Audiobooks have been a game changer for me! If I read a physical book, I’ll check whether the audio book is available via my library. Then I either switch back and forth depending on my mood or even listen to it at the same time while reading to give me a steady rhythm. It means I don’t have to stop reading while doing chores and if I’m to inpatient, I’ll switch to reading to get along faster 😅
This is great! I’m not a big adiobook reader because they play havoc with my ADHD. I zone out worse with them than with physical books. So I confess that I totally forgot to mention them in this video!
It does help with reading on public transport. I bought mine to be able to read in a bus that I has to take early in the morning, the light never worked so I needed something with independent light source. I also appreciate it for traveling when you have weight limit, and last but not least for reading at the gym😂 I get bored on the bikes or walking carpet so I read my Kindle. Ps. I forgot skiping adds in cinema when I go alone, I just read trough them and if they dim the lights I still can escape in my book😂
I'm not even going to lie, I am someone constantly looking to see how many more pages or what percent. I love an ereader too, but if it's a long book I'm still aware. 🙂
I joined the Storygraph January challenge last year to read one page a day. I can always manage one page (or a few minutes audio book). And of course, that page tends to lead to many! I have read at least one page every day since January 2023 and it has made reading a huge and lovely part of my life!
For me it helps to listen to the audiobook simultaneously (mostly on double or triple speed) this way I have someone to guide me across the lines so to speak so that my eyes don't wander ramdomly across the page. Since I've been doing that I feel much more efficient and can remember more of what I read.
It sounds like a very efficient method... although, I just tried putting the audiobook I listen to on double and then triple speed... I don't understand a single word anymore😅 So, my question is: do you either have such presicie listening skills to still get everything or do you not care about (to you probably parts, to my everthing) to be unintelligible?
@@cosyreadingtimes8857 It depends on the narrator of course. The thing is that I get very impatient when someone is talking too slowly that my mind would wander off. So I incresed the speed bit by bit. 2,5x seems to be a sweet spot for me where I can still follow and don't feel like I'm being rushed.
I do the same, but for long books. I'm unsure if it is a generational thing, but I can never listen anything faster than 1.2x for audiobooks. I like to have that feeling of mental lipsync with the audiobook whilst trying to internalise all emotions. In the end I read about same speed BUT it helps me to keep focus and not lose myself so constantly.
It's like every skill, the more you practice the better you get at it - in picking the right books, getting into the habit of it and the speed. For me, for example, English is not my native language so in the beginning reading and speaking in English was very overwhelming. The more I read, the better I got in both. Lovely video, as always 😊
Thank you, Willow! I've been beating myself up about "cheating" when choosing to only read shorter books. Thank you for sharing why that's just not reality!
"Cheating" only exists if you're in competition with someone else, which I know it's easy to fall into that mindset. I believe in reading selfishly, which means I don't answer to anyone else, I don't compare myself to anyone else in a competitive way, I don't entertain other people's negative opinions on what I read. I can't cheat in a game I'm not playing. The magic of shorter books is you get to enjoy more stories! 🙂
@@Readatrixyes! Great point. I think personally I compare myself to others but not in a competitive way, more in like… “am I normal? Should I maybe try a little harder to get more out of this? “ way. It’s still not a good thing. I am becoming more aware of it thanks to videos and comments like this one 😊
To read more I try to stop reading a book if I am not enjoying reading it. And quickly!! It doesn’t mean the book is bad-just not the right time for me to read it. Helps me read more and more books of quality ✨ (I know my girls who hate DNF’ing will squirm but I swear it helps!)
Also reading multiple books at the same time. I usually pair a slower paced or longer book with a faster paced or shorter book, so that I am still moving forward, exploring new books and not slogging my way through one book, which can get demotivating, too!
@@sabihasayeed1670that also works really well for me. I’m someone who really loves slower paced and character driven books, but I also need that dopamine rush, so sometimes I take small breaks after 3-5 chapters and then go back to reading, or I’ll pick up another book, read a few chapters, and then go back to the other book.
This was so helpful! I have always been incredibly stressed by the writing advice to “read widely in your genre.” As someone who is also a slow reader, with ADHD, (and who also can’t stick to a single genre to save my life) this has always been a challenge for me. Thank you for acknowledging these struggles, and for providing these suggestions. ❤
I want to share a tip for those who can't concentrate reading. It is speed reading, basically when you read faster than usual your brain receives much more information and makes an effort to process this information. This is a challenge for the brain so in response, it focuses its energy and attention on this, reading. At first I thought it wasn't going to work but it does!! I don't like to read quickly but when I'm dealing with concentrating this technique helps me a lot. I don't think it works with all books since some require you to read them slowly to understand the reading better, but it never hurts to try it : )
I only ever set my Goodreads goal at 24 per year, because although I always read so much more than that, I never trusted that I'd actually log my reads, and didn't want it to seem like I'd failed to meet my goal.
I'm starting my major in literature and having adhd i've always read at my own pace (slowly, to be blunt) and i'm kinda terrified of getting overwhelmed with all the material I will have to read in the span of a semester; so i thank you for making this video taking into account the difficulties of reading that come with adhd ❤
Listening to audiobooks while walking in nature. One earbud in one out. Most days I’m able to get an hour or two in. After a long hiatus this got me back into reading physical books as I settle into bed at night.
To those who recommend audiobooks, I miss a lot because it's too easy to get distracted, so I'll only do them if I like the reader's voice. With a physical book, if I find my mind wandering, I take a bookmark or any card-weight paper and slide it down the page line by line so that if my mind wanders for a microsecond I don't have to scan the whole page to find my place. Sometimes if I really need to focus, I just track the line with my finger, which snaps me back to the exact word where I left off if my mind wanders. It works. I'm a very, very fast reader. Contrary to a comment in the video, I like to set a few challenges, but only ones I think are achievable, not silly prompt lists like a scavenger hunt that would just stress me out or cause me to have to read a book I don't like just because it meets the prompt. Storygraph has lots of challenges. I'm currently signed up for two, not trying to overload myself. The only books I finish that I wouldn't choose for myself are for my local library branch's monthly book club, because the consistency of meeting irl is worth it. My final tip is to lean in to the ADHD and have several things to choose from in case one thing is boring/distracting you. I have an audiobook on one tablet (good when your hands are full, like when you're cooking), an ebook on another (only for titles the library doesn't have in any other format, as I hate scrolling through ebooks), the main physical book I'm actively reading (having decided to keep a reading journal this year, I'm much more intentional with my reading, planning and tracking), and shorter books at the ready, including various types of non fiction, to pick up as the mood strikes. Also, I keep my phone nearby to look up things mentioned in books, like songs, works of art, etc. Leaving it for later creates an energy thread that will pull me away from the forward motion of continuing to read the book. Speaking of which, when Willow gave examples of what to read if you like cooking, I will add the recommendation to read actual cookbooks. Many are very timely, have gorgeous pictures and fun design elements, plus plenty of stories. Some are better than travel books for learning about a place or culture. Good cooks will probably also enjoy reading all the actual recipes, because we can breeze through them and know from experience what we might want to make or adapt.
