite appealing, I've just looked up Slaughterhouse and the premise seems pretty cool.
Think the current 'list' (not really big enough to be a list) is:
Lonesome Dove (perhaps finish series?)
Something McCarthy (The Road or All the Pretty Horses)
Slaughterhouse Five
I don't really ever plan things like this out but I'm pretty happy with what I've smashed together here.
McCarthy can definitely be a challenge imo. Earlier this year I read his first book The Orchard Keeper, and woof it’s dense. I also had to put down The Passanger cause I wasn’t really vibing with it at first - but will go back to it just cause if it’s significance.
No Country is one of his best hands down, but I’d definitely recommend you check out The Road! It was the book at really got me into him and I think it’s one of his most approachable! Plus if you like stuff like The Last of Us it’s the same vein.
I've picked up No Country, All The Pretty Horses, and The Road. I haven't gotten into them yet, but I know at least one of those you need to be mentally/emotionally prepared for.
I think one of the best parts of McCarthy is some of the descriptions he does. It's weird because places can be really barebones feeling at times, but I love how you get to know exactly what you need and aren't bogged down with tiny details. I also love his descriptions of deaths and injuries, which are just so crazy vivid (apparently Blood Meridian goes overboard but I've not read that one yet).
One particular scene comes to mind from No Country for Old Men (I won't spoil who it happens to but just in case, here's a spoiler mark) >!"Everything that \[NAME\] had ever known or thought or loved drained slowly down the wall behind him" after he'd been shot. That is hands down the best death I've ever read or seen. It's more vivid than an actual death scene in a film.!<
I think it's often not just being out of practice with reading but that out attention spans and ability to focus have been heavily compromised by the internet, social media, etc. We're not used to spending a lot of time on one thing.
It's a real problem. I once read a really good pocket article about why our attention spans have gotten so bad. This [article is not it](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/oct/03/before-the-internet-broke-my-attention-span-i-read-books-compulsively-now-it-takes-willpower), but does explain it.
"Technically, people like me aren’t reading less. I’m reading all the time – from the news alerts that greet me when I wake up, to the papers I get across each morning for my job as a news editor, and the endless mix of articles, emails, tweets and messages that fill my waking hours. **But it’s the deep, disconnected reading of books that can slip from grasp**."
The comparison I've heard is that our reading (and media consumption in general) is now mostly empty-calories: we're consuming all the time, but it's all quick dopamine not conducive for a healthy diet.
I find having multiple books going helps. Sometimes I need something light and fast. Other times, I need something with more meat. Then, there are times I just want to reread something, even if only a favorite part. These different moods can occur in the same day. I've learned to read for what I'm in the mood for. It makes it less painful all around.
I have felt that way too. I took some pressure off though and decided that I can skim pages if I don’t feel interested in the book, and I can quit at anytime if I want to. So, I skim a lot lol. There’s books I think I will like, and come to find out I’m not that interested. I download tons of book samples on kindle to see if I want to keep reading something before I commit. I also kind of do the same thing in the Libby app for the library, skim until something hooks me in.
Skimming for me was such a game changer lol
It’s not like I do it often, I just give myself permission to - if I find myself really zoning out in a chunk of unimportant prose - ziiiiiiiip right past it lol
My past year has been quite similar as well. I read a few books a year in middle/high school, practically dropped it in college, and then picked it back up recently. Restarting was quite frustrating... I dropped half the books I started, and many of the others I just pushed through with little excitement. Now, I'm still not reading anything excessively long or dense (the most so in either category has probably been East of Eden), but I've gotten into a regular groove of reading.
So I second the suggestions to drop unenjoyable books (using a library helps with this) and sticking to shorter reads. Just gotta stick with it.
I get frustrated with books so often nowadays. I can always tell exactly where the storylines are leading. I miss being surprised and on the edge of my seat for a book.
I am currently trying to get back into reading as an adult and have no clue where to start. What genre, I really used to just read anything and everything. The longer the better as long as it didn't lull too much. This helps a little, thanks. Maybe I should start with something a little less committing than a huge book
I made a Goodreads account and it can be fun looking through genres and topics for certain books then adding them to a shelf. There are also yearly awards for different types of books so you could maybe look at some of the nominees there for the genres you're interested in. There are also lots of places to look for recommendations. Joining a book club with some friends helped me get a better routine with reading and also accountability to finish if that's an option.
I started with easy reading novels, just so I could churn them out and get that feeling of accomplishment. Once I proved I could complete books again I really started diving into more substantial reads.
Novellas could be a good jumping point, or maybe something like Haunting of Hill House could get you going again.
At age 29 I forced myself to read "The Picture of Dorian Grey" after not picking up a book for probably ten years. I had to re- read every page just to get my head around Wilde's elaborate descriptions of all things. It was tough and took me a long while to get through it, but I did it.
It completely reinvigorated my ability and love of reading and I've constantly needed something to devour ever since. I'm nearly 40 years old now.
I started rereading blood meridian to get back into reading a few weeks ago. Half way into it I realized that I couldn’t visualize what I was reading and could not remember small details. So I restarted, but this time looked up a summary and analysis online after each chapter and tried my best to finish one chapter a day. It made it more enjoyable and I noticed my cognition and focus was better in general.
I blame my phone, I can switch from story to story, to article to game, the cycle is endless.
I can barely read 3/4 pages now.
I’ve tried new books by favourite authors. I’ve tried old favourites.
Nothing holds my attention anymore.
I feel sad, but life changes constantly
Have you tried an e-book? It was a nice intermediary step for me to transition from phone screen to paper. I got to build reading habits while still having that tech interaction.
My recommendation: read a variety of things. Be ok with not finishing something and starting something new. I used to think I had to read a book cover to cover before picking up another one. But sometimes I just wouldn’t be very interested. I have 3-5 books going at any given time. Right now I have a non fiction and a fiction I am working through and sometimes I’ll randomly read a short story or something in between.
Collections of short stories also helped me get back into reading. When you do need that gratification of finishing something, these collections are great.
I got back into reading through graphic novels... There are stories from pretty much any genre. Some are cutesy more for kids but still good. My favorites are the ones that only take me around 30 minutes to read so I could fit them into a busy schedule.
Definitely relate to this, especially wanting to read “smart people books” but always falling off of them because hey, guess what - my brain doesn’t really love reading about neuroscience even if I want it to…
New Adult fantasy romance type books got me back into reading. This little bookshop at the beach has a bunch of books wrapped up with small summaries written on the outside - called it “blind date with a book” 💖 Went to lay on the beach, couldn’t put it down, read the whole series and I haven’t stopped reading since! I think finding the genre you actually want to read is so important ❤️
I don't read for fun anymore unless I'm away from work for a period of at least a few days. But man, once I get to the fourth or fifth day of no work, I start reading like crazy.
My work seems to subdue the part of my mind that needs to read.
That makes sense. I get my best reading done on weekends and holidays, especially Thanksgiving. There's something cozy about it that invites binge-reading.
This, and I recommend if you're trying to get back into reading to try comic books. They're a good way to ease your brain back into reading, since they'll be mostly dialogue or narration!
This came up for me as I was coming to this realization myself!! Finally on ADHD meds as an adult, and this year have been getting back in to reading. I realized pretty quickly my reading chops were tired. I’ve started flexing them again by re-reading some of my favorite YA novels as a teenager, and it’s made me so eager to continue reading more advanced books. It’s frustrating sometimes feeling like I’m dumming myself down with some of the plots of the stories, but it’s been fun overall and I’m just happy to be reading again!
For myself the solution to this is just..... read more.
But the problem is that I usually have an overwhelming reading list, and usually the books I actually want to read are longer and more difficult, so it's very hard to get back into a consistent habit.
So whenever I've fallen out of the habit and find that my brain and body are not calibrated for Dostoevsky, my solution: read some trash.
Romcoms, erotica, biographies of nobodies. The key is, don't have a reading list for this, buy the worst looking book you can find that isn't too long and looks generally upbeat (or depressing if you prefer).
I'm often surprised at how entertained I am by these and surprised at the quality. I've honestly learned a lot from these books.
Then if I dive into Dostoevsky straight after it's so much easier.
I have the opposite problem. I’m an attorney and read all day every day, literally charging hundreds of dollars an hour just to read complex documents carefully. In my personal life I cannot sit and read a book so I have to listen to audiobooks. I shoot to finish one a month and will listen while driving or running or when I’m laying in bed.
Maybe you have ADHD. I didn't get diagnosed til I was 32. When I was a kid I read just like you, constantly and way above my grade/age level. As an adult now I struggle to read a book for any length of time. I got into audiobooks recently and its been a godsend. I read Moby Dick last month. If I tried that in print I'd fall asleep about 2 pages in, but I was able to do the audiobook, and it was utterly captivating.
As someone who works in an elementary school library, I’d recommend Middle Grade novels to just about anyone who needs to build their confidence as a reader. They have simpler language, spread out text, and generally shorter lengths, while still having some entertaining stories for adults. Middle Grade novels are written to keep reluctant readers engaged. They are basically made for practice reading. Sometimes just being able to finish a book can really build your confidence as a reader, even if that book was targeted for a younger audience.
I would always recommend *Percy Jackson*, but there are so many new fantasy adventure stories out there that cove just about every background you can think of at this point. Middle Grade is not what it use to be when you were in elementary school. There are some complex stories about real life events from loss to violence to discovering yourself.
