Also the thing about physical books is that the book you're physically have is all yours, and always will be. It's not dependent on subscriptions, legal problems when something gets deleted, censorship or degrading battery of your said kindle. It is literally ink on a piece of paper and it will be with you for all your life if you take care of it. It's about preservation and ability to re-read something you once read.
All of my many digital books exist in Calibre, backed up ten ways to Sunday. We have to be diligent about stripping the DRM from the books we buy and putting them some place out of the reach of those who may wish to censor. I don't really think this is the problem you think it is.
I live in south america and given my economic condition I mostly "pirate" my books because I can't currently afford them (and I refuse to stop reading!), so even the online books are "all mine" until the day my HDD or cellphone stops working as well, but that is a very remote chance of losing it before I make backups... I still wish I could buy physical books and support the authors, though 😢
And even a library system, in which a book is loaned, still has so much trust and integrity within that borrowing relationship as opposed to, say, subscribing to or "purchasing" digital content. I have more confidence in my public library than I do to any predatory corporate platform seeking to "sell" me things.
This video is very well-produced and interesting, but I'm wondering that if by focusing on bookish fakery, we're ignoring the more important and extremely concerning cultural phenomenon of anti-intellectualism, and the fact that people are reading less and less books each year. I have seen those pictures of celebrities holding books and honestly, I think that's rad. I see every type of person read, and I love when I see someone enjoy a book in public. Books aren't just a signal of class, they provide much needed escapism, are windows for empathy, and sources of knowledge that can't be taken from us. That clip of Ashley Tisdale is ridiculous, but kind of good on her for being honest that they'd just bought all of the books. Using that as an example of general bookish fakery doesn't work too well for me, since most people couldn't afford to buy that many books at once, and she's not even trying to fake that the books were hers already. Anything that encourages people to read is a positive for me, and my heart hurts for the generation of students screwed over by "whole language" learning, which sabotaged many kid's ability to be fully literate.
I take it you may of also watched alisha's video "Booktok, Brainrot, and Why It’s Okay to Be a Hater"? I ask because she made some great points on anti-intellectualism and it sounds like you may of watched that one as well! I agree with your comment wholeheartedly.
@@missesbimbeaux Haven't seen that video, but anti-intellectualism has been on the rise for years now if not decades and I've seen other videos and read articles about it.
What that is being produced is worth reading? The market is flooded in shit. And see tons of ads about how easy it is to make a book with AI which tells me it's being used heavily. Welcome to hell.
Although there is a raise in anti-intellectualism, I don't think reading a book = intellect. You can "gain intellect" from many different sources/media and it doesn't make those who don't like reading less thoughtful. It's like associating ppl who enjoy movies and cinematography with being a mindless, couch potato.
Ebook reader also have no other distractions. Thats one of the main reasons my ereader brought me back into reading. Since I bought it in July I've read 25 books, before I read 3 books per year. In my childhood I read like 20 books per month. Ereader definitely rekindled my passion and ironically I read more printed books too.
I was flabbergasted watching that woman talk about how she sent her husband to buy books JUST TO FILL A BOOKSHELF. Like what??? And she talked about it openly.
I see having physical books as like having music on vinyl, where it just adds another layer and ritual to the experience that in my opinion promotes mindfulness and presence. It also creates a more physical connection to the art that we love. You can look at a photo on your phone, but printing it out and hanging it feels like a greater expression of appreciation.
I started reading this year. I have spend my whole life on my phone, so i get so proud of myself when i read a full chapter (hard picking up the book, bad concentration). And I think alot of people put a really high standard on how many books you should read a year, or which to read to be a cool person... I am right now reading a book for 12 year olds about glamour and friendships. It is soooo not me, haha, but I never got to read it as a kid, so i wanna see what i missed. what im trying to say -- to those who needs to hear it - dont take it too seriusly. The coolest people are those who are honest to themselves and others, who dont copy-paste others, you know? (its 1.33 at night, it might not make sense..)
yes!! I’ve really started reading again this year after stopping as a teen and read all kinds of stuff from classics, to harry potter for the first time. people tend to want to categorize themselves online to fit in a specific “niche” even with books and it’s just absurd!
honestly i think people forget the different reasons people read. i can read practically anything depending on my mood. recently i've been in the mood for just fun YA books and i've been enjoying them immensely. if im in the mood for commentary or critique, ill pick up a classic, speculative fiction, or even nonfiction. my favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi because i started reading due to escapism and now its still that as well as my main hobby. good for you to read!!! just go at your own pace and your own reading level. i dont know why everyone makes it a competition or as though you are less intelligent if you read a certain age group or genre. read what you're in the mood for or what makes you happy. thats all that matters.