I have the same issues... and I have no idea how to both read and understand what am reading, its the big thing that stops me from reading, even with tools, I cant understand if am reading it...
Quality over quantity is my philosophy too and I need time for the book hangover, to live with it beyond the pages. Some good tips, going to try some like reading while I wait for the kettle to boil.
My favorite book is Frankenstein to 🥰 I also have adhd and read slowly but I became an avid reader in 2015 (at 26 years old) and have gotten a little faster I think. I can not read 100 pages in a sitting. I read maybe 20-30 pages in an hour. But I can read a typical manga in a sitting. My own brain is a distraction lol. I get distracted by my own thoughts all the time. Manga takes me 2-3 hours to read one volume but I also have aphantasia and love looking at the pictures, as they are part of the story. I can't understand people, like a friend of mine, that read a manga in just half an hour...I can't help but wonder if they even look at the pictures. I really do want to read more manga and graphic novels. I do love learning and reading nonfiction but I always worry that if I read too much nonfiction people will think i'm pretentious and that nonfiction is hard when a lot of it isn't and can be accessible and captivating at the same time. But I like fiction to, obviously my favorite book is fiction, Frankenstein. I thought i'd thought about my reasons for reading before but I don't think I gave it that much thought and should revisit the question. :) I had set myself challenges before and they mighta helped years ago but they no longer do. They just suck all the joy out of reading now and make me stressed out, even when before I set the challenge I really wanted to read the books or whatever...my brain makes no sense to me lol. But now I just said screw challenges. I used to set tbrs and i'm autistic/adhd so I followed them...but they made me miserable so i've stopped doing them and now instead of one book at a time i'm reading multiple lol. Sometimes the autism wins. Sometimes the adhd wins. I'm letting the adhd reign here I guess lol.
A great video and excellent advice. Thank you. I always turn my phone on ‘Airplane Mode’ and find that helps. Unrelated to this video, I recently finished ‘Our Share of Night’ after watching your review. Such a wonderful novel, and my favourite so far of 2024. Thank you for making me aware of it.
Something I've found that helps me is actually annotating! Which sounds counterproductive, but it helps me keep my focus on the book instead of letting my mind wander. Just a pen and underlining, or dog-earring a page is so helpful.
I mentioned the Forest app elsewhere, but the concept is that you're growing a virtual garden that withers if you use your phone. You can set it up to make exceptions to what withers it, so you could make an exception for your Kindle app, Libby app, Audible, whatever you use.
this is a great video and so useful. I also read while I walk I love the looks I get especially those with their phone in hand, I have about 15 minutes walk to and from the bus stop each way so it's good time. I also have a book everywhere I go and read where I can. I also enjoy manga and comic books.
One way I get myself (and family to read) is every night at 8 pm, we all come to the couch & read together. My son (10), sets the timer and we read for 30 minutes a night. I have turned my son into a reader & this year he’s competing in Battle of the Books for his school. It also gets my husband reading too. Last month he even came with me to book club for the first time. If you have a partner, and/or kids, don’t discount the power of reading together. So many nights I would’ve spent scrolling when someone shouts “Family Reading!” from the living room.
Thanks so much for this! I have ADHD too and so often the advice given is "just listen to audiobooks instead!" which is all well and good if you don't struggle with auditory processing 🙃 Totally agree with your point that a lot of books are too long - I appreciate an author who can get a compelling story across succinctly (Sarah Moss and Tristan Hughes are two of my favourite authors for this reason). As someone who loves my coffee I've found the best strategy to get myself to read more is to spend an hour or so at a time reading in a cafe with coffee and a pastry - if I make reading part of a "treat", I can trick my brain into getting more dopamine from it!
We have to find out what works forvourselves. I used to read waiting everywhere and on the bus to forget where I was and the stress associated to it. I later realised that while I was unaware of people around me on the bus or in line, I had problems really getting into and enjoying what I read and could not remember half of it. So now I read at home, for longer periods. Pure pleasure.🥰📚
about finding online community, nobody I know reads my favorite genre (dark psychological thrillers written by women, mostly british) as we readers need interlocution, I think of goodreads contacts and booktubers as friends: you are a great one. ❤
When I was younger I read quite a lot but stoppes at some point and dint really understand why i couldnt get myself to read anymore (late diagnosed lol). One thing that really helped me, was to watch a lot of book content to get me hyped, that amso helps with other things, like cleaning or crafting etc, helps to get my brain into hyper -focus. And anothet thing is, that it really demotivated me to read older texts, I love them, like Frankenstein, Dracula, Edgar Allen Poe, still reading Lovecraft but esp as someone whos first language isnt english, but reads a lot in english, it was hard to keep focused on those texts and it takes me way longer to read them, so reading some simple (not necessarily meaning bad, just more straight forward and modern) writing has really helped to keep up with reading and just sometimes taking on the more lyrical older texts, when I feel like it. I was just being hard on myself for struggling to do what I want to do and not seeing that the problem wasnt necessarily my focus. I also thought about audiobooks a lot but its hard for myself to count them as reading (not for others, i totally see it as reading, just not for when I listen to them, it kinda feels like cheating myself lol) and i listened to a lot of audiobooks as a kid but I put them on my goodreads, to get myself to accept that its play for me to consume a book that way if its more accessible to me that way, really just a me thing I have to get over.
Great video Willow! Such good advice. I came here because I commented in another video and you sent me here directly 😊 I think yes, I discovered my problem. I am trying to read long books most of the time. I like fantasy and sci fi, but not exclusively! And I can absolutely relate to being daunted by the commitment of it. Right now I am finishing a 480 page book that I have enjoyed a lot, but in the meantime I get so impatient and can’t stop thinking about all the other books I also want to read and how long this is taking to finish this one 😂 Yes, I have ADHD as well. I never really thought about it from this perspective, how reading shorter book helps me read faster. It’s so true! 🤯 There are so many stories and worlds and moods in different books that I want to explore and experience and that’s the main reason for wanting to read more, in my particular case. So thanks for the advice! I will pick a shorter book for my next read and take it from there. Maybe leave the long fantasy ones for vacations and when I really really crave it 😅 I have been discovering new authors, one of them T Kingfisher, and I think she writes shorter books. Probably will pick one of those for the spooky season too 😄🎃🖤
I tend to read on the living room, whereas digital or printed and at night, before sleep. Just suscribed to your channel only to have a guide in case I'm in a mood for something new that may put me out of my comfort zone, for some authors to check out I did not know before, and for books that may become among my favourites.