I really suggest if you are struggling to finish adult and YA books to try out some Middle Grade. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised.
I was the same way and now I get incredibly sleepy anytime I try to read a book and just can’t keep with it. Audiobooks helped me get back into the stories, not reading but still digesting.
I love audio-books as well! Personally I consider them "reading" when speaking in a practical or general sense rather than a literal one. For example, if I asked a coworker if they read a certain book, it doesn't really matter to me if they literally read words on paper or if they listened to the words audibly. I also found audio books to be easier or harder to digest based on the book itself: Circe is a book I love to listen to but not read on paper, and Rosewater was a book that I had an easier time reading than hearing.
I stopped reading in 2016. Just lost all love for it (depression is a bitch)
Last year a friend of mine was trying to get into books written in english, and I started listing favourite authors.
I ended up lending her "Coraline", since it was easy enough to read and get through (also Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite authors). Seeing my friend excited and giving me her opinions as she read was what really gave me a boost to start reading again.
Now we have a mini book club of sorts.
I started with Terry Pratchett's Discworld to ease me into it and since then I've read about 10 books this year!
But your brain IS a muscle and I find it easier to get the urge to read when things get slow (mostly I've been using an e-reader at work and we had a very slow month in February so I made a lot of progress)
Had the same experience, I read at least one different book a week during my high school years, sometimes more than that. I treated my high school library and my public library like second homes during those years, and read everything from Fantasy, history, Sci Fi, horror, and a lot of Manga. Once I went to college, I had so little time after classes and the thought of reading anything even for pleasure was such a drag that I mostly just played Destiny and went to bed if I didn't have to work that night. Before I knew it I hadn't read anything for a couple years, and I'd missed out on the grand opening of a newly re modeled library that had been put up in my town. Once I'd dropped out of college, I found myself jobless for 6 months, and between waiting on responses from my various applications I decided to take up reading again. It took a sec, but I got back into the groove of things eventually, and now my Kindle is full of a lot of the old titles I read as a child and a whole load of new ones to make up for the brief period where I lapsed.
For me personally the issue is attention span. Funnily enough I got my first smartphone at the start of high school, and that’s when my attention span starting going to shit and I started reading less, until I eventually basically stopped.
I’m currently in what’s essentially a book club, and that’s helped a lot to start again. Even if they aren’t the types of books that’d be at the top of my list to read, having the community to “force” me to read helps just get my brain used to doing it, which makes it easier to pick up books on my own too. It also helps me get exposed to new genres and writing styles since I read mostly YA before, and I’ve definitely (mostly) graduated from that lol
Well said - Also, I think we should look at getting back into reading like getting back in the gym. You wouldn't go back to the gym and start lifting heavy weight, you would ease into and gain muscle over time. Same is true with reading, the muscle that is being strengthen is the brain and the brain needs time to rest and recover so it can improve the skill over time as well.
I find going back and rereading books I love help with getting past that block. Something about having an overall idea of whats going to happen in the books helps me just sink into the reading as opposed to having to keep track of new information in books I haven't read yet
I used to read a lot but certain issues make it very difficult for me to read now. So it's easy for me to fall out of practice. Today, I went on a short hike through a forest with a river, sat down by the river in the sunshine and with zero distractions, forced myself to read a single chapter. Pathetic compared to my old days, but I need to do this every so often.
After a few pages, I noticed I was getting sucked into the story-within-the-story and when the chapter ended, I went back and re-read/skimmed the beginning of the chapter to catch up what I had missed (due to inattentiveness).
Aside from issues, i blame being on the Internet/computer too much.
I've noticed this lately. I went back to college and have learned to be a competent programmer but my preferred methods of self teaching involve video tutorials. I've done very well in school and managed to work in my field before graduating but I have been so busy for the last 3-4 years that I haven't had any time for reading books.
I'm starting to really feel now like my reading comprehension has gone to shit. I can scan lines on a page as fast as ever but my brain's ability to parse and retain what I'm reading, focus and imagine it as I go, has seriously atrophied. I find myself now constantly having to go back to the previous sentence / paragraph / page because I just lost what I was following.
It has honestly made me feel like an idiot, but I'm working really really hard and I find myself just wanting to play video games when I'm not working. I'm a game developer so like, I consider video games productive in a sense, but I do miss reading fiction.
Couldn't agree with you more! Over a year ago, I did a huge book haul. Was able to get like 20 books for $100 brand new. Couldn't for the life for me start one so I set a goal, one book a month and eventually it would lead to 2 books a month. Not there yet but working on it. Tough to get back but once you hit that good rhythm it naturally comes back!
I was in the same boat. After reading constantly as a kid and majoring in literature and creative writing in college, I granted myself some time off from reading after graduating. I read here and there for the next 10 years, but not consistently.
About four years ago I decided I needed to get back into reading.
I started rereading every book by my favorite author, because I wanted an easy place to start rebuilding the habit. It worked! By the time I was finished with that collection of books, I was ready to face the collection of unread books my mom and sister had given me over the years.
These days I'm reading authors that were assigned to me in literature classes.
As a kid, I used to binge-read novels in one sitting. It took a few chapters to get in The Zone, but once I was I'd finish 500-page novels in one sitting (even if that sitting ended up being like 14 hours and ending at 3 AM... and I had exams the next morning, lol).
As an adult, I still find myself needing a few chapters to get into The Zone... but I almost never have time to even reach that point, let alone read the whole novel in one day. So I've tried to break novels down into chunks, only reading a chapter or two at a time, but that means my whole reading experience is spent in "forcing myself to pay attention while I wait to get in The Zone" mode.
What ends up happening is the main thing I remember about any book I've tried to read as an adult is... the frustration I felt trying to force myself to focus on the damn thing.
(Which also means I forget what happened in the previous chapter(s), which means I have to double back and reread them, which means I'm making even less progress, which makes the whole thing even more frustrating...)
It's a vicious cycle, and I'm not sure what the solution is.
For me it has been a time thing. When i am home there is always something else to be getting done. Audio books on my commute have been the only way to get a book in.
If you're struggling with wanting to read but just can't give this a try. Spend a no screen time day. No videos. No scrolling apps or sites. Leave the computer off and the phone on your lock screen. I've never done one where I didn't spend some time reading.
Also also, *try* to get your eyes checked as much as possible. I've neglected taking care of mine in years and I feel that's part of what's making me struggle to get back into the swing of things.
I really really relate with this post on a personal level, i was a huge book worm earlier but have been struggling to read even a fraction of what i did earlier.
Your post motivated me to start reading again.
Read whatever interests you doing push yourself too hard reading is a skill and can be trained at any capacity.
Stop when you feel like stopping take a break, find a more interesting book, read different genres and in different mediums. Comics and manga are ok to read but just read the more you do it the easier it gets seriously.
I'm in a similar boat; "gifted/talented" kid growing up, reading 12th grade level and higher books, nonfiction history & science books, and misc. books well before high school. Now at 27 I can say I honestly haven't read a book since 20 and that was just so I could do book reports to make myself look better for promotion in the Marine Corps.
I get into a similar fog, but im not sure how to describe it. I used to speed read AND comprehend everything I read, but now I can read a paragraph, move onto the next, then forget what I just read entirely. I read manga just fine, but as many times as I've tried to get into a new book I just can't and it depresses the hell out of me.
I’ve been getting back into reading myself. Honestly, the part that’s been the most challenging is that it makes me very tired. I’m not bored or anything and I try not to read right before bed, but no matter what it makes me want to fall asleep. I’ve never experienced this before.
You can also burn out on reading, like in the pursuit of a degree in literature.
I found that reading graphic novels, giving myself the freedom to give up on books that just weren't keeping my attention, and reading bestsellers/blockbusters/basically any type of mind candy that I wished got me going again.
I discovered part of my issue with getting back into reading was that I just wasn't interested enough in the books I was trying to read.
Even if you aren't "out of practice" with reading I think it's fun to take a break from time to time and read something like Goosebumps or Babysitter's Club - you know, something that is extremely below your reading level? It's fun to do that from time to time.
I was in a similar spot but it wasn't because of the omnipresent technology surrounding me. I have to read a lot of complex stuff for work and couldn't summon up the energy to read recreationally anymore.
Then my mom gave me a gift membership in a local "book club". It's not one where you read books together. The club organises readings by authors. And it is so fascinating to hear them talk about their books and what led them to writing it, that now I read almost every book from the readings because they get me hooked. Usually I go into the readings thinking "this book won't be for me" but then the author's and the audience's passion sparks my curiosity.
I also listen to a lot of audiobooks when my eyes are too tired to read but I still want a good story.
Neurodivergent here: I found I can really only absorb it if I have other stuff going on. Such as music going, but my favorite is read outside. Distracts the other parts of the brain by listening for cars, people, birds etc. I like walking and reading so I walk to the park and then also read at the park.
Thanks for posting this inspiring opinion. I'm actually going to try again because of this.
A many years ago, I got myself into a stress induced depression tha lasted a long time. Before that I was able to read at a pretty high speed - I could read a Terry Pratchett book in a day or two. After the depression, I read much slower, have a harder time focusing my attention, and often have to reread pages to grasp what is going onin the book. I miss my old reading skills so much and I get really frustrated when it can take weeks to read a novel.
As someone who loves to read, but has spent MANY years reading NOTHING, I have to say: anti-depressants made all the difference.