I’m doing the same but with graphic novels. It was always really hard to get my hands on them when I was a kid but now that I’m an adult and they have become much more accessible I’m reading them like mad. Feels healing!
This is all VERY true. I used to read when I was little and picked it up a few years ago when it was gaining traction again in "media". I asked myself if I wanted to buy books or just get an e-reader. I literally remember choosing the physical books because I wanted to be able to take pics and post about the books I was reading. Fast forward a year later, I had only actually read 2 out of the 70+ books I had bought. Fast forward some years, I sold the majority of the physical copies of my books and just went ahead and bought a phone specifically to use as an e-reader (no service on it, matte screen protector, phone in greyscale mode) and I've gotten through way more books that way. Reading literally to "come off a certain way" is absolutely a problem! Not to mention that I could've also supported my local library as well as opposed to buying up books, which is now something that I also do if I do want the physical copy of a book in hand. This also helps for when I travel, I can simply take my e-reader.
It is such a problem! It just reeks of insecurity and a desire to separate oneself from the “herd”. Also, one thing I’ve learned is that reading doesn’t have to be such a grave, boring, solemn thing. It can be FUN, which is something that a lot of people are forgetting to mention when talking about the importance of reading. I feel as if we here in America are socialized to look down on “fun” and only do things that have “use value” or utility. For a lot of people, reading is less about having a fun time and exploring new worlds and more about complete some stupid goal, looking superior to others, getting a job or whatever, etc.
Ebooks are wonderful for those of us with poor vision. Same with audiobooks. You still experienced the story, and don't have to add more bookshelves. I still have tons of physical books, but they are mostly nonfiction. I use ebooks for fiction reading on my tablet.
I still remember one 800 page novel that made me glad that I bought the ebook version instead of the physical lmao. I wouldn't want to bring a brick everywhere.
I'd like to mention that most libraries have large print editions of a lot of books and are happy to order in on request! Means you get a physical book that's easier to read and don't have to own it.
@@connie6738 They also have a very large ebook selection. I use those more than anything. After 50 years of reading, I have no need to hold a book in my hand. The tablet works best for me.
I feel like Gilmore Girls makes it very clear that Rory’s “bookishness” wasn’t enough because in her senior year she realized this and had a freak out where she tried to make connections and join additional extracurriculars. She also knew that a school like Chilton would give her an upper hand. I think she ultimately felt that there was no shame in using her connections unlike Lorelai, and that’s meant to show differences in their character. Rory will accept help more readily than her mother who prides herself on hard work, and she is also more hard working and self reliant than her grandparents. It’s meant to show the way that both her mother and her grandparents have an effect and impact on who she is.
For me personally, I almost always choose a physical book over an ebook for the simple fact that I am ADHD and a physical book has a built-in fidget toy that helps me to focus. Ever since I taught myself to read at the tender age of 3 years old (I was jealous that my older brother could read and I couldn't), I have flipped the pages I've already read or have yet to read (whichever is thicker) between my fingers as I read. The sound, touch, and action is soothing and helps me to remain focused on what I'm reading. An ebook does not offer the same thing, and I often find myself getting distracted while reading an ebook, reading in 2 months on a Kindle what I could have read in a single day physically.