I enjoyed this! My #1 tip is so embarrassingly obvious and so prone to (unintentionally) pissing people off. The key to reading more is to prioritize reading more -- to promote reading on your list of hobbies, you have to demote something else. Everyone has a different schedule, and a different list of obligations, but the more time you prioritize reading as your hobby, the more you will read. Everything else is secondary. Everyone has to figure it out based on what they want, and it's okay to want/value other things more. If you like to come home and binge a TV show, make the binge shorter by an episode. For those 30 minutes or an hour, you've promoted reading to your priority. There's a point in an activity where you're no longer enjoying the activity, but you keep doing it because of inertia. That's when you switch to a book. That's when you, if you're lucky enough to have one, go to the spot where you're most comfortable reading, that's when you cut the evening short and crawl into bed with a book. And the activity with diminishing returns is often the time suck of social media. The easiest hack within this is to read during ads you can't skip, the 10 minutes before your friend comes over, while you wait for carry-out, as opposed to staring at the wall or mindless scrolling. And when I don't have a book in front of me, I take the time to think about my current reads which helps me understand my thoughts and makes me eager to get back to my books. #2 is to embrace the personal nature of reading. Your reading goals and what counts toward those goals is your business and not up for discussion or debate. All that matters is that you read what feels satisfying to you. I regularly read children's books. I read graphic novels. I LOVE a novella. If I were competing with others, I'd probably see those things as "cheating," other people's opinions would matter, and I'd read less. #3 is to, and this is definitely not feasible for everyone, read multiple books at once. Unless a book has really grabbed me and I can't stop turning pages, I'm switching off based on mood and how capable I feel of concentrating. If I had to stick with 1 book, I'd constantly be in a reading slump. The down side is that it might feel like you aren't making progress since you might not finish anything for a while even though you're reading a lot. Of course, then you end up finishing several at once. This is also about reading across formats. When my eyes are tired, I'm going with an audiobook or a Kindle so I can enlarge font. I listen to audiobooks in the tub using voice commands on my phone. #4 is that it's okay if some days you don't read much at all. That's life. Sometimes you don't have the concentration. Sometimes it really isn't what you want to do. Sometimes you want to hang out with friends. Sometimes time gets away from you. You don't beat yourself up. #5 is to review or share your thoughts, which includes buddy reads and book clubs. Ready is fun, but solitary, and so adding a social aspect can make you feel engaged with the world. And for introverts there are so many ways to do this that remain comfortable and are on your terms. I started doing buddy reads with my husband and it's been amazing. I've been with him since the ice age and in sharing books I've learned so much about this man, and vice versa. I read this book faster because I'm eager to discuss it. And some nights I say to my husband, "Hey, why don't we read tonight?" He is someone who likes reading, but doesn't choose it as much as I do independently, so he loves when I suggest it. Thanks, again, for putting this together!
Great video, I particularly liked the section at the beginning (despite my fantasy nerd brain cringing when you called fantasy pure escapism, which I would ague against). For me, turning off my phone for a dedicated time each day and shoving it into a box somewhere outside my room helps the most I think... when it comes to reading pace, I have made my peace with reading more slowly than many others, but on the upside, I also take in and retain far more detail when reading than others. If I speed up my reading too much, I only take in content passively and stop feeling and reflecting on what I read. Also, I sometimes have to remind myself that it's not a given that I'm capable at all of reading books in English, as it isn't my native language. The thing I don't like about short books is that you have less time to bond with the characters. As it always takes me time to connect to people in general, the same goes for books. However, varying between short and long books or listening to short audiobooks while reading a longer one is truly helpful.
So wonderful Willow. You are Star. I hv only just found you. I am an Australian elder with a hx of reading but developed screen addiction. To force myself out of my addiction I commenced an online MA in English course. Didn’t quite make it but discovered Mary Shelley, Bram Stocker, Otavia Butler, Wells, Art Spiegleman, Elliot, Poe. What an absolute blast .. oh and Saga. Sci Fiction’s unit commenced with Frankenstein. Bloody Hell .. what a revelation. Bram ? What a ride!!!! I miss studying but after a specific lecturer departed (After setting up Sci Fi, Graphic Novels and Gothic units). I finished up. I obtained a Grad Cert .. which is fine by me. Luv your efforts and thanks for moving me out of my screen addiction relapse.
I work nights and I replaced mindless phone scrolling during downtime with pacing the empty corridors while reading. It's actually made my shift feel like it goes by faster.
My speed depends on a language I'm currently reading in, of course it's easier for me to read in Polish as it's my native language so it's usually the quickest reads. I have the easiest acces to French editions living in France, but even as I live here for long time now still it's my third language I've learned as an adult so English is still easier. I also prefere to read in it's orginal language as even the best translation can miss things. Audiobooks are great in general as I have better echoic memory than visual one. I wished I finally got to getting my Spanish to the level that allowes me to read in orginal, it's a beautifull language with so many amazing books that might not have been translated. I won't even start on Japanese.
Does anyone use an app like Forest? For those unfamiliar, you are planting a virtual garden for a time of your choosing -- that withers if you don't leave your phone alone. The points from planting can be used to "buy" other flowers or trees, or to have a real tree planted. While I love to read, I'm very capable of thinking I'm picking up my phone to look something up related to the book and end up down a rabbit hole. I take not withering my garden most seriously. 😂
I "immersion read" which is using the physical/ebook and the audiobook at the same time. I use multiple libraries to save as much as possible, as well as Audible, Everand, and Spotify. I read about 8-20 books per month (90% fiction).
Ahah, I recently published a video about how the challenge of reading one book a day for a month and focusing on quantity over quality helped my burnout, so I feel a bit at odds here because I also agree with a lot of the points you make in the video :) I totally understand how challenges might not be for everyone, and it was actually the first time I did one myself. You say they ruin the experience for you, but I guess in some cases and/or for some people, the challenge *is* (also) the experience. Anyway, I'm not here to convince you about reading challenges, just wanted to say I enjoyed the video ^^ I always have more books I want to read than I could physically read, so good tips on how to get to more of them are always appreciated!
Reading everywhere doesn't work for me. :D Firstly because I definitely can't multitask this way, too much anxiety, if e.g. I'm waiting in line, then I'm just worried my number will go off and I won't notice it; and secondly it takes me a while to get my focus in. I'm doing pretty well with my phone though, I usually only go on it when I wanna look something up, but whether that something is from a book or from a random inside distraction is another thing. 😅 My biggest issue is just not spending enough time reading, I mostly read only before bed, and I also do at least 15min of duolingo as well, and by that time I'm just too tired to read a lot. And during the day reading is just too "passive" (if that makes sense), when I even have the time for it.