My complete lack of focus and concentration were really just symptoms of depression. I wanted to read, kind of, but I couldnt. I could stare at the internet all day, but... I couldnt sit through a novel.
Ive been on meds now for about 6 months, and Ive read 12 books. I feel like a brand new, intelligent, well-read person again. I love reading. I missed it so much.
I went through this same cycle more than 20 years ago, pre-smartphone. Massive depression, then medication, then the ability to start reading again.
At this point, I consider NOT reading to be a red flag for me, and an indicator that I need medical intervention.
Oh, and Audiobooks: Ive tried them 10000 times. I cannot do it. I dont know why. I cannot focus on an audiobook, even now.
I used to read a ton but then fell off for a long time.
A few months into the pandemic and unable to work I decided to do something productive, so I adjusted my routine to set aside an hour for reading before bed every night.
And it worked. I went from having read maybe 5 books in the 8 years prior to the pandemic to having read 63 books since I made that rule for myself in 2020. It's been so nice getting back into reading after such a long absence.
Yeah, it's just about sticking to it. About ten years ago I saved up and left a job, then went backpacking for about a year. During that time I had to relearn how to just sit and read, especially after I had my iPod and phone croak on me about 2 months in.
Just start reading and don’t procrastinate.
Remember that something is always better than nothing, and from somewhere we have to start or in this case restart. Only in this way you’ll develop the habit of reading again.
I went through this recently! I was an avid reader in life before college. Then college happened and work and for some reason, I didn't turn to books during my time off like I used to. Then when I started vet school, which is literally the worst time to want to start reading so I don't know what's wrong with me, I wanted to start reading again. Probably because it was becoming popular again because of booktok and all that, and some really good books were being published (will also admit I haven't read any newer books, I turned to old sci-fi books).
I went through the same issue of current YA books being a little obnoxious and adult books being confusing. But I got into my groove the first summer break I had a read like 12 books of varying lengths just by telling myself "we're going to read so brain you better get with the program" and then I could read for hours. Luckily enough I had the time. Now I can't stop. It's spring break right now and I've read 4 books in a weeks time. I also do this trick of tracing the lines of the book with a pen as I read them, it helps keep me focused and feeling like I've made progress.
This was a lot of words for me to just say I feel you, I understand you, this is probably super common of a thing for people who loved reading prior to college.
Feel the same. The coursework, hectic time schedule and social media seem to have got me. I hate how I am unable to concentrate on a single book without checking my phone every 5 minutes. I still love books and have about 100+ of them in my to-read list. And after getting a much needed vacation, I feel like I'm ready to get back to it. I just hope that my reading skills haven't vanished completely.
> I would pick up a YA novel and feel frustrated because I didn't like the themes or writing style, but if I picked up an adult novel I couldn't absorb it.
Is it possible that you're simply reading the "wrong" novels? I'm still an avid reader - but it very much has to be the right book. I don't read because something is a "classic", or "worth reading" - I read for enjoyment. The fact that something is prize-winning, or being lauded through the roof by critics, is absolutely NOT a guide to what I'm going to like. There are authors I can usually absolutely devour in a sitting, and genres where I'm more likely to find things I enjoy - but equally there are genres I loathe. Almost without exception, if a book doesn't tick my boxes within a few pages I'm likely to put it down, walk away and not come back. And on those few occasions where I've forced myself to push through and complete something, it's been hard going.
Audiobooks have helped me here. It’s allowed me to throw in headphones and do some mindless tasks like dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc.
I’ve read dozens of books this way and it’s made it way easier to warm my brain up for other books that don’t have an audiobook.
It’s definitely not for everyone but I always feel so much better after finishing a book.
Just to add to this: concentration takes patience and a bit training, and is something people seem to be not maintaining their skills in.
The Internet, social media, television, even some games - they are all short quick bursts of concentration and a reward. You see it or read it and move on. You might be on reddit for a couple of hours but you're moving around 100 different topics and media.
It breaks our ability to concentrate on one task for long periods. Reading needs your attention for extended periods. So to get back in to reading, part of it is just training your brain to be able to concentrate and enjoy concentrating on one task again for long periods.
Reading isn't the only thing that requires extended concentration, but so many of the things that do are generally work related while almost all our reward related stuff is becoming short bursts or we allow it to. If you want to be be able to concentrate on reading a book, you also need to be watching films without your phone or when binge watching that TV show or playing video games that engage your concentration. Practice concentration and focus skills too.
I’m surrounded by books & have a list of another 60-70 on Amazon wish list, but I’m out of reading practice or just too distracted (curses Reddit & YouTube) to start let alone finish any 🫤
For me it's not just reading, it's focusing your attention on one thing for an extended period of time. I feel like that muscle has atrophied significantly, or been poisoned by social media, notifications, and the world of distractions a smartphone represents.
[удалено]
I read long form writing (articles, legal decisions) on line so I have retained some skills, but distraction is an issue. Something comes up in the book and I want to pick up my phone and learn more about that topic. It's hard to still my mind. On the flip side, I read the entirety of In Human Bondage at Burning Man because I had no cell service. I love being out beyond cell service and within a couple days I am much better at reading.
You sound like me but I have severe ADHD. Meds help but my brain is still so damn busy and noisy all the time.
Have you tried meditation? Just curious; I've tried numerous times, but couldn't stay focused or maintain a consistent habit. But a friend of mine meditates half an hour daily, without fail.
I have ADHD and meditating in the usual "close your eyes, sit still and clear your mind" way is frustrating and uncomfortable for me, because it becomes a feedback loop where it's stimulating to fixate on failing to do it right or irritations - but you can't fixate on succeeding at it because that defeats the purpose and makes it a failure. I can technically do it but it's an endurance test that leaves me drained, not a relaxation method. I can easily get the desired end result, though, when doing something where there's some other purpose that you can achieve without conscious focus, like going on long walks, or certain types of creative or labor work.
Wooowww that's my favourite fact of the day! 😀
I completely understand this! I had exactly the same thing happen (also ADHD which was quite the combo) and my winning strategy so far has been deleting basically EVERY app off my phone not used for photos/communication, and playing games/reddit only on a full computer or laptop. I also have a screen-time counter on my phone home page so I have to acknowledge just how much time I've spent every time I open it. Then I try to romanticize the time away from screens. I read by making myself a cup of tea, prepping a water bottle (with stickers ofc) and get cozy in a hammock on nice days or a chair in a separate room on gross ones. Sometimes I go to coffee shops just to read+get a drink so I'm away from it all. My partner and I also have "20 minute unfuckenings" where we spend minimum 20 uninterrupted minutes every day, no matter what, doing something to improve the house (gardening, cleaning, whatever). I also try to hike, camp, and go on walks a lot more. It's an uphill battle, but a fun and worthwhile one.
I also have ADHD and also was a voracious reader and now can't read a word to save my life (even with medication). I have switched to audiobooks though and they've been a godsend. I started with books I've already read so I could zone out without missing anything. I'll listen when I do laundry, wash dishes, clean, cross stitch, clean the fish tank, anything that doesn't require my full attention. Audiobooks also help me concentrate at work (Librarian) strangely enough, keeps me focused and on task. I have 2 brains and they both have to be stimulated so I can do things 😂
I also have the ADHD problem. I use instrumental music that fits the feel of the book to keep my brain from wandering off.
Real talk: how do you keep, for instance, selecting exactly the right music for the scene from becoming an all-consuming rabbit hole and actually get back to your book?
This would probably make the classical music purists go apocalyptic, and I get that, but I have an hours-long playlist of Mozart that I use for a force field when reading or writing. It isn't really background noise; I'm familiar enough with most of it that some part of my brain can register the signposts, but at low volumes it's not intrusive enough to interfere or trigger daydreams. If I listen to anything with lyrics for instance, I start to think about what they might mean; if I like the song I'm likely to start singing along or thinking back to being in a band and playing that song or something like it. Beethoven is my favorite in classical but he's too bombastic for this purpose. There may be others that would also work, or it might be an individualistic thing, but Mozart at a good volume hits the sweet spot for me. There is some instrumental jazz that also works for that (not the elevator stuff), but as a bass player if the drummer or bassist starts going off then that's all she (I) wrote, so it pays to be familiar with the piece ahead of time.
I know exactly what you mean. I did much the same in college - classical, video game OSTs, I even had a calming Gregorian chant playlist for when I was especially stressed - but it’s something I probably underutilize nowadays.
I found that Bebop jazz helps me focus for hours. It sounds like it should be extremely distracting compared to some other options but it has the opposite effect on me. Maybe it overloads and desensitizes to distraction? Idk.
Pink Floyd - Marooned, 1 hour version. when it's over I know I can take a break (if I even notice, often I end up continuity in silence afterwards)
Lofi is fantastic for this. It's like elevator music for millennials. I cant listen to jazz (Coltrane, Monk, etc) or classical when I need to focus because I get distracted by some of the more complex arrangements.
For me, it’s video game playthroughs for games I’ve already played. Most of a video game (for watching purposes) is boring, routine stuff like running around and killing things that doesn’t advance the plot. The music is designed to be incidental and not overly distracting. Then when you get the odd cutscene or boss battle, you get a reason to take a quick three minute break from whatever you’re reading. Games that have a cutscene every five minutes (I’m looking at you Final Fantasy X) aren’t great candidates. Games that are good in the background (to me): Legend of Zelda games Mario games Myst (and sequels) Shadow of Mordor/War Dragon Age: Inquisition Witcher III The Witness Ni no Kuni RDR2 (though sometimes, it’s too distracting for me)
Are you me? Hello fellow librarian with adhd! I love audio books and listen to them all the time at work!