I love this! Especially the bits about bookish fakes & fake books. Books on my shelf are my friends & bring me comfort. I still have the copy of Beloved that I bought in the 90’s for my women’s studies class.❤
I read ebooks and listen to audiobooks on my phone through digital libraries because I can’t afford new books or even used books at the amount I read and I have a hard time getting through physical copies. If I did have physical books, my shelves would be lined with at least 50 books on history, politics, and indigenous history/culture but I sacrifice the aesthetic for actually getting to consume the books. But also the only reason I’m able to consume so many books is because I’m allowed to listen to audiobooks at work. Reading is an privilege that sometimes comes at the sacrifice of the aesthetic if you actually care about it
you are so smart and i can tell a lot of work went into the editing and script writing for this video, can't wait to see what you release next! (if you so desire, that is.) just my little addition, but as someone who read a lot in my childhood due to not having anything else to do and very little money, now that i'm undeniably addicted to the internet i find myself feeling ashamed for not picking my hobby for reading back up. i find i am guilty of the "act bookish" aesthetic. it's almost like i forgot how to actually read and now i just have books in my house without ever reading them. not quite sure how to fix it but i think it involves reading if you want to, and not reading if you don't. if those people are forcing themselves through rory gilmore's reading list, it's unlikely they will return to the hobby for real because it's not actually fun if you're just pretending!!! sorry for the long comment, this is just something that has been on my mind for years now and i love that you have made such a succinct yet in-depth essay on the topic!! it was just lovely (*^o^*)
As an avid reader myself, I can say that I don't like big Goodreads goals or fake books or quantity over quality reading. We shouldn't let posers keep us from reading classics and philosophy. Reading good books is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It improves empathy, mental health, and various academic skills. Likewise, regular excercise is important lol. Striving to fight off obesity and have good muscle mass is a good thing. Can these things be pushed too far? Sure, but we should try to form healthy habits.
I'm of two minds here. On the one hand, fakery is never a good color and reducing reading to status is dicey. On the other hand, if books and reading have this cachet, then a certain number of the people buying books and surrounding themselves with bookish things will actually open the books and begin to read, and as many readers can attest, once you open a book, the book has the opportunity to open you.
Holy moly, this was so well done! I'm surprised you don't have a whole roster of videos and a collection of subscribers already! I do hope you make more video essays in this same vein, I can never have too much of them x
Switched to Kindle in 2009 and never looked back. I find physical book people to be obsessed with buying (book haul ya'll!) and showing off their shelves whereas Kindle readers just want to fucking read and enjoy the story and don't feel the need prove anything.
This was a great video! This topic has been interesting to me and I think you’ve articulated the thoughts I’ve had about this subject. One thing I wish our culture, and Booktube in general, would push is going to the library. Libraries are free, have WiFi, and are publicly funded. There is a desire from most readers to have an aesthetic home library or bookshelf, but these things come in due time. Hyper-consumerism has blurred these lines. One thing I would add to this video would be that reading may have a class distinction; however, the lines between socioeconomic classes has closed in. Before major publishers like Penguin and Vintage, the classics were mainly closed off to those who were classically educated (I.e. knew Latin, Greek, and French). When Penguin and the other major publishers started pushing out translations of these works, it closed an educational gap between the socioeconomic classes. I think many people take this for granted, myself included. We live in one of the best times for reading and book buying. We have far greater access to books than at any time in our history. I only fear we take that liberty too lightly. Thank you for the wonderful video and thanks for reading my TED talk.
i love my ereader so much. i still get the opportunity to "flip" and i take notes separately so im thankful that is not lost on me. im not sure what i am trying to communicate about myself here, maybe its just that my ereader has such a pretty cover i am way too proud of to let that go!
loved this video, and i would have loved a section in the history dedicated to reading as a radical and political act, for example women being taught to read and black americans choosing to learn how to read as an act of rebellion and to further the civil rights initiative. i think it would adds an extra layer to the video and as to why some people want to read more and what they choose to read; personally whenever i dont feel like reading my books or even participate in conversations about books, i always think about my ancestors and the efforts it took for me to even be ALLOWED to read.
holy shit amelia who are you and where did you come from and why is this so good. i feel like i've been waiting for this video for like two years without even knowing
When you have scoliosis and several herniated discs that never really heal you can’t really think about the aesthetics of reading a paper book under a tree… my back and neck hurts after one minute. I have a stand for my iPad that makes it possible for me to read without bending my back. I know there are big book stands but they take up so much space and aren’t portable. Another high class thing about books is the space they take up! Whenever I look into the windows of downtown luxury apartments I just see floor to ceiling bookshelves covering the whole living room. I live in a tiny apartment and could never afford to collect books like that, just one bookshelf
I think that the main reason ebooks stopped being popular is because their prices have quickly increased to the point where they couldn't compete with paperbacks. Also, access to them depends on fallible devices and also mainstream stores force DRM. Physical books started competing by more decorative physical books and also discounts and free shipping became a thing, and at the same time, there's a clear opposition in publishing industry to treating ebooks as much more affordable option. Book industry has deliberately suppressed ebooks.