In order to read more, I'd have to give up other things I also love. Don't want to do that? Audiobooks doubled the number of books I finished because I don't have to have a book in my hands or my eyes on the book.I read books because I love stories, characters, and learning. With an audiobook, I can listen while I shower and get ready for work, while I cook, while I fold laundry, and while I commute. It almost magically created more time for reading. I can prop my Kindle up on a table and read while I eat, but I can't read my Kindle while I knit. I can listen to an audiobook while I knit. Some days I knit while I watch TV (stories, characters, learning - not giving up my TV time) OR while I listen to audiobooks. And it's all done on my phone, tablet, or my Echo devices, so it's easy to tell Siri or Alexa to pause or rewind a few minutes if my mind wandered or I hit a hairy place in traffic and missed something. I can even add bookmarks and notes - though I can't do that with audio commands. I've brought my phone to book club meetings and pulled open my Audible notes to discuss plot points, quotes, or things that drove me crazy. Tip: If you try audiobooks, always listen to a sample before you decide to get the audio version or another version. Even if you're getting books from the library, hop onto an audiobook site and listen to a sample. A narrator I don't like can vastly impact how much I enjoy the story, so if I don't like the narrator, I know that's a book I need to get in another form.
my issue with reading isnt really if its intresting or not, its reading itself, like, how do I do to read phrases in text where there are lines above and under without acidentally skiping lines or reading the same lines multiples time by acident... and how do I do to read and understand what am reading like if someone was reading it to me... those are the issues that I struggles a LOT with and I would love to manage to read something without asking my phone to text to speech it to me like I do most of the time...
the part about reading in small chunks doesn't really work for me because it's hard for me to get immerse and imagine the world and its characters in the book without being conscious that i'm essentially halluncinating from ink marks on a piece of dead tree lol. but the part about setting time specially for reading really works for me. I would have to force myself to settle down and not get distracted and I realise how much more rewarding the reading experience has been for me. many of your other tips were also things I had to figure out on my own a while ago, especially about genres. but I'd say it's essential to explore genres that you don't initially look for at first, after you're used to reading. I know how many readers refuse to read great books just because they "don't read romances" or they think science fiction is just made-up worlds.
Wonderful video. I'm AuDHD and what you said about seeing how close you are to the end of a physical book really resonates with me! I also have a connective tissue disorder and chronic fatigue, so digital can be more accessible, but so frustrating! How far am I? What do you mean this is the last page?! How am I at only 23%, 76%?! I want to page through this 😭😭😭😭 Yeah, thanks for these insights. I'm going to ask my library for more physical books this week, reconnect with reading with one on a lap pillow or propped next to me. Also, enby aroace gamer here, with anarchistic values, so I instantly subscribed when you said in another video (paraphrasing), "I'm a queer, transgender communist . . ." 😆🥰❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤 Favorite games include FFX, Stardew Valley, Dragon Age: Origins, and the multiplayer of Mass Effect 3. Currently playing BG3, Overcooked2, and Stardew Valley (1.5 on Xbox, 1.6 on Steam Deck). I've also started exploring interactive/visual novels.
I have a couple issues that hold me back from reading as much as I want. I've always had issues with retaining what I read when it's non-fiction. I had this issue all through school. I'd learn the material long enough for the test, then I'd forget about it. I also can't scan through text books like they always suggest. I need to read the entire chapter, even the cool little blurbs on the side, in order to get the full idea being conveyed. Get into high school and junior college, and it was much, much worse because of the sheer amount of reading needing to be done in a very short amount of time. Slow pace of reading has kept me back too. I was a terrible student all through high school and never really finished college. As an adult, I read non-fiction to be knowledgeable about the world and to try to unfuck myself. However, it seems like, even when there are no deadlines and I'm actually interested in the subject, I can't remember stuff. It's even worse dealing with self help/improvement stuff or certain spiritual authors. I've read Brene Brown's Gifts of Imperfection six times. Six. Each time I re-read it, I know I've read these same anecdotes and scenarios before. However, I couldn't tell you the main points of the book to save my life. Her ten pillars for living a wholehearted life? Nope. Can't remember a single one. I have tried reading Eckhart Tolle's first book, and I can't make it through the first chapter. Just something it is very difficult for me to comprehend, and it makes me feel very stupid. I don't have these issues with fiction books. I will get completely immersed and remember most of what happened in earlier chapters. If it's a non-fiction book, I can read half a chapter, go to do something else for thirty minutes, come back, and I won't remember anything I read. What is wrong with me?
I agree that reading well is important, but I wonder if satisfaction should be a metric. I think that books that challenge you, leave you feeling like you know nothing and break your conventions and ideas would be excluded in that regard. What do you think?
Depends on the book. Average person reads a page a minute. I’m faster or slower than that, depending on what kind of book it is. I recently read Caliban and the Witch and it probably took me like four hours to read 100 pages because that book is dense.
i want to follow more queer booktubers but sadly cannot find many. i love reading non fiction about race, class & sexuality & queer fiction but my youtube feed always shows me channels which are focussed around straight white romance books T_T
This comment feels more like a tweet. Like, are you needing something from me? Because I cover a lot of queer fiction, and sometimes nonfiction, so I might have what you’re looking for?
Audiobooks have been a game changer for me! If I read a physical book, I’ll check whether the audio book is available via my library. Then I either switch back and forth depending on my mood or even listen to it at the same time while reading to give me a steady rhythm. It means I don’t have to stop reading while doing chores and if I’m to inpatient, I’ll switch to reading to get along faster 😅
This is great! I’m not a big adiobook reader because they play havoc with my ADHD. I zone out worse with them than with physical books. So I confess that I totally forgot to mention them in this video!
Yes! I have come to love audiobooks in the last year or two. They're especially good for long commutes or while doing a jigsaw puzzle 😊
I let alexa read my kindle books for me. That’s free audiobooks.😊
@@WillowTalksBookswow that happens to me too! Lol
My mind also wanders when I'm reading. But when I'm into a book, I can't stop. I stayed up almost all night reading Yellowface.
God yeah, I read that book in two sittings
My reading greatly increased solely because of ereaders. No matter how large the book is, if it’s on my Kindle, I’m no longer intimidated by the size.
Great point!
It does help with reading on public transport. I bought mine to be able to read in a bus that I has to take early in the morning, the light never worked so I needed something with independent light source. I also appreciate it for traveling when you have weight limit, and last but not least for reading at the gym😂 I get bored on the bikes or walking carpet so I read my Kindle.
Ps. I forgot skiping adds in cinema when I go alone, I just read trough them and if they dim the lights I still can escape in my book😂
Ereaders are the best when it comes to travel. And when I feel the pressure of too little shelf space left :).