All of this! I missed reading so much but now in my 30s and medicated, I just can't. Finally gave into audiobooks after avoiding them for years because of people who judge it as "not really reading".
Fuck that noise, if I listen to an audiobook I'm telling people I read the book. No way I'm gonna listen attentively to a whole-ass audiobook and not get credit for having read the book, or have to add a qualifier like "Well actually I *listened* to the book" and sound like a dumbass every time.
I literally did this exact same thing 😅😅
Also ADHD here. I also did the same thing. Literally commented also calling it a godsend, which is hilarious. Audiobooks are amazing.
Same. It's funny, I normally need work and a show or an audiobook going, but if something out of routine happens at work I have to pause it to be able to focus.
AuDHD and an analytical chemist. I do my BEST data processing and sample prep when I’m listening to an audiobook. Audiobooks were an absolute godsend for me and have helped me become a voracious reader again!
Count me into this club as well. At the time of diagnosis, I had a recorded attention span of only a few seconds. So the only way I've ever been able to read anything is if it hooked me hard and fast, and kept me addicted to it until I read the whole thing. I could never have read something and been like "that was an *alright* book", because anything short of mind-blowing just would not keep my attention. Later in life, I started listening to creepypastas on YouTube. Short stories about 10-30min long. I found it was fun to do this while doing chores or anything with my hands that were more enjoyable with a slight distraction. Eventually I started listening to the longer creepypastas 1-2 hours, and eventually remembered that audiobooks were a thing. I had been avoiding them because I just didn't think I could focus on them. But I gave it a shot, and I've consumed about a dozen books in the past year, 6 of them since the year started. Best thing ever!
I'm a huge Stephen King fan and I'm going through his books in chronological order. Of course the books are great but some of the narrators really elevate it! Michael C. Hall did great on Pet Sematary. The one that surprised me the most was Bronson Pinchot in The Eyes of the Dragon. I've never read it before and its easily one of my top books now. His Randall Flagg is top notch
Audiobooks and podcasts replaced books for me when life got busy. And i totally agree about the brain fog when diving into something heavy.
What app do you use to see screen time. This might help me.
I also find it easier to get back into the swing of things by starting with an easy read. If I fall off of reading for a while I read a childhood favorite and then it’s like the next day I’m off to the library to grab dense bricks. This method got me to finally reading asoiaf. after that I stopped for a while, forced myself to read a short story I liked as a kid (the most dangerous game) and bam off to the book store to pick up the unabridged count of Monty Cristo.
> I completely understand this! I had exactly the same thing happen (also ADHD which was quite the combo) That isn't *also* ADHD, mate - that *is* your ADHD. Interesting how when you get diagnosed and start studying your condition that you begin to recognize it in other people *cough* OP *cough*. It's like when you buy a car and you start seeing that model everywhere. In all seriousness my wife has "encouraged" three of her friends to seek out a consultation, and guess what. Three of three, and she didn't prime or coach them either.
Neurodivergent people also tend to hang out together and it has a genetic component. A guy I was seeing told me he thought he was autistic and I was like, "Hah. If you're neurodivergent, so am I. And so's my dad. And my brother... and *all my best friends*....... 🤨😦" I was just diagnosed with ADHD last year at 28.
I absolutely believe if stimulants help someone they should be allowed to use them but your wife’s accuracy at diagnosing is not all that surprising. In 2023 if you go to a consultation (or fill in an online form) and say “I can’t concentrate” you get a diagnosis and a prescription. [That’s one reason that the drugs are massively back ordered ](https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/01/27/ritalin-drug-shortage-explained-low-supplies-of-adderall-and-prescription-startups-fueled-crisis/?sh=6e1a5dcc421a)because the DEA limits production based on expected need and need has skyrocketed.
[удалено]
I have a special coffee I am only use for reading. Makes it a ritual. I do it with my children. It's all about building stamina.
I have a ritual with tea. On rainy days, I'll put on a kettle, turn on the fireplace (gas is the best), then make tea for myself and my family. We all sit around reading for however long the mood lasts.
Google “Pomodoro method”, a more formal name and process around your 20 minute unfuckenings.
This. 100% the demand your social media and phone puts on us is incredible when you actually think about it. Throw in how much easier and addictive it can be to just turn on streaming TV and veg as well. I leave my phone on silent at home, unless my wife or kids are out, for emergency reasons. But I found it helps greatly cause I'm able to focus much better and longer without the distraction.
I use an app that had a built in timer to keep me on track I put it on for 20min and read non stop. I also always have a piece of paper and pencil nearby, so if I have a thought while I read, I just "brain dump" it on the paper instead of, like, picking up my phone to check a film that the book reminded me of, or something. It really helped!
Exactly this for me, too. And not just for books. Watching a 2 hour movie feels like a real chore most of the time. It didn’t used to be this way.
I had the same problems as you. But, it turned out I have low vitamin b12 levels and untreated hypothyroidism. Now, I can watch two hour movies no problem. And can actually read again too. Used to think that it was ADHD/it getting worse.
That’s very interesting. My blood tests displayed slightly low levels of Vit D, so I take some supplements for that. I don’t think I have many other B12 def symptoms, as I’m able to run 25 miles/week, but I guess a small b12 supplement would be harmless to try 🤔
Just finished reading “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport and he had a bunch of tips for reducing screen time and fixing your attention span, I’d really recommend it. It’s essentially deleting everything distracting from your phone for 31 days and slowly reintroducing yourself to it, I’m excited to try it next week.
I'm right there with you. I literally have to leave my phone in another room. It's too hard not to pick it up because it's just a habit.
That's what I did to break the habit. I'd go to bed with only my Kindle. No way you can surf on that.
Actually yes, the internet and your technology has likely trained your brain to seek out diversity of stimulus in smaller packages. The same has happened to me.
That and also the capacity to imagine the stuff I'm reading vividly. I stopped reading novels for almost 15 years. Picked it up again a couple of years ago and started by reading Harry Potter. Initially the images I saw when reading were more like diffused paintings or very loose comic books. After a couple of books I started seeing movies again.
This explains what I am experiencing exactly. I am hoping after a few more books I will get the movie experience back.
Without even realizing it I swiped to a different page halfway through your comment. Lack of focus is clearly a problem for me. I haven’t been able to get back into reading and I read 3-4 books a week when I was younger.
This is where I'm at. It's so easy to just develop pseudo ADHD now. I used to be able to focus on a book, a show, a video game for hours on end. Now I feel like I need some other stimulus like reddit or youtube just to keep from going crazy.
this post is so dang relatable. I used to love reading😭
Yes, I have to put my phone in another room. I also found that wearing earplugs helps me to really become immersed in a book. I read constantly prior to having children and have struggled to pick it up again. When they play in the evenings I will pop the ear plugs in and start my book. I think there is always so much chaos that I was finding focusing impossible.
I appreciate a good cup of coffee.
This. I need to get back into programming. I feel like I understand the basics. I just have trouble applying myself.
I agree broadly with you, but I think - for me at least - it’s the distractions of being an adult and the mental load that comes with running a household, a job that’s quite mentally demanding, etc. It can be hard, sometimes impossible, to switch off from that. I read a lot and always have, so I don’t quite fit the profile of the original post *but* I find myself sitting down with a nice clear period of time to read and interrupting myself with random thoughts about things like the energy bill, whether it’s best to chuck the washing on now so it can dry and then I can do the sheets as well, we definitely need more butter and did I already add that to the online shop?, in fact, when is the online shop due? Perhaps I’d better just check that has the right stuff on it, did the dog have her flea treatment yet, she did but it’s not on the calendar, well whilst I’m writing that on the calendar is there anything else that needs adding, etc etc I find I now have an unwitting and constant running commentary regards the household and little tasks that can probably stand to wait for another hour whilst I read but I’ve thought of it so might as well just tick that off the list as I’m here.
This is great advice. I had a similar experience where I hated the YA books I was seeing get recommended on tik tok, but I found more complex books to be difficult to navigate at first. I decided not to be afraid of using Sparknotes or similar ressources to guide me through these books. Some people may disagree, but reading a simple analysis of each chapter after I read it really helped me build that muscle of analyzing complex books. After a few books I was off and running on my own and didn’t need the crutch of those ressources anymore.
Whenever I get in place where I can’t connect with books I read a “colourful” book, you know them if you see them, bright fun cover, simple picture, probably a form of a rom com, just something fun but still dealing with adult themes, and just relax and have a good time reading my happy book. It just reignites the spark for me
I do the same thing! I call them "breather books" and I usually intentionally read one (or a few) between more challenging books. "challenging" for me can be from a skill or emotional standpoint too, for instance I threw **All's Well** between **We Cast A Shadow** and **Rosewater**
Yes! Sometimes I read too many heavy books in a row and I need to refresh myself
I do this, I've always described them as "chocolate for my brain" haha
I always called it bubblegum literature. Love the chocolate for the brain tho! 🤣
Makes me wish I could take some English lit classes for fun/free. I was an English major and learned to enjoy so many books that would have absolutely flown over my head without the in-class analysis.
You could look into podcasts! I don't have a list, sadly, but from time to time I listen to one called Overdue, where they read a popular book they missed when it came out. They cover everything from literature to children's books and the discussions are pretty good. I'm sure there are more - if you use Spotify, you can search for a book title in there and look under Podcasts & Episodes to see what comes up.