Very interesting video, glad youtube served it up to me, but with the discussion on "owning" books to look bookish, I would've liked to have seen a discussion of the role of public libraries in a digital age as borrowing from them won't necessarily project your bookishness as thoroughly as owning a book outright. Also, could you consider adding links or DOIs to the references in your description? Thank you for adding them and it's obviously not too difficult for me to google the ones I'm interested in, but it would be convenient for anyone interested lol
All of this is so incredibly Bourdieusian -- which is exciting for Bourdieusians as it signifies his continued relevance. His idea of cultural capital and the way it intersects with the assumption of intelligence and high class associated with books and book reading, this performance to the masses of your own intellect -- it's all so crazy that it's still relevant, and it's still happening. People do look down on those who read "Spicy" books because it's not "intellectual" enough, regardless of how popular it is. We as a society just keep replicating the class issue, mainly because these symbols are a reflection of reality for us. Class divides still exist, symbolic violence and misrecognition has to continue to upkeep that.
Would everything we do be scrutinized if social media wasn’t so prevalent? Would we even go to such lengths to project and distort others views of ourselves? The truth is that reading and reading literacy are on the decline and that is a really bad thing. maybe someone reading in public can return to just someone reading in public and it not having any morality attached to it. I enjoyed this video :-) it for sure provides some food for thought
You raised a really interesting idea of e-books like kindle being unpopular because they do not convey the aesthetic of bookishness. I understand the appeal of the physical copies of books, but honestly, when you are really invested in the contect of the book itself, its form doesn't really matter. I've met people who read like enormous number of book a year just for themselves, not for the sake of challenges or anything. They were all using e-books as, when you do read a lot, it becomes much cheaper and comfortable to actually have your entire library in one place easily accessible.
so true, especially about the cost. i read A LOT this year and mostly on my kindle. had i purchased the physical copies of all the books i read, i would have spent over $1200.
This was such an enjoyable video analysis. It actually is true reading has become some sort of physical thing that shows other people that they are cool, it has become a sort of a prop specially on TikTok and ig.
This is such an interesting video, thank you! The class implications of reading are very interesting, I personally am working class and always have been. I fell in love with it when I was tiny and had access to libraries to feed my addiction… these days I often read on my kindle and buy books secondhand and I have never thought that reading and sharing my book thoughts might make me appear to be of a different class.
At 9:15 I was honestly shocked by the lack of responsibility, patience and interest she shows for so many book. This is so sad, and disrespectful of the author and ressources used to make the books. Your video was really interesting ❤
Interesting take! That clip makes me think about the wealth inequality that makes it harder for people who want to buy books they actually like to be able to do that. While the ultra-wealthy (not sure if she's in this category, but she is certainly way more than just comfortable financially) can afford things they don't even want or need, while also hoarding the resources everyone else needs to live. By focusing on the bookish faking, it feels like we're side-stepping the issue of resources. Is Ashley Tisdale herself hurting anyone by buying a bunch of books? Or is the problem that so few have so much, while the rest of us struggle? I'm so grateful the library still exists, it's one of the only equalizing institutions left. Support your libraries! Especially since so many of our houseless neighbors access services there, and things are about to get even harder for the most marginalized communities. It's totally fine to feel annoyed or angry at the phenomenon of bookish fakery, I just want us to save our ire for those who'd watch us all starve as they destroy the earth (billionaires). Who does it benefit to police people's authenticity in their hobbies? Especially since women seem to be the common targets for the "faking bookishness" accusation.
“It was the 2010s. People were wearing owl necklaces…” 😂😂 this was great. Your humor is sublime. 💫 As a life long reader I’ve never understood the fake book thing. If you care enough about looking like an intellectual, why don’t you buy real books and actually read them and become an intellectual? 😅
loved the video. i dont even own a kindle because it is not accesible to me right now so i read on my phone on airplane mode and an epub reading app. i sometimes think people could perceive me as phone addict and i know its ok and it doesnt really matter but it resonated with me. like reading a book would look cooler but buying every book i want to read is just too expensive in my country and i feel the symbol of books is even more elite here because of that.
i love physical books, and i have a mini library in my home. i just wished they weren't so expensive sometimes. i'm the type of person that if i read a book that i bought at full price where something happens in it or how the book ends is something i don't like, i would feel as though i wasted my money buying a book that made me unhappy. which is odd, i understand. that's why i find a free version of it online or find it at my local library, read it, and if i like it well enough, i try my best to save up and buy it to have in my mini library. i've also thrifted books that seems intereseting and are in decent conditions, so even if that book had something or ended in a certain way i didn't necessarily like, i won't feel as bad about spending my money getting it cause at the very most, i probably spent like $1-$4 max on it.