I'm not even going to lie, I am someone constantly looking to see how many more pages or what percent. I love an ereader too, but if it's a long book I'm still aware. 🙂
Great point!!!
I joined the Storygraph January challenge last year to read one page a day. I can always manage one page (or a few minutes audio book). And of course, that page tends to lead to many!
I have read at least one page every day since January 2023 and it has made reading a huge and lovely part of my life!
Love this!
For me it helps to listen to the audiobook simultaneously (mostly on double or triple speed) this way I have someone to guide me across the lines so to speak so that my eyes don't wander ramdomly across the page. Since I've been doing that I feel much more efficient and can remember more of what I read.
Wow, that’s a brilliant method!
It sounds like a very efficient method... although, I just tried putting the audiobook I listen to on double and then triple speed... I don't understand a single word anymore😅 So, my question is: do you either have such presicie listening skills to still get everything or do you not care about (to you probably parts, to my everthing) to be unintelligible?
@@cosyreadingtimes8857 It depends on the narrator of course. The thing is that I get very impatient when someone is talking too slowly that my mind would wander off. So I incresed the speed bit by bit. 2,5x seems to be a sweet spot for me where I can still follow and don't feel like I'm being rushed.
I do the same, but for long books. I'm unsure if it is a generational thing, but I can never listen anything faster than 1.2x for audiobooks. I like to have that feeling of mental lipsync with the audiobook whilst trying to internalise all emotions. In the end I read about same speed BUT it helps me to keep focus and not lose myself so constantly.
I do this ❤️
dropping the right video at the right time, smh willow reading our minds as she always does.
It's like every skill, the more you practice the better you get at it - in picking the right books, getting into the habit of it and the speed. For me, for example, English is not my native language so in the beginning reading and speaking in English was very overwhelming. The more I read, the better I got in both.
Lovely video, as always 😊
Thank you, Willow! I've been beating myself up about "cheating" when choosing to only read shorter books. Thank you for sharing why that's just not reality!
"Cheating" only exists if you're in competition with someone else, which I know it's easy to fall into that mindset. I believe in reading selfishly, which means I don't answer to anyone else, I don't compare myself to anyone else in a competitive way, I don't entertain other people's negative opinions on what I read. I can't cheat in a game I'm not playing.
The magic of shorter books is you get to enjoy more stories! 🙂
I totally get this 😂
@@Readatrixyes! Great point. I think personally I compare myself to others but not in a competitive way, more in like… “am I normal? Should I maybe try a little harder to get more out of this? “ way. It’s still not a good thing. I am becoming more aware of it thanks to videos and comments like this one 😊
To read more I try to stop reading a book if I am not enjoying reading it. And quickly!! It doesn’t mean the book is bad-just not the right time for me to read it. Helps me read more and more books of quality ✨ (I know my girls who hate DNF’ing will squirm but I swear it helps!)
Also reading multiple books at the same time. I usually pair a slower paced or longer book with a faster paced or shorter book, so that I am still moving forward, exploring new books and not slogging my way through one book, which can get demotivating, too!
@@sabihasayeed1670that also works really well for me. I’m someone who really loves slower paced and character driven books, but I also need that dopamine rush, so sometimes I take small breaks after 3-5 chapters and then go back to reading, or I’ll pick up another book, read a few chapters, and then go back to the other book.
This was so helpful! I have always been incredibly stressed by the writing advice to “read widely in your genre.” As someone who is also a slow reader, with ADHD, (and who also can’t stick to a single genre to save my life) this has always been a challenge for me. Thank you for acknowledging these struggles, and for providing these suggestions. ❤
I want to share a tip for those who can't concentrate reading. It is speed reading, basically when you read faster than usual your brain receives much more information and makes an effort to process this information. This is a challenge for the brain so in response, it focuses its energy and attention on this, reading. At first I thought it wasn't going to work but it does!! I don't like to read quickly but when I'm dealing with concentrating this technique helps me a lot. I don't think it works with all books since some require you to read them slowly to understand the reading better, but it never hurts to try it : )
I think this works for audio too! Online courses and audiobooks.
Love this video, great advice! One of the reasons why I don’t do Goodreads reading challenge anymore. Thanks Willow❤
I only ever set my Goodreads goal at 24 per year, because although I always read so much more than that, I never trusted that I'd actually log my reads, and didn't want it to seem like I'd failed to meet my goal.
I'm starting my major in literature and having adhd i've always read at my own pace (slowly, to be blunt) and i'm kinda terrified of getting overwhelmed with all the material I will have to read in the span of a semester; so i thank you for making this video taking into account the difficulties of reading that come with adhd ❤
Listening to audiobooks while walking in nature. One earbud in one out. Most days I’m able to get an hour or two in. After a long hiatus this got me back into reading physical books as I settle into bed at night.
I agree that the challenges are very frustrating, they can ruin your experience and not let you enjoy the book
Big time ADHD here, luckily we have super focus and I use that.
For me, it’s just a matter of getting back into the habit of reading. I know my reading speed has always been good.
Your hair looks nice in this video
To those who recommend audiobooks, I miss a lot because it's too easy to get distracted, so I'll only do them if I like the reader's voice. With a physical book, if I find my mind wandering, I take a bookmark or any card-weight paper and slide it down the page line by line so that if my mind wanders for a microsecond I don't have to scan the whole page to find my place. Sometimes if I really need to focus, I just track the line with my finger, which snaps me back to the exact word where I left off if my mind wanders. It works. I'm a very, very fast reader.
Contrary to a comment in the video, I like to set a few challenges, but only ones I think are achievable, not silly prompt lists like a scavenger hunt that would just stress me out or cause me to have to read a book I don't like just because it meets the prompt. Storygraph has lots of challenges. I'm currently signed up for two, not trying to overload myself. The only books I finish that I wouldn't choose for myself are for my local library branch's monthly book club, because the consistency of meeting irl is worth it.
My final tip is to lean in to the ADHD and have several things to choose from in case one thing is boring/distracting you. I have an audiobook on one tablet (good when your hands are full, like when you're cooking), an ebook on another (only for titles the library doesn't have in any other format, as I hate scrolling through ebooks), the main physical book I'm actively reading (having decided to keep a reading journal this year, I'm much more intentional with my reading, planning and tracking), and shorter books at the ready, including various types of non fiction, to pick up as the mood strikes. Also, I keep my phone nearby to look up things mentioned in books, like songs, works of art, etc. Leaving it for later creates an energy thread that will pull me away from the forward motion of continuing to read the book.