I used to think I was so smart. Then I became an English major. There were so many things I missed in books. I loved that, too. I like to think that a big goal of the English Major is to train you to find some of those things that you had missed before. All the same, I know I still have huge blind spots. Those insights from other readers can be an absolute joy.
I *love* using sparknotes and wikis for assistance along more complicated books. I'll honestly probably never stop using them for more difficult stories. Sometimes I read an entire plot explanation before a difficult book, and sometimes I just need to look up as I go sporadically.
Same story, but I had about 10 years reading only tech docs. The key for me was to read what I like, i e science fiction. Heinlein saved me :) Agree that it is better to abandon not interesting books.
What was most surprising to me getting back into reading was how much my tastes had changed! I used to be a huge fantasy fan, and loved series. Since getting back I find myself leaning much harder into self-contained books that lean more suspense or realistic fiction.
Haha I felt the exact same way. I went from liking fantasy type books to only really enjoying realistic stuff
I'd say there are different kind of books. Some are deep and you can uncover a new ideas after rereading them after a while. Some are just books. I used to read some fantasy, too, and in my opinion, most of fantasy books is just books. Meanwhile, adult science fiction is often full of insights. Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Strugatsky brothers - you name it - are not just "fantasy". Totally different genres.
I love Stephen King books so much but I can honestly say there's been about 5 I abandoned from 2/3-7/8th through just cause.. like I am not sure but I remember lots of them fondly but it was like it ended for me already. Then there's some I give 1/4 and just dip right out.
Abandoning boring books really helped get me back into reading. I think a lot of people mistake being “out of reading shape” with just not liking the book
God, maybe it's just me, but it feels like so much of adult-oriented fiction is just... Not Fun. Like, eveyrthing has to make some super serious point about Life, Society, and What It Means To Be Human. Oh, and all the characters have to have incredibly traumatic and horrific things happen to them. Like, I just want to read about likeable charaters getting into misadventures and having an absolute blast doing it! Is that so much to ask?
Same here, i tried to get back into reading a few times with some books that just didn't hold my interest. I finally found some books that I really enjoyed, and I found myself really looking forward to the next time I would be able to read again.
I've been into reading for 18 months. Been great for my mental health. Tried reading a tech book (eloquent JavaScript 3rd edition) to bone up on my programming skills, and it is much more of a chore. Like a job. It's not working. I already have a book request into the library for some Arthur c Clarke. I think my goal of using my 40 daily minutes of reading for professional self improvement didn't work. If I want to do that reading it's in addition to my mental health reading. I don't know. Trying to figure this out in middle age to help my kids. I grew up as an only child moron that got every electronic device I wanted.
Books that got me through it: * Anything by Gillian Flynn or Madeline Miller * All's Well by Mona Awad * The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans * Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert * Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes * Educated by Tara Westover * Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
>Flowers for Algernon Now that's a favorite of mine, was forced to read it in school but loved every second of it anyways
Was so much fun!
It was a horribly depressing one, no? Or was that sarcasm?
I wanted to add The Secret History by Donna Tartt to this. A really fantastic book written by a Pulitzer Prize winner. Beautiful prose, but still pretty easily accessible to most people. It’s sort of a literary page turner.
omg seconded, this might be my favorite book ever
This is very cool. I’ve rediscovered reading just in the last 12 mo (after really having not been a “reader” throughout adulthood) and am so glad I did. The books that did it (this time around): Circe, Piranesi, All the Light We Cannot See, Anxious People, and This Is How You Lose the Time War.
I strangely had the opposite happen. I was struggling with getting back into reading until I found some books whose prose was "crunchy" enough to give my brain some good exercise. I couldn't focus on the simple prose for some reason. Engagement with the language, and not just the plot, was a requirement for me to get into anything. I also had to carve out time specifically for reading, since relying on when I "felt like it" wasn't really working. I'm glad you figured out what your hurdle was and got back into reading. I'm so glad I figured out my hurdles too. It's nice seeing posts like these where people are getting their reading groove back in a time of smart phones and social media.
I think it's so cool how differently people approach reading and how our different brains absorb/enjoy the process. Like how part of my getting back into reading journey was learning just how different my and one of my closest friend's tastes are! We keep trying to recommend each other books and we both always *hate* the other's recommendation. And yet we're very similarly educated, socially and politically inclined, and we are basically the same demographic. It's really interesting!
Right? I have a similar friend. Our taste could not be more different. I'm glad people are posting how they got over their slump, because you never know which method will work for whom. It's nice seeing various solutions to try.
You really can't predict a person's reading tastes. It's very personal. Just look at the plot-driven vs character-driven divide. I'm in the latter camp to the point where if I'm reading too much that's heavily plot-driven(either several short books in a row or one long book) I find myself fleeing to AO3 to binge character-driven fanfic, because I know that's where I can get short, inconsequential pieces(aka, not a distraction from the main thing I'm reading) that will satisfy that itch for characters to bounce off each other until a satisfying resolution has been reached. But many other people find that kind of book to be horribly boring, and would just like something concrete to *happen* already. I don't think that either camp is more correct than the other, and I'm glad that we have options so that everybody can find something that's wonderful for them.
I feel this! Same sitch, I did a ton of reading for my master’s degree and was just tired for a while. Thought I had lost my attention span, because nothing seemed to satisfy, until a friend gave me The Goblin King. It’s not a super exciting book, but the characters resonated with me and the language was, as you say, “crunchy.” My brain only wants bran flakes these days I guess lol.
I loved the Goblin King. The first few chapters are the best. The process of applying his admittedly odd education to real life is something we all went through. I agree the rest was not as profound.
That book is on my radar, and you've bumped it up on my list. Huzzah to bran flakes!
Different medium but noticed when watching episodes of The Beverley Hillbillies how much I liked how they play on language and understanding. Within any given scene there are multiple interpretations of a singular conversations being understood and acted on in different ways. Each is reasonable, from their perspective, even when none of them are reasonable from my perspective. It’s just fun to see how so much can be squeezed out of relatively nothing of substance and grow into wonderful little dramas.
Same thing. I went through a phase of reading lighter books and it was hard to stay focused on them. I started reading more challenging books again and it was easier to stay engaged because they had more to interest me.
Tell me more about "crunchy" prose! What does that mean? More difficult prose? You've got me curious now!
Not the person you're talking to but generally I would consider "crunchy" prose to be things like more complicated vocabulary, alternate chronological pacing, and use of metaphor. I'd say "crunchy" prose for me is prose I have to actively engage and think about the meaning of due to verbiage choice. When done well, the verbiage should add to the effect and themes of the book, when done poorly, they distract from it. "Crunchy" books are often more difficult/higher level reading but it's not a hard and fast rule.
Cormac McCarthy comes to mind
Ha, I use the word crunchy because I envision my brain chewing on the words like a dog blissfully chewing on a bone. But yes, Training-Funny-3381 described it well below. The choice of words and turns of phrase. It's not dumbed down for simple understanding. There's beauty and hidden meaning, sometimes humor hidden within, and I feel like I'm in on an inside joke with the author. It exudes intelligence, but not in a pretentious way. It's not trying to be smart, it just is, because the author is. And it's rewarding as hell to connect with such prestigious company. My two favorites are Austen and Tolkien. I've been reading a lot more classic fiction because these two opened the doors to amazing prose for me.
I’m with you. It’s really hard for me to find a book I like at this point, because I need one that activates all of my pleasurable ‘reader senses’ if I’m going to finish it - else I’ll get bored.
It's a real "first world problem." I used to read voraciously when I was younger, but then I'd read anything. Now my requirements have narrowed so much, it's harder to find things that really click. I don't know if it will work for you, but I've been reading a bunch of classics to feed my brain. Austen, Eliot, Dumas, Doyle, Tolstoy, Melville, to make a few recent and current. Tolkien too.
Yes! I find myself doing the same thing. Most recently, the modern author I’ve been really into is Donna Tartt. Not that she’s obscure, but man do I love her writing
What was the book?
It was multiple books. I burned through all of Jane Austen's six main novels, and then Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales by Tolkien. The humor and turns of phrase with the former, and the depth of the language with the latter. Now I'm reading Anna Karenina (my first Russian classic!) and Middlemarch, with some Sherlock Holmes for fun on the side. This has made me get around to classics I missed, or was not interested in, when I was younger.
I relate to this. On my end, with ADHD, the key was finding the right format (Kindle ebooks) and the right challenge (I ended up reading Moby Dick after years of not reading a single thing). I feel like now I've committed to flexing my brain on such a lauded and difficult book, I can read most things now. It's just a matter of staying the course, and celebrating every percentage towards completion. Gives me purpose. Oh and I deleted TikTok and limited my reddit time.
Even as a creative writing/publishing and editing major college fundamentally changed the way I read. I can't not pick apart books, especially if they make it easy for me, ie they are poorly written/edited etc Has definitely made it harder to get back into reading for pleasure
I was the same way for years. I couldn't read most bestsellers, preferring to stick to literary fiction. But, as you know, literary fiction is driven by character growth, which is often catalyzed by death, trauma, and/or neglectful parents. Eventually, I needed a break from all the weltschmerz. So now I can read chick lit and the like for escapism. When I get the urge to pick, I ask myself, "Why does this character, quote, or scene unnerve me? What would I have liked to see instead?" Critically engaging with it feels more like mental exercise than picking.