You have me, who can't read e-books do the way I read. It also takes me awhile to finish the book on e-reader as I have to lock it so I can read a page. It is just too sensitive.
Reading has changed in some ways but not on the same timeline. In the nineteenth century (1800s), there was more reading of poetry and it was more of a communal/ familial thing - someone would read aloud and others would listen.
Physical books are good and all when you have bookstores. I remember when I was a kid and the only bookstore we had (Borders) closed. Then the only way to read anything was online.
Extremely interesting and insightful! I definitely have experienced this subculture to a certain degree, although I guess it would be more prevalent on upper class and first world societies that in others that are as detached from books as a whole as they are from many of humanities advancements and knowledge.
Great video. I think it is interesting people now doing something similar with movies, in home or at the theater. If you can now sit through an entire movie rather than a stream of tiktoks, you are somehow superior to a lot of preteens and teens. Books are = to movies or any other form of entertainment to me.
The I-Pad is also an expensive shiny fetishized object, with a 101 distractions from the text built in. Access to content it offers can be revoked by the platform that offers it.
It was during the Victorian era when culture and art were striped from ordinary people to be a hobby for the bourgeoise. Is not a postmodern phenomena. Reading isn't a moral imperative. Is merely another way of expressing ideas. I would certainly recommend to read at least the classics. However I wouldn't recommend to close yourself to the contents of novels, which is what most people read, because most people hate reading science articles which are just as good. tl;dr no, reading a book won't make you smarter than the average joe, more so if you're unable to change a tire.
Great video! I also think there's something to be said about the genre of book that is typically read/associated with on booktok - they're near exclusively smut books that hinge on fanfiction tropes. Very far from the classics associated with 'true' bookishness, but they still seem to be used as a symbol of intellect merely through the fact it is a book. (Not that there's anything wrong with those books, but it is interesting how the identity of being a reader has shifted so much that you don't need to know anything about the literary canon in order to adopt it.)
nice video. i do think it's a bit silly to be overly concerned about this stuff. i dont care if someone fakes bookishness. in my opinion the greater harm is accusing people of being fake based on surface appearance at most. does someone really need to prove they are a reader because all they post about are Rory Gilmore outfits? is it really abnormal that an actress who makes art for a living is interested in other forms of art? besides, faking it a little, as a source of motivation, is normal. if someone is faking it too much, leave it to their close circle to make that observation to them, i dont need to assume it from a distance.
If completing the Rory Gilmore list imparts on you Rory Gilmore’s morals then I am afraid we are all at risk of becoming conceited, classist, self-serving adulterers.
I dislike book instagram / TikTok cuz most influencers are always online posting 🤔🤨 so it’s just a look and idk I think for lots of people it becomes an itch to want to post to show people they are the person who reads (or goes to beach or is at the mall idk) I think social media in general can be used to share but some people are always trying to create an image of themselves online
I am so sad that people will buy books as decor… books that are seen in your library should be accumulated over time. Filled with favorites and well-read books
“By pinning one of Rory Gilmore’s outfits, people can proclaim a nearness to books without actually reading one.” This seems very far fetched.. let people enjoy books or outfits without having to ‘form an intellectual appearance’
Why do you want fake books? Buy the real book, read the freaking thing. I can understand collecting but if that's the only reason you have books that just seems wrong
Also the thing about physical books is that the book you're physically have is all yours, and always will be. It's not dependent on subscriptions, legal problems when something gets deleted, censorship or degrading battery of your said kindle. It is literally ink on a piece of paper and it will be with you for all your life if you take care of it. It's about preservation and ability to re-read something you once read.
All of my many digital books exist in Calibre, backed up ten ways to Sunday. We have to be diligent about stripping the DRM from the books we buy and putting them some place out of the reach of those who may wish to censor. I don't really think this is the problem you think it is.
It's a different kind of ownership but yes, in my opinion physical books are better ✨️
I live in south america and given my economic condition I mostly "pirate" my books because I can't currently afford them (and I refuse to stop reading!), so even the online books are "all mine" until the day my HDD or cellphone stops working as well, but that is a very remote chance of losing it before I make backups...
I still wish I could buy physical books and support the authors, though 😢
Unless, of course, there is a fire.