Speaking of which, when Willow gave examples of what to read if you like cooking, I will add the recommendation to read actual cookbooks. Many are very timely, have gorgeous pictures and fun design elements, plus plenty of stories. Some are better than travel books for learning about a place or culture. Good cooks will probably also enjoy reading all the actual recipes, because we can breeze through them and know from experience what we might want to make or adapt.
I have the same issues... and I have no idea how to both read and understand what am reading, its the big thing that stops me from reading, even with tools, I cant understand if am reading it...
Quality over quantity is my philosophy too and I need time for the book hangover, to live with it beyond the pages. Some good tips, going to try some like reading while I wait for the kettle to boil.
My favorite book is Frankenstein to 🥰 I also have adhd and read slowly but I became an avid reader in 2015 (at 26 years old) and have gotten a little faster I think. I can not read 100 pages in a sitting. I read maybe 20-30 pages in an hour. But I can read a typical manga in a sitting. My own brain is a distraction lol. I get distracted by my own thoughts all the time. Manga takes me 2-3 hours to read one volume but I also have aphantasia and love looking at the pictures, as they are part of the story. I can't understand people, like a friend of mine, that read a manga in just half an hour...I can't help but wonder if they even look at the pictures. I really do want to read more manga and graphic novels.
I do love learning and reading nonfiction but I always worry that if I read too much nonfiction people will think i'm pretentious and that nonfiction is hard when a lot of it isn't and can be accessible and captivating at the same time. But I like fiction to, obviously my favorite book is fiction, Frankenstein. I thought i'd thought about my reasons for reading before but I don't think I gave it that much thought and should revisit the question. :)
I had set myself challenges before and they mighta helped years ago but they no longer do. They just suck all the joy out of reading now and make me stressed out, even when before I set the challenge I really wanted to read the books or whatever...my brain makes no sense to me lol. But now I just said screw challenges. I used to set tbrs and i'm autistic/adhd so I followed them...but they made me miserable so i've stopped doing them and now instead of one book at a time i'm reading multiple lol. Sometimes the autism wins. Sometimes the adhd wins. I'm letting the adhd reign here I guess lol.
A great video and excellent advice. Thank you.
I always turn my phone on ‘Airplane Mode’ and find that helps.
Unrelated to this video, I recently finished ‘Our Share of Night’ after watching your review.
Such a wonderful novel, and my favourite so far of 2024.
Thank you for making me aware of it.
Something I've found that helps me is actually annotating! Which sounds counterproductive, but it helps me keep my focus on the book instead of letting my mind wander. Just a pen and underlining, or dog-earring a page is so helpful.
I love using see-thru sticky tabs. And something about a book that's full of tabs just feels cozy and happy 😊
For me, the thing that helped was downloading ebooks on my phone and then putting the ebook app where Reddit used to be on my home screen.
I really struggle with the urge to look at my phone while reading. But I also often use my phone to read books and listen to audiobooks. 😅
I mentioned the Forest app elsewhere, but the concept is that you're growing a virtual garden that withers if you use your phone. You can set it up to make exceptions to what withers it, so you could make an exception for your Kindle app, Libby app, Audible, whatever you use.
this is a great video and so useful. I also read while I walk I love the looks I get especially those with their phone in hand, I have about 15 minutes walk to and from the bus stop each way so it's good time. I also have a book everywhere I go and read where I can. I also enjoy manga and comic books.
One way I get myself (and family to read) is every night at 8 pm, we all come to the couch & read together. My son (10), sets the timer and we read for 30 minutes a night.
I have turned my son into a reader & this year he’s competing in Battle of the Books for his school.
It also gets my husband reading too. Last month he even came with me to book club for the first time.
If you have a partner, and/or kids, don’t discount the power of reading together. So many nights I would’ve spent scrolling when someone shouts “Family Reading!” from the living room.
Thanks so much for this! I have ADHD too and so often the advice given is "just listen to audiobooks instead!" which is all well and good if you don't struggle with auditory processing 🙃 Totally agree with your point that a lot of books are too long - I appreciate an author who can get a compelling story across succinctly (Sarah Moss and Tristan Hughes are two of my favourite authors for this reason).
As someone who loves my coffee I've found the best strategy to get myself to read more is to spend an hour or so at a time reading in a cafe with coffee and a pastry - if I make reading part of a "treat", I can trick my brain into getting more dopamine from it!
Excellent tips! I see that you have Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo on your shelf. I loved that book! ❤
We have to find out what works forvourselves. I used to read waiting everywhere and on the bus to forget where I was and the stress associated to it. I later realised that while I was unaware of people around me on the bus or in line, I had problems really getting into and enjoying what I read and could not remember half of it. So now I read at home, for longer periods. Pure pleasure.🥰📚
about finding online community,
nobody I know reads my favorite
genre (dark psychological thrillers
written by women, mostly british)
as we readers need interlocution,
I think of goodreads contacts
and booktubers as friends:
you are a great one. ❤
When I was younger I read quite a lot but stoppes at some point and dint really understand why i couldnt get myself to read anymore (late diagnosed lol).
One thing that really helped me, was to watch a lot of book content to get me hyped, that amso helps with other things, like cleaning or crafting etc, helps to get my brain into hyper -focus.
And anothet thing is, that it really demotivated me to read older texts, I love them, like Frankenstein, Dracula, Edgar Allen Poe, still reading Lovecraft but esp as someone whos first language isnt english, but reads a lot in english, it was hard to keep focused on those texts and it takes me way longer to read them, so reading some simple (not necessarily meaning bad, just more straight forward and modern) writing has really helped to keep up with reading and just sometimes taking on the more lyrical older texts, when I feel like it. I was just being hard on myself for struggling to do what I want to do and not seeing that the problem wasnt necessarily my focus.
I also thought about audiobooks a lot but its hard for myself to count them as reading (not for others, i totally see it as reading, just not for when I listen to them, it kinda feels like cheating myself lol) and i listened to a lot of audiobooks as a kid but I put them on my goodreads, to get myself to accept that its play for me to consume a book that way if its more accessible to me that way, really just a me thing I have to get over.
Great video Willow! Such good advice. I came here because I commented in another video and you sent me here directly 😊
I think yes, I discovered my problem. I am trying to read long books most of the time. I like fantasy and sci fi, but not exclusively! And I can absolutely relate to being daunted by the commitment of it. Right now I am finishing a 480 page book that I have enjoyed a lot, but in the meantime I get so impatient and can’t stop thinking about all the other books I also want to read and how long this is taking to finish this one 😂
Yes, I have ADHD as well.
I never really thought about it from this perspective, how reading shorter book helps me read faster. It’s so true! 🤯
There are so many stories and worlds and moods in different books that I want to explore and experience and that’s the main reason for wanting to read more, in my particular case. So thanks for the advice! I will pick a shorter book for my next read and take it from there. Maybe leave the long fantasy ones for vacations and when I really really crave it 😅
I have been discovering new authors, one of them T Kingfisher, and I think she writes shorter books. Probably will pick one of those for the spooky season too 😄🎃🖤
I tend to read on the living room, whereas digital or printed and at night, before sleep.