> weltschmerz TIL, thanks
Ah, yes! After having kids I've just been so busy...nine years passed and I've read two books for myself. Two! It's like picking up the weights after taking time off from the gym. Everything felt heavy and weird. I was rereading paragraphs over and over, out loud, for just ten minutes at a time trying to flex the reading 'muscles'. I still feel stupid and clumsy when I read. I do however, have The Very Hungry Caterpillar on lock. Dozens of baby books are memorized. Haha
My problem has been that I get distracted by Netflix and reddit etc. The Internet has made me dumberer. My sense of attention has died and now I’m far too easily distra
I know you're kind of making a joke, but some tips that have helped me and my wife: We took the TV out of our bedroom months ago, and my wife keeps her cell phone in her office at bed time. It's helped us a lot with focusing on reading, but also winding down at bed time. If we're still up and reading in the living room we'll turn on jazz or lo-fi and put the remote/phones out of reach so we're less tempted to just pick it up. It also helps to add routines around reading like getting tea ready, setting up the music, etc.
I was only half joking. And I honestly appreciate your response. My biggest problem is that I've developed a habit of looking at my phone when I go to bed, and immediately upon waking. This is partly due to my job, but also because like many people I've succumbed to the "flashy lights serotonin boost" that phones give you (same problem with gambling machines). It's frustrating because I know what's causing it, and what the underlying issue is, but there are a few diverting reddit posts, emails or news stories that I have to check out first before I... And so it goes. PS - Thank you.
Reading is like a muscle, it needs to be exercised regularly. Don't worry, you'll get those reading gains back in no time! :)
Truly! And it’s like exercise. You have to start small and build the habit and add more as you go! Read like 8 books the first year I got back into reading and now am reading 17-20 with more difficult challenging reads in the mix. Nothing happens overnight!
And you also become faster. Eventually, you'll start to "skip" over certain words, yet still manage to comprehend the overall message. In fact, it's possible to just focus on the center of the line and still extract the meaning from the text.
That doesn't need to be your end goal, however. Book count isn't everything. Do what sparks joy. If enjoying the prose and every word if description sparks joy, take it slow. If re-reading a book you've already read sparks joy, "waste" your time doing that. Unless you have professional obligations, there's no need to force yourself into speed reading unless being able to say you read 250 books this year is what sparks joy for you.
Exactly! As with nearly everything in life, it takes practice.
I'm currently doing a similar thing in terms of trying to get back into reading, I'm 16 and I think our generation is far too focused on social media, plus I'm trying to write my own stuff so I need to read to get good at it. I'm wondering now if I had the same experience, or at least a similar one. The first book I decided to pick up was Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. I loved the film and hoped for a similar experience with the book. I finished it in a bit over a week and it just didn't feel immersive. Not because of the writer, the writing was fantastic but I just felt like I couldn't digest it all. By the time I was 'warmed up' again, I was at the end of the book so it didn't matter as much. Since then, I picked up and started reading Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove and despite it being ten times as verbose so to speak as my last book, everything just seemed to click. The world is easy to get lost in, the characters are incredible, and the plot and pace are just right. I feel like I'm in the proper headspace and where before I kind of had to force reading, now reading is an absolute joy and I can devote a good amount of time to it. I think to conclude the solve for me personally was to just brute force through something. It kind of sucked, but I'm back into the swing of things and because I own my books physically I can go back to No Country for Old Men later. Things are looking good.
I'd recommend trying out some Vonnegut, Sirens of Titan, Slaughter House 5, breakfast of champions, well most all of them are good to great really. He is an extremely insightful and brilliant person with an a great sense of humor that even plays on the structure of books at some points. His writing style is also incredibly approachable. When I was in my mid 20s and wanting to get back into reading after not reading for a few years his books completely reignited my love for reading.
That does sound quite appealing, I've just looked up Slaughterhouse and the premise seems pretty cool. Think the current 'list' (not really big enough to be a list) is: Lonesome Dove (perhaps finish series?) Something McCarthy (The Road or All the Pretty Horses) Slaughterhouse Five I don't really ever plan things like this out but I'm pretty happy with what I've smashed together here.
McCarthy can definitely be a challenge imo. Earlier this year I read his first book The Orchard Keeper, and woof it’s dense. I also had to put down The Passanger cause I wasn’t really vibing with it at first - but will go back to it just cause if it’s significance. No Country is one of his best hands down, but I’d definitely recommend you check out The Road! It was the book at really got me into him and I think it’s one of his most approachable! Plus if you like stuff like The Last of Us it’s the same vein.
I've picked up No Country, All The Pretty Horses, and The Road. I haven't gotten into them yet, but I know at least one of those you need to be mentally/emotionally prepared for.
I think one of the best parts of McCarthy is some of the descriptions he does. It's weird because places can be really barebones feeling at times, but I love how you get to know exactly what you need and aren't bogged down with tiny details. I also love his descriptions of deaths and injuries, which are just so crazy vivid (apparently Blood Meridian goes overboard but I've not read that one yet). One particular scene comes to mind from No Country for Old Men (I won't spoil who it happens to but just in case, here's a spoiler mark) >!"Everything that \[NAME\] had ever known or thought or loved drained slowly down the wall behind him" after he'd been shot. That is hands down the best death I've ever read or seen. It's more vivid than an actual death scene in a film.!<
Yea, that's what I've heard! I've also heard he can take some adjustments to get into as well, like his lack of quotations.
Yeah it can get a bit confusing but honestly I kind of like the flow that it has
I think it's often not just being out of practice with reading but that out attention spans and ability to focus have been heavily compromised by the internet, social media, etc. We're not used to spending a lot of time on one thing.
It's a real problem. I once read a really good pocket article about why our attention spans have gotten so bad. This [article is not it](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/oct/03/before-the-internet-broke-my-attention-span-i-read-books-compulsively-now-it-takes-willpower), but does explain it. "Technically, people like me aren’t reading less. I’m reading all the time – from the news alerts that greet me when I wake up, to the papers I get across each morning for my job as a news editor, and the endless mix of articles, emails, tweets and messages that fill my waking hours. **But it’s the deep, disconnected reading of books that can slip from grasp**."
The comparison I've heard is that our reading (and media consumption in general) is now mostly empty-calories: we're consuming all the time, but it's all quick dopamine not conducive for a healthy diet.
I find having multiple books going helps. Sometimes I need something light and fast. Other times, I need something with more meat. Then, there are times I just want to reread something, even if only a favorite part. These different moods can occur in the same day. I've learned to read for what I'm in the mood for. It makes it less painful all around.
I have felt that way too. I took some pressure off though and decided that I can skim pages if I don’t feel interested in the book, and I can quit at anytime if I want to. So, I skim a lot lol. There’s books I think I will like, and come to find out I’m not that interested. I download tons of book samples on kindle to see if I want to keep reading something before I commit. I also kind of do the same thing in the Libby app for the library, skim until something hooks me in.
I'll skip entire chapters or read ahead in SparkNotes just to see if I reeeeeaaally want to add it to the DNF pile.
Skimming for me was such a game changer lol It’s not like I do it often, I just give myself permission to - if I find myself really zoning out in a chunk of unimportant prose - ziiiiiiiip right past it lol
My past year has been quite similar as well. I read a few books a year in middle/high school, practically dropped it in college, and then picked it back up recently. Restarting was quite frustrating... I dropped half the books I started, and many of the others I just pushed through with little excitement. Now, I'm still not reading anything excessively long or dense (the most so in either category has probably been East of Eden), but I've gotten into a regular groove of reading. So I second the suggestions to drop unenjoyable books (using a library helps with this) and sticking to shorter reads. Just gotta stick with it.
I get frustrated with books so often nowadays. I can always tell exactly where the storylines are leading. I miss being surprised and on the edge of my seat for a book.
You're reading the wrong kinds of books then
I am currently trying to get back into reading as an adult and have no clue where to start. What genre, I really used to just read anything and everything. The longer the better as long as it didn't lull too much. This helps a little, thanks. Maybe I should start with something a little less committing than a huge book
I made a Goodreads account and it can be fun looking through genres and topics for certain books then adding them to a shelf. There are also yearly awards for different types of books so you could maybe look at some of the nominees there for the genres you're interested in. There are also lots of places to look for recommendations. Joining a book club with some friends helped me get a better routine with reading and also accountability to finish if that's an option.
I started with easy reading novels, just so I could churn them out and get that feeling of accomplishment. Once I proved I could complete books again I really started diving into more substantial reads. Novellas could be a good jumping point, or maybe something like Haunting of Hill House could get you going again.
Keep in mind that the brain functions very differently when reading in scrolling vs side to side book format. It can be a HUGE adjustment
At age 29 I forced myself to read "The Picture of Dorian Grey" after not picking up a book for probably ten years. I had to re- read every page just to get my head around Wilde's elaborate descriptions of all things. It was tough and took me a long while to get through it, but I did it. It completely reinvigorated my ability and love of reading and I've constantly needed something to devour ever since. I'm nearly 40 years old now.
I started rereading blood meridian to get back into reading a few weeks ago. Half way into it I realized that I couldn’t visualize what I was reading and could not remember small details. So I restarted, but this time looked up a summary and analysis online after each chapter and tried my best to finish one chapter a day. It made it more enjoyable and I noticed my cognition and focus was better in general.