And even a library system, in which a book is loaned, still has so much trust and integrity within that borrowing relationship as opposed to, say, subscribing to or "purchasing" digital content. I have more confidence in my public library than I do to any predatory corporate platform seeking to "sell" me things.
This video is very well-produced and interesting, but I'm wondering that if by focusing on bookish fakery, we're ignoring the more important and extremely concerning cultural phenomenon of anti-intellectualism, and the fact that people are reading less and less books each year. I have seen those pictures of celebrities holding books and honestly, I think that's rad. I see every type of person read, and I love when I see someone enjoy a book in public. Books aren't just a signal of class, they provide much needed escapism, are windows for empathy, and sources of knowledge that can't be taken from us. That clip of Ashley Tisdale is ridiculous, but kind of good on her for being honest that they'd just bought all of the books. Using that as an example of general bookish fakery doesn't work too well for me, since most people couldn't afford to buy that many books at once, and she's not even trying to fake that the books were hers already. Anything that encourages people to read is a positive for me, and my heart hurts for the generation of students screwed over by "whole language" learning, which sabotaged many kid's ability to be fully literate.
I take it you may of also watched alisha's video "Booktok, Brainrot, and Why It’s Okay to Be a Hater"? I ask because she made some great points on anti-intellectualism and it sounds like you may of watched that one as well! I agree with your comment wholeheartedly.
@@missesbimbeaux Haven't seen that video, but anti-intellectualism has been on the rise for years now if not decades and I've seen other videos and read articles about it.
What that is being produced is worth reading? The market is flooded in shit. And see tons of ads about how easy it is to make a book with AI which tells me it's being used heavily. Welcome to hell.
Reading fewer and fewer books* 🤓👩🏻🏫
Although there is a raise in anti-intellectualism, I don't think reading a book = intellect. You can "gain intellect" from many different sources/media and it doesn't make those who don't like reading less thoughtful. It's like associating ppl who enjoy movies and cinematography with being a mindless, couch potato.
I like having physical books because they don’t have any other distractions built in
Ebook reader also have no other distractions. Thats one of the main reasons my ereader brought me back into reading. Since I bought it in July I've read 25 books, before I read 3 books per year. In my childhood I read like 20 books per month. Ereader definitely rekindled my passion and ironically I read more printed books too.
I was flabbergasted watching that woman talk about how she sent her husband to buy books JUST TO FILL A BOOKSHELF. Like what??? And she talked about it openly.
I see having physical books as like having music on vinyl, where it just adds another layer and ritual to the experience that in my opinion promotes mindfulness and presence. It also creates a more physical connection to the art that we love. You can look at a photo on your phone, but printing it out and hanging it feels like a greater expression of appreciation.
I started reading this year. I have spend my whole life on my phone, so i get so proud of myself when i read a full chapter (hard picking up the book, bad concentration). And I think alot of people put a really high standard on how many books you should read a year, or which to read to be a cool person... I am right now reading a book for 12 year olds about glamour and friendships. It is soooo not me, haha, but I never got to read it as a kid, so i wanna see what i missed.
what im trying to say -- to those who needs to hear it - dont take it too seriusly. The coolest people are those who are honest to themselves and others, who dont copy-paste others, you know?
(its 1.33 at night, it might not make sense..)
Can you share the title of that book, please?
yes!! I’ve really started reading again this year after stopping as a teen and read all kinds of stuff from classics, to harry potter for the first time. people tend to want to categorize themselves online to fit in a specific “niche” even with books and it’s just absurd!
honestly i think people forget the different reasons people read. i can read practically anything depending on my mood. recently i've been in the mood for just fun YA books and i've been enjoying them immensely. if im in the mood for commentary or critique, ill pick up a classic, speculative fiction, or even nonfiction. my favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi because i started reading due to escapism and now its still that as well as my main hobby. good for you to read!!! just go at your own pace and your own reading level. i dont know why everyone makes it a competition or as though you are less intelligent if you read a certain age group or genre. read what you're in the mood for or what makes you happy. thats all that matters.
I’m doing the same but with graphic novels. It was always really hard to get my hands on them when I was a kid but now that I’m an adult and they have become much more accessible I’m reading them like mad. Feels healing!