Just suscribed to your channel only to have a guide in case I'm in a mood for something new that may put me out of my comfort zone, for some authors to check out I did not know before, and for books that may become among my favourites.
I enjoyed this!
My #1 tip is so embarrassingly obvious and so prone to (unintentionally) pissing people off. The key to reading more is to prioritize reading more -- to promote reading on your list of hobbies, you have to demote something else. Everyone has a different schedule, and a different list of obligations, but the more time you prioritize reading as your hobby, the more you will read. Everything else is secondary. Everyone has to figure it out based on what they want, and it's okay to want/value other things more. If you like to come home and binge a TV show, make the binge shorter by an episode. For those 30 minutes or an hour, you've promoted reading to your priority.
There's a point in an activity where you're no longer enjoying the activity, but you keep doing it because of inertia. That's when you switch to a book. That's when you, if you're lucky enough to have one, go to the spot where you're most comfortable reading, that's when you cut the evening short and crawl into bed with a book. And the activity with diminishing returns is often the time suck of social media.
The easiest hack within this is to read during ads you can't skip, the 10 minutes before your friend comes over, while you wait for carry-out, as opposed to staring at the wall or mindless scrolling. And when I don't have a book in front of me, I take the time to think about my current reads which helps me understand my thoughts and makes me eager to get back to my books.
#2 is to embrace the personal nature of reading. Your reading goals and what counts toward those goals is your business and not up for discussion or debate. All that matters is that you read what feels satisfying to you. I regularly read children's books. I read graphic novels. I LOVE a novella. If I were competing with others, I'd probably see those things as "cheating," other people's opinions would matter, and I'd read less.
#3 is to, and this is definitely not feasible for everyone, read multiple books at once. Unless a book has really grabbed me and I can't stop turning pages, I'm switching off based on mood and how capable I feel of concentrating. If I had to stick with 1 book, I'd constantly be in a reading slump. The down side is that it might feel like you aren't making progress since you might not finish anything for a while even though you're reading a lot. Of course, then you end up finishing several at once. This is also about reading across formats. When my eyes are tired, I'm going with an audiobook or a Kindle so I can enlarge font. I listen to audiobooks in the tub using voice commands on my phone.
#4 is that it's okay if some days you don't read much at all. That's life. Sometimes you don't have the concentration. Sometimes it really isn't what you want to do. Sometimes you want to hang out with friends. Sometimes time gets away from you. You don't beat yourself up.
#5 is to review or share your thoughts, which includes buddy reads and book clubs. Ready is fun, but solitary, and so adding a social aspect can make you feel engaged with the world. And for introverts there are so many ways to do this that remain comfortable and are on your terms.
I started doing buddy reads with my husband and it's been amazing. I've been with him since the ice age and in sharing books I've learned so much about this man, and vice versa. I read this book faster because I'm eager to discuss it.
And some nights I say to my husband, "Hey, why don't we read tonight?" He is someone who likes reading, but doesn't choose it as much as I do independently, so he loves when I suggest it.
Thanks, again, for putting this together!
Great video, I particularly liked the section at the beginning (despite my fantasy nerd brain cringing when you called fantasy pure escapism, which I would ague against). For me, turning off my phone for a dedicated time each day and shoving it into a box somewhere outside my room helps the most I think... when it comes to reading pace, I have made my peace with reading more slowly than many others, but on the upside, I also take in and retain far more detail when reading than others. If I speed up my reading too much, I only take in content passively and stop feeling and reflecting on what I read. Also, I sometimes have to remind myself that it's not a given that I'm capable at all of reading books in English, as it isn't my native language. The thing I don't like about short books is that you have less time to bond with the characters. As it always takes me time to connect to people in general, the same goes for books. However, varying between short and long books or listening to short audiobooks while reading a longer one is truly helpful.
So wonderful Willow. You are Star. I hv only just found you. I am an Australian elder with a hx of reading but developed screen addiction. To force myself out of my addiction I commenced an online MA in English course. Didn’t quite make it but discovered Mary Shelley, Bram Stocker, Otavia Butler, Wells, Art Spiegleman, Elliot, Poe. What an absolute blast .. oh and Saga. Sci Fiction’s unit commenced with Frankenstein. Bloody Hell .. what a revelation. Bram ? What a ride!!!! I miss studying but after a specific lecturer departed (After setting up Sci Fi, Graphic Novels and Gothic units). I finished up. I obtained a Grad Cert .. which is fine by me. Luv your efforts and thanks for moving me out of my screen addiction relapse.
I work nights and I replaced mindless phone scrolling during downtime with pacing the empty corridors while reading. It's actually made my shift feel like it goes by faster.
Love your attitude, subbed
My speed depends on a language I'm currently reading in, of course it's easier for me to read in Polish as it's my native language so it's usually the quickest reads. I have the easiest acces to French editions living in France, but even as I live here for long time now still it's my third language I've learned as an adult so English is still easier. I also prefere to read in it's orginal language as even the best translation can miss things. Audiobooks are great in general as I have better echoic memory than visual one. I wished I finally got to getting my Spanish to the level that allowes me to read in orginal, it's a beautifull language with so many amazing books that might not have been translated. I won't even start on Japanese.
Does anyone use an app like Forest? For those unfamiliar, you are planting a virtual garden for a time of your choosing -- that withers if you don't leave your phone alone. The points from planting can be used to "buy" other flowers or trees, or to have a real tree planted. While I love to read, I'm very capable of thinking I'm picking up my phone to look something up related to the book and end up down a rabbit hole. I take not withering my garden most seriously. 😂
Your tips are THE BEST❤
Thank you :)
I "immersion read" which is using the physical/ebook and the audiobook at the same time. I use multiple libraries to save as much as possible, as well as Audible, Everand, and Spotify. I read about 8-20 books per month (90% fiction).
Excellent advice ❤
Bestie😭😭😭 thank you
Ahah, I recently published a video about how the challenge of reading one book a day for a month and focusing on quantity over quality helped my burnout, so I feel a bit at odds here because I also agree with a lot of the points you make in the video :) I totally understand how challenges might not be for everyone, and it was actually the first time I did one myself. You say they ruin the experience for you, but I guess in some cases and/or for some people, the challenge *is* (also) the experience. Anyway, I'm not here to convince you about reading challenges, just wanted to say I enjoyed the video ^^ I always have more books I want to read than I could physically read, so good tips on how to get to more of them are always appreciated!
Great video, thanks!
