We are becoming less and less socially literate every day. Let’s think about a day. Do we have time to read? Or do we not even think about it because we have to find time to survive?
To be honest, I am well aware that my reading habits have diminished over the years. If I compare my reading of novels with previous years, I can see that there has been a noticeable drop.
But instead I try to read articles, poems and essays on a daily basis and try to make up for this deficit. Moreover, I can say that during the time I have spent on this site, it has inevitably become more regular than ever. Still, there are times when I cannot find enough.
I believe that reading is a necessity. But nowadays it is becoming a luxury.
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When I meet friends, especially if we haven’t seen each other for a long time, I ask about books. “What was the last book you read? When did you read it? Are you reading a book now? When did you buy a book?”
The answers are almost identical. The name of the book is not remembered, but the plot is summarised as much as possible. The date of reading is given with a rough estimate. It is said that a new book has been bought but not yet started.
Because of the situation in our country, books are bought when there are discounts (and even these are expensive). Of course, this is one of the problems of not being able to read books, but I don’t think it’s the main reason. That would be naive.
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I think one of the main reasons is that, as I said, it has become a luxury. And what exactly could that be? Time. We’re so focused on what’s going on in our lives that we don’t have time to read. And sadly, I realise that this is not a new phenomenon.
That was the reason for my question in the first place. The point I was emphasising was time. Obviously there will come a point in the day when we will have time to do this. There is no need to delude ourselves. So why do we find it difficult to make this a disciplined habit? I think there is a reason for this.
We have begun to perceive life as an unpleasant adventure of survival, rather than living life with joy, as I have just mentioned. What does that mean, or what does it entail? Multifunctionality is emerging.
This is very difficult when reading a novel. We have to concentrate on one point and, if necessary, take precautions: a quiet environment, a full stomach, a time when we know we will not be disturbed. Contrary to popular belief, both meeting the requirements and concentrating afterwards can lead to an unexpected loss of time or enthusiasm.
Strange as it may sound, think about it. What are the things that keep you from reading? What excuses do you make, or what are the real barriers?
I’d like to make one final point. Books can seem boring. I’m not talking about the subject or the author, I’m talking about what’s in them. After all, we are looking at a collection of words on a monochrome background. The previous page was similar to the next. I know reading is not like that, reading is much more than that.
But if you think about it, it is a factor. After a long day, we want to relax and have some time to ourselves. Would our first choice be to be alone with a novel? Let’s be honest. We would either prepare (or order) a nice meal or continue watching our favourite TV series, but I think we would do both together. Remember, it’s multifunctional. We combine what we can do at the same time to save time. Honestly, what do we do with the time we have left?
To continue with the previous example, the vivid visuality, aesthetic structure and auditory aid provided by TV series/films can help us to concentrate. It is more attractive to spend time on a hobby that has more than one function. We are not creating a narrative in our minds, we are participating in what already exists, and all the above factors help us to do so. In other words, in all of this it is important to exert as little effort as possible. After all, survival means using less energy or finding ways to conserve it. Reading seems to have the opposite effect.
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Whether good or bad, if we constantly ignore an issue, it inevitably loses its permanence in our lives. So we turn to things that give us more pleasure or seem less labour-intensive.
Reading a book is like eating in a fancy restaurant, satisfying our eyes and curiosity more than our stomachs, while simpler-looking daily activities and hobbies are like swallowing a meal that satisfies our appetite and gets us safely through to the next day.
It is true that we cannot responsibly undertake an activity that is not part of our life all at once. But we can make plans to do it on a regular basis. At least we will have made a start. Choose the day and time that suits you best and give that novel you have been meaning to start a chance.
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