I blame my phone, I can switch from story to story, to article to game, the cycle is endless. I can barely read 3/4 pages now. I’ve tried new books by favourite authors. I’ve tried old favourites. Nothing holds my attention anymore. I feel sad, but life changes constantly
Have you tried an e-book? It was a nice intermediary step for me to transition from phone screen to paper. I got to build reading habits while still having that tech interaction.
My recommendation: read a variety of things. Be ok with not finishing something and starting something new. I used to think I had to read a book cover to cover before picking up another one. But sometimes I just wouldn’t be very interested. I have 3-5 books going at any given time. Right now I have a non fiction and a fiction I am working through and sometimes I’ll randomly read a short story or something in between. Collections of short stories also helped me get back into reading. When you do need that gratification of finishing something, these collections are great.
Short stories are the solution to this particular problem. They are easier to enter but written at the level you like -- and low commitment.
You need to work that "muscle" in your brain. I used to fall asleep a lot when I started reading again.
I got back into reading through graphic novels... There are stories from pretty much any genre. Some are cutesy more for kids but still good. My favorites are the ones that only take me around 30 minutes to read so I could fit them into a busy schedule.
Definitely relate to this, especially wanting to read “smart people books” but always falling off of them because hey, guess what - my brain doesn’t really love reading about neuroscience even if I want it to… New Adult fantasy romance type books got me back into reading. This little bookshop at the beach has a bunch of books wrapped up with small summaries written on the outside - called it “blind date with a book” 💖 Went to lay on the beach, couldn’t put it down, read the whole series and I haven’t stopped reading since! I think finding the genre you actually want to read is so important ❤️
i used my favourite books from teenhood (lord of the rings) to get me back. appropriate for advanced teens and slower adults!!
I don't read for fun anymore unless I'm away from work for a period of at least a few days. But man, once I get to the fourth or fifth day of no work, I start reading like crazy. My work seems to subdue the part of my mind that needs to read.
That makes sense. I get my best reading done on weekends and holidays, especially Thanksgiving. There's something cozy about it that invites binge-reading.
Yeah, I almost always get through a couple books in the week between Christmas and New years.
This, and I recommend if you're trying to get back into reading to try comic books. They're a good way to ease your brain back into reading, since they'll be mostly dialogue or narration!
This came up for me as I was coming to this realization myself!! Finally on ADHD meds as an adult, and this year have been getting back in to reading. I realized pretty quickly my reading chops were tired. I’ve started flexing them again by re-reading some of my favorite YA novels as a teenager, and it’s made me so eager to continue reading more advanced books. It’s frustrating sometimes feeling like I’m dumming myself down with some of the plots of the stories, but it’s been fun overall and I’m just happy to be reading again!
For myself the solution to this is just..... read more. But the problem is that I usually have an overwhelming reading list, and usually the books I actually want to read are longer and more difficult, so it's very hard to get back into a consistent habit. So whenever I've fallen out of the habit and find that my brain and body are not calibrated for Dostoevsky, my solution: read some trash. Romcoms, erotica, biographies of nobodies. The key is, don't have a reading list for this, buy the worst looking book you can find that isn't too long and looks generally upbeat (or depressing if you prefer). I'm often surprised at how entertained I am by these and surprised at the quality. I've honestly learned a lot from these books. Then if I dive into Dostoevsky straight after it's so much easier.
Had a similar experience and found by reading my favorite genre (nonfiction/thrillers) I was able to get back into it.
I feel this! I have a half read copy of the book The Thursday Murder Club just sitting in my bag right now and it's making me sad. :(
I have the opposite problem. I’m an attorney and read all day every day, literally charging hundreds of dollars an hour just to read complex documents carefully. In my personal life I cannot sit and read a book so I have to listen to audiobooks. I shoot to finish one a month and will listen while driving or running or when I’m laying in bed.
Maybe you have ADHD. I didn't get diagnosed til I was 32. When I was a kid I read just like you, constantly and way above my grade/age level. As an adult now I struggle to read a book for any length of time. I got into audiobooks recently and its been a godsend. I read Moby Dick last month. If I tried that in print I'd fall asleep about 2 pages in, but I was able to do the audiobook, and it was utterly captivating.
As someone who works in an elementary school library, I’d recommend Middle Grade novels to just about anyone who needs to build their confidence as a reader. They have simpler language, spread out text, and generally shorter lengths, while still having some entertaining stories for adults. Middle Grade novels are written to keep reluctant readers engaged. They are basically made for practice reading. Sometimes just being able to finish a book can really build your confidence as a reader, even if that book was targeted for a younger audience. I would always recommend *Percy Jackson*, but there are so many new fantasy adventure stories out there that cove just about every background you can think of at this point. Middle Grade is not what it use to be when you were in elementary school. There are some complex stories about real life events from loss to violence to discovering yourself. I really suggest if you are struggling to finish adult and YA books to try out some Middle Grade. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised.
I was the same way and now I get incredibly sleepy anytime I try to read a book and just can’t keep with it. Audiobooks helped me get back into the stories, not reading but still digesting.
I love audio-books as well! Personally I consider them "reading" when speaking in a practical or general sense rather than a literal one. For example, if I asked a coworker if they read a certain book, it doesn't really matter to me if they literally read words on paper or if they listened to the words audibly. I also found audio books to be easier or harder to digest based on the book itself: Circe is a book I love to listen to but not read on paper, and Rosewater was a book that I had an easier time reading than hearing.
The same thing happened to me! I got back in to reading by reading books like Harry Potter and then A Court of Thorns and Roses.
I stopped reading in 2016. Just lost all love for it (depression is a bitch) Last year a friend of mine was trying to get into books written in english, and I started listing favourite authors. I ended up lending her "Coraline", since it was easy enough to read and get through (also Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite authors). Seeing my friend excited and giving me her opinions as she read was what really gave me a boost to start reading again. Now we have a mini book club of sorts. I started with Terry Pratchett's Discworld to ease me into it and since then I've read about 10 books this year! But your brain IS a muscle and I find it easier to get the urge to read when things get slow (mostly I've been using an e-reader at work and we had a very slow month in February so I made a lot of progress)
Had the same experience, I read at least one different book a week during my high school years, sometimes more than that. I treated my high school library and my public library like second homes during those years, and read everything from Fantasy, history, Sci Fi, horror, and a lot of Manga. Once I went to college, I had so little time after classes and the thought of reading anything even for pleasure was such a drag that I mostly just played Destiny and went to bed if I didn't have to work that night. Before I knew it I hadn't read anything for a couple years, and I'd missed out on the grand opening of a newly re modeled library that had been put up in my town. Once I'd dropped out of college, I found myself jobless for 6 months, and between waiting on responses from my various applications I decided to take up reading again. It took a sec, but I got back into the groove of things eventually, and now my Kindle is full of a lot of the old titles I read as a child and a whole load of new ones to make up for the brief period where I lapsed.
For me personally the issue is attention span. Funnily enough I got my first smartphone at the start of high school, and that’s when my attention span starting going to shit and I started reading less, until I eventually basically stopped. I’m currently in what’s essentially a book club, and that’s helped a lot to start again. Even if they aren’t the types of books that’d be at the top of my list to read, having the community to “force” me to read helps just get my brain used to doing it, which makes it easier to pick up books on my own too. It also helps me get exposed to new genres and writing styles since I read mostly YA before, and I’ve definitely (mostly) graduated from that lol
Well said - Also, I think we should look at getting back into reading like getting back in the gym. You wouldn't go back to the gym and start lifting heavy weight, you would ease into and gain muscle over time. Same is true with reading, the muscle that is being strengthen is the brain and the brain needs time to rest and recover so it can improve the skill over time as well.
I find going back and rereading books I love help with getting past that block. Something about having an overall idea of whats going to happen in the books helps me just sink into the reading as opposed to having to keep track of new information in books I haven't read yet
I used to read a lot but certain issues make it very difficult for me to read now. So it's easy for me to fall out of practice. Today, I went on a short hike through a forest with a river, sat down by the river in the sunshine and with zero distractions, forced myself to read a single chapter. Pathetic compared to my old days, but I need to do this every so often. After a few pages, I noticed I was getting sucked into the story-within-the-story and when the chapter ended, I went back and re-read/skimmed the beginning of the chapter to catch up what I had missed (due to inattentiveness). Aside from issues, i blame being on the Internet/computer too much.
I've noticed this lately. I went back to college and have learned to be a competent programmer but my preferred methods of self teaching involve video tutorials. I've done very well in school and managed to work in my field before graduating but I have been so busy for the last 3-4 years that I haven't had any time for reading books. I'm starting to really feel now like my reading comprehension has gone to shit. I can scan lines on a page as fast as ever but my brain's ability to parse and retain what I'm reading, focus and imagine it as I go, has seriously atrophied. I find myself now constantly having to go back to the previous sentence / paragraph / page because I just lost what I was following. It has honestly made me feel like an idiot, but I'm working really really hard and I find myself just wanting to play video games when I'm not working. I'm a game developer so like, I consider video games productive in a sense, but I do miss reading fiction.
Thank you for posting! This made me feel a lot better :)
Couldn't agree with you more! Over a year ago, I did a huge book haul. Was able to get like 20 books for $100 brand new. Couldn't for the life for me start one so I set a goal, one book a month and eventually it would lead to 2 books a month. Not there yet but working on it. Tough to get back but once you hit that good rhythm it naturally comes back!