Reading everywhere doesn't work for me. :D Firstly because I definitely can't multitask this way, too much anxiety, if e.g. I'm waiting in line, then I'm just worried my number will go off and I won't notice it; and secondly it takes me a while to get my focus in.
I'm doing pretty well with my phone though, I usually only go on it when I wanna look something up, but whether that something is from a book or from a random inside distraction is another thing. 😅
My biggest issue is just not spending enough time reading, I mostly read only before bed, and I also do at least 15min of duolingo as well, and by that time I'm just too tired to read a lot. And during the day reading is just too "passive" (if that makes sense), when I even have the time for it.
Big agree on the book length thing. I can read 4 100 pg books in one week, but one 400 pg book will take me a month 💀
Very helpful. ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
Willow, do you ever find yourself in a reading slump? Could you do a video on how to get out of a reading slump?
In order to read more, I'd have to give up other things I also love. Don't want to do that? Audiobooks doubled the number of books I finished because I don't have to have a book in my hands or my eyes on the book.I read books because I love stories, characters, and learning. With an audiobook, I can listen while I shower and get ready for work, while I cook, while I fold laundry, and while I commute. It almost magically created more time for reading. I can prop my Kindle up on a table and read while I eat, but I can't read my Kindle while I knit. I can listen to an audiobook while I knit. Some days I knit while I watch TV (stories, characters, learning - not giving up my TV time) OR while I listen to audiobooks. And it's all done on my phone, tablet, or my Echo devices, so it's easy to tell Siri or Alexa to pause or rewind a few minutes if my mind wandered or I hit a hairy place in traffic and missed something. I can even add bookmarks and notes - though I can't do that with audio commands. I've brought my phone to book club meetings and pulled open my Audible notes to discuss plot points, quotes, or things that drove me crazy.
Tip: If you try audiobooks, always listen to a sample before you decide to get the audio version or another version. Even if you're getting books from the library, hop onto an audiobook site and listen to a sample. A narrator I don't like can vastly impact how much I enjoy the story, so if I don't like the narrator, I know that's a book I need to get in another form.
my issue with reading isnt really if its intresting or not, its reading itself, like, how do I do to read phrases in text where there are lines above and under without acidentally skiping lines or reading the same lines multiples time by acident...
and how do I do to read and understand what am reading like if someone was reading it to me...
those are the issues that I struggles a LOT with and I would love to manage to read something without asking my phone to text to speech it to me like I do most of the time...
the part about reading in small chunks doesn't really work for me because it's hard for me to get immerse and imagine the world and its characters in the book without being conscious that i'm essentially halluncinating from ink marks on a piece of dead tree lol. but the part about setting time specially for reading really works for me. I would have to force myself to settle down and not get distracted and I realise how much more rewarding the reading experience has been for me. many of your other tips were also things I had to figure out on my own a while ago, especially about genres. but I'd say it's essential to explore genres that you don't initially look for at first, after you're used to reading. I know how many readers refuse to read great books just because they "don't read romances" or they think science fiction is just made-up worlds.
can you also make a video on how to read better???? 🥺🥺🥺
Wonderful video. I'm AuDHD and what you said about seeing how close you are to the end of a physical book really resonates with me! I also have a connective tissue disorder and chronic fatigue, so digital can be more accessible, but so frustrating! How far am I? What do you mean this is the last page?! How am I at only 23%, 76%?! I want to page through this 😭😭😭😭 Yeah, thanks for these insights. I'm going to ask my library for more physical books this week, reconnect with reading with one on a lap pillow or propped next to me.
Also, enby aroace gamer here, with anarchistic values, so I instantly subscribed when you said in another video (paraphrasing), "I'm a queer, transgender communist . . ." 😆🥰❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤
Favorite games include FFX, Stardew Valley, Dragon Age: Origins, and the multiplayer of Mass Effect 3. Currently playing BG3, Overcooked2, and Stardew Valley (1.5 on Xbox, 1.6 on Steam Deck). I've also started exploring interactive/visual novels.
I have a couple issues that hold me back from reading as much as I want. I've always had issues with retaining what I read when it's non-fiction. I had this issue all through school. I'd learn the material long enough for the test, then I'd forget about it. I also can't scan through text books like they always suggest. I need to read the entire chapter, even the cool little blurbs on the side, in order to get the full idea being conveyed. Get into high school and junior college, and it was much, much worse because of the sheer amount of reading needing to be done in a very short amount of time. Slow pace of reading has kept me back too. I was a terrible student all through high school and never really finished college. As an adult, I read non-fiction to be knowledgeable about the world and to try to unfuck myself. However, it seems like, even when there are no deadlines and I'm actually interested in the subject, I can't remember stuff. It's even worse dealing with self help/improvement stuff or certain spiritual authors. I've read Brene Brown's Gifts of Imperfection six times. Six. Each time I re-read it, I know I've read these same anecdotes and scenarios before. However, I couldn't tell you the main points of the book to save my life. Her ten pillars for living a wholehearted life? Nope. Can't remember a single one. I have tried reading Eckhart Tolle's first book, and I can't make it through the first chapter. Just something it is very difficult for me to comprehend, and it makes me feel very stupid. I don't have these issues with fiction books. I will get completely immersed and remember most of what happened in earlier chapters. If it's a non-fiction book, I can read half a chapter, go to do something else for thirty minutes, come back, and I won't remember anything I read. What is wrong with me?
❤❤❤❤
I agree that reading well is important, but I wonder if satisfaction should be a metric. I think that books that challenge you, leave you feeling like you know nothing and break your conventions and ideas would be excluded in that regard. What do you think?
Dnd book reading is so hard because info and lore dense
Okay :)
You can read 100 pages in an hour?! Wth
Depends on the book. Average person reads a page a minute. I’m faster or slower than that, depending on what kind of book it is. I recently read Caliban and the Witch and it probably took me like four hours to read 100 pages because that book is dense.
@@WillowTalksBooks fair enough. It's like the reading speed of Yellowface versus Babel. Anyways, 100 in 1h is quite an achievement!
Have you read Dickens? If so do you have a favourite.
Yeah. Probs David Copperfield. Also The Signalman short story is great
I was wondering how do you read for comprehension with adhd ?
I actually think ADHD helps because I hyperfocus on the text and get my analytical brain stuck right in there
Engaging with a book when you have ADHD #books #adhd
i want to follow more queer booktubers but sadly cannot find many. i love reading non fiction about race, class & sexuality & queer fiction but my youtube feed always shows me channels which are focussed around straight white romance books T_T
This comment feels more like a tweet. Like, are you needing something from me? Because I cover a lot of queer fiction, and sometimes nonfiction, so I might have what you’re looking for?
Do you take any medication for ADHD?
I don’t, but I have a few friends who do
We should read slower and appreciate more books. I don't see the point of reading more.