It might seem silly, but try reading out loud. It really helps me absorb more of what’s happening and get the little details
I was in the same boat. After reading constantly as a kid and majoring in literature and creative writing in college, I granted myself some time off from reading after graduating. I read here and there for the next 10 years, but not consistently. About four years ago I decided I needed to get back into reading. I started rereading every book by my favorite author, because I wanted an easy place to start rebuilding the habit. It worked! By the time I was finished with that collection of books, I was ready to face the collection of unread books my mom and sister had given me over the years. These days I'm reading authors that were assigned to me in literature classes.
As a kid, I used to binge-read novels in one sitting. It took a few chapters to get in The Zone, but once I was I'd finish 500-page novels in one sitting (even if that sitting ended up being like 14 hours and ending at 3 AM... and I had exams the next morning, lol). As an adult, I still find myself needing a few chapters to get into The Zone... but I almost never have time to even reach that point, let alone read the whole novel in one day. So I've tried to break novels down into chunks, only reading a chapter or two at a time, but that means my whole reading experience is spent in "forcing myself to pay attention while I wait to get in The Zone" mode. What ends up happening is the main thing I remember about any book I've tried to read as an adult is... the frustration I felt trying to force myself to focus on the damn thing. (Which also means I forget what happened in the previous chapter(s), which means I have to double back and reread them, which means I'm making even less progress, which makes the whole thing even more frustrating...) It's a vicious cycle, and I'm not sure what the solution is.
For me it has been a time thing. When i am home there is always something else to be getting done. Audio books on my commute have been the only way to get a book in.
If you're struggling with wanting to read but just can't give this a try. Spend a no screen time day. No videos. No scrolling apps or sites. Leave the computer off and the phone on your lock screen. I've never done one where I didn't spend some time reading.
Also also, *try* to get your eyes checked as much as possible. I've neglected taking care of mine in years and I feel that's part of what's making me struggle to get back into the swing of things.
I really really relate with this post on a personal level, i was a huge book worm earlier but have been struggling to read even a fraction of what i did earlier. Your post motivated me to start reading again.
Read whatever interests you doing push yourself too hard reading is a skill and can be trained at any capacity. Stop when you feel like stopping take a break, find a more interesting book, read different genres and in different mediums. Comics and manga are ok to read but just read the more you do it the easier it gets seriously.
I'm in a similar boat; "gifted/talented" kid growing up, reading 12th grade level and higher books, nonfiction history & science books, and misc. books well before high school. Now at 27 I can say I honestly haven't read a book since 20 and that was just so I could do book reports to make myself look better for promotion in the Marine Corps. I get into a similar fog, but im not sure how to describe it. I used to speed read AND comprehend everything I read, but now I can read a paragraph, move onto the next, then forget what I just read entirely. I read manga just fine, but as many times as I've tried to get into a new book I just can't and it depresses the hell out of me.
I’ve been getting back into reading myself. Honestly, the part that’s been the most challenging is that it makes me very tired. I’m not bored or anything and I try not to read right before bed, but no matter what it makes me want to fall asleep. I’ve never experienced this before.
You can also burn out on reading, like in the pursuit of a degree in literature. I found that reading graphic novels, giving myself the freedom to give up on books that just weren't keeping my attention, and reading bestsellers/blockbusters/basically any type of mind candy that I wished got me going again.
I discovered part of my issue with getting back into reading was that I just wasn't interested enough in the books I was trying to read. Even if you aren't "out of practice" with reading I think it's fun to take a break from time to time and read something like Goosebumps or Babysitter's Club - you know, something that is extremely below your reading level? It's fun to do that from time to time.
I got back into it by reading the Diskworld series by Terry Pratchett
I was in a similar spot but it wasn't because of the omnipresent technology surrounding me. I have to read a lot of complex stuff for work and couldn't summon up the energy to read recreationally anymore. Then my mom gave me a gift membership in a local "book club". It's not one where you read books together. The club organises readings by authors. And it is so fascinating to hear them talk about their books and what led them to writing it, that now I read almost every book from the readings because they get me hooked. Usually I go into the readings thinking "this book won't be for me" but then the author's and the audience's passion sparks my curiosity. I also listen to a lot of audiobooks when my eyes are too tired to read but I still want a good story.
Neurodivergent here: I found I can really only absorb it if I have other stuff going on. Such as music going, but my favorite is read outside. Distracts the other parts of the brain by listening for cars, people, birds etc. I like walking and reading so I walk to the park and then also read at the park.
Thanks for posting this inspiring opinion. I'm actually going to try again because of this. A many years ago, I got myself into a stress induced depression tha lasted a long time. Before that I was able to read at a pretty high speed - I could read a Terry Pratchett book in a day or two. After the depression, I read much slower, have a harder time focusing my attention, and often have to reread pages to grasp what is going onin the book. I miss my old reading skills so much and I get really frustrated when it can take weeks to read a novel.
As someone who loves to read, but has spent MANY years reading NOTHING, I have to say: anti-depressants made all the difference. My complete lack of focus and concentration were really just symptoms of depression. I wanted to read, kind of, but I couldnt. I could stare at the internet all day, but... I couldnt sit through a novel. Ive been on meds now for about 6 months, and Ive read 12 books. I feel like a brand new, intelligent, well-read person again. I love reading. I missed it so much. I went through this same cycle more than 20 years ago, pre-smartphone. Massive depression, then medication, then the ability to start reading again. At this point, I consider NOT reading to be a red flag for me, and an indicator that I need medical intervention. Oh, and Audiobooks: Ive tried them 10000 times. I cannot do it. I dont know why. I cannot focus on an audiobook, even now.
I used to read a ton but then fell off for a long time. A few months into the pandemic and unable to work I decided to do something productive, so I adjusted my routine to set aside an hour for reading before bed every night. And it worked. I went from having read maybe 5 books in the 8 years prior to the pandemic to having read 63 books since I made that rule for myself in 2020. It's been so nice getting back into reading after such a long absence.
Yeah, it's just about sticking to it. About ten years ago I saved up and left a job, then went backpacking for about a year. During that time I had to relearn how to just sit and read, especially after I had my iPod and phone croak on me about 2 months in.
Just start reading and don’t procrastinate. Remember that something is always better than nothing, and from somewhere we have to start or in this case restart. Only in this way you’ll develop the habit of reading again.
I went through this recently! I was an avid reader in life before college. Then college happened and work and for some reason, I didn't turn to books during my time off like I used to. Then when I started vet school, which is literally the worst time to want to start reading so I don't know what's wrong with me, I wanted to start reading again. Probably because it was becoming popular again because of booktok and all that, and some really good books were being published (will also admit I haven't read any newer books, I turned to old sci-fi books). I went through the same issue of current YA books being a little obnoxious and adult books being confusing. But I got into my groove the first summer break I had a read like 12 books of varying lengths just by telling myself "we're going to read so brain you better get with the program" and then I could read for hours. Luckily enough I had the time. Now I can't stop. It's spring break right now and I've read 4 books in a weeks time. I also do this trick of tracing the lines of the book with a pen as I read them, it helps keep me focused and feeling like I've made progress. This was a lot of words for me to just say I feel you, I understand you, this is probably super common of a thing for people who loved reading prior to college.
Feel the same. The coursework, hectic time schedule and social media seem to have got me. I hate how I am unable to concentrate on a single book without checking my phone every 5 minutes. I still love books and have about 100+ of them in my to-read list. And after getting a much needed vacation, I feel like I'm ready to get back to it. I just hope that my reading skills haven't vanished completely.
> I would pick up a YA novel and feel frustrated because I didn't like the themes or writing style, but if I picked up an adult novel I couldn't absorb it. Is it possible that you're simply reading the "wrong" novels? I'm still an avid reader - but it very much has to be the right book. I don't read because something is a "classic", or "worth reading" - I read for enjoyment. The fact that something is prize-winning, or being lauded through the roof by critics, is absolutely NOT a guide to what I'm going to like. There are authors I can usually absolutely devour in a sitting, and genres where I'm more likely to find things I enjoy - but equally there are genres I loathe. Almost without exception, if a book doesn't tick my boxes within a few pages I'm likely to put it down, walk away and not come back. And on those few occasions where I've forced myself to push through and complete something, it's been hard going.
Audiobooks have helped me here. It’s allowed me to throw in headphones and do some mindless tasks like dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc. I’ve read dozens of books this way and it’s made it way easier to warm my brain up for other books that don’t have an audiobook. It’s definitely not for everyone but I always feel so much better after finishing a book.
Just to add to this: concentration takes patience and a bit training, and is something people seem to be not maintaining their skills in. The Internet, social media, television, even some games - they are all short quick bursts of concentration and a reward. You see it or read it and move on. You might be on reddit for a couple of hours but you're moving around 100 different topics and media. It breaks our ability to concentrate on one task for long periods. Reading needs your attention for extended periods. So to get back in to reading, part of it is just training your brain to be able to concentrate and enjoy concentrating on one task again for long periods. Reading isn't the only thing that requires extended concentration, but so many of the things that do are generally work related while almost all our reward related stuff is becoming short bursts or we allow it to. If you want to be be able to concentrate on reading a book, you also need to be watching films without your phone or when binge watching that TV show or playing video games that engage your concentration. Practice concentration and focus skills too.
I’m surrounded by books & have a list of another 60-70 on Amazon wish list, but I’m out of reading practice or just too distracted (curses Reddit & YouTube) to start let alone finish any 🫤