This is all VERY true. I used to read when I was little and picked it up a few years ago when it was gaining traction again in "media". I asked myself if I wanted to buy books or just get an e-reader. I literally remember choosing the physical books because I wanted to be able to take pics and post about the books I was reading. Fast forward a year later, I had only actually read 2 out of the 70+ books I had bought. Fast forward some years, I sold the majority of the physical copies of my books and just went ahead and bought a phone specifically to use as an e-reader (no service on it, matte screen protector, phone in greyscale mode) and I've gotten through way more books that way. Reading literally to "come off a certain way" is absolutely a problem! Not to mention that I could've also supported my local library as well as opposed to buying up books, which is now something that I also do if I do want the physical copy of a book in hand. This also helps for when I travel, I can simply take my e-reader.
It is such a problem! It just reeks of insecurity and a desire to separate oneself from the “herd”. Also, one thing I’ve learned is that reading doesn’t have to be such a grave, boring, solemn thing. It can be FUN, which is something that a lot of people are forgetting to mention when talking about the importance of reading. I feel as if we here in America are socialized to look down on “fun” and only do things that have “use value” or utility. For a lot of people, reading is less about having a fun time and exploring new worlds and more about complete some stupid goal, looking superior to others, getting a job or whatever, etc.
Ebooks are wonderful for those of us with poor vision. Same with audiobooks. You still experienced the story, and don't have to add more bookshelves. I still have tons of physical books, but they are mostly nonfiction. I use ebooks for fiction reading on my tablet.
I only listen to audiobooks now because it is the most comfortable way for me to consume literature. Reading too much gives me terrible headaches.
And for other disabilties too.
I still remember one 800 page novel that made me glad that I bought the ebook version instead of the physical lmao. I wouldn't want to bring a brick everywhere.
I'd like to mention that most libraries have large print editions of a lot of books and are happy to order in on request! Means you get a physical book that's easier to read and don't have to own it.
@@connie6738 They also have a very large ebook selection. I use those more than anything. After 50 years of reading, I have no need to hold a book in my hand. The tablet works best for me.
I feel like Gilmore Girls makes it very clear that Rory’s “bookishness” wasn’t enough because in her senior year she realized this and had a freak out where she tried to make connections and join additional extracurriculars. She also knew that a school like Chilton would give her an upper hand. I think she ultimately felt that there was no shame in using her connections unlike Lorelai, and that’s meant to show differences in their character. Rory will accept help more readily than her mother who prides herself on hard work, and she is also more hard working and self reliant than her grandparents. It’s meant to show the way that both her mother and her grandparents have an effect and impact on who she is.
For me personally, I almost always choose a physical book over an ebook for the simple fact that I am ADHD and a physical book has a built-in fidget toy that helps me to focus. Ever since I taught myself to read at the tender age of 3 years old (I was jealous that my older brother could read and I couldn't), I have flipped the pages I've already read or have yet to read (whichever is thicker) between my fingers as I read. The sound, touch, and action is soothing and helps me to remain focused on what I'm reading. An ebook does not offer the same thing, and I often find myself getting distracted while reading an ebook, reading in 2 months on a Kindle what I could have read in a single day physically.
I love this! Especially the bits about bookish fakes & fake books.
Books on my shelf are my friends & bring me comfort. I still have the copy of Beloved that I bought in the 90’s for my women’s studies class.❤
I read ebooks and listen to audiobooks on my phone through digital libraries because I can’t afford new books or even used books at the amount I read and I have a hard time getting through physical copies. If I did have physical books, my shelves would be lined with at least 50 books on history, politics, and indigenous history/culture but I sacrifice the aesthetic for actually getting to consume the books. But also the only reason I’m able to consume so many books is because I’m allowed to listen to audiobooks at work. Reading is an privilege that sometimes comes at the sacrifice of the aesthetic if you actually care about it
you are so smart and i can tell a lot of work went into the editing and script writing for this video, can't wait to see what you release next! (if you so desire, that is.)
just my little addition, but as someone who read a lot in my childhood due to not having anything else to do and very little money, now that i'm undeniably addicted to the internet i find myself feeling ashamed for not picking my hobby for reading back up. i find i am guilty of the "act bookish" aesthetic. it's almost like i forgot how to actually read and now i just have books in my house without ever reading them. not quite sure how to fix it but i think it involves reading if you want to, and not reading if you don't. if those people are forcing themselves through rory gilmore's reading list, it's unlikely they will return to the hobby for real because it's not actually fun if you're just pretending!!!
sorry for the long comment, this is just something that has been on my mind for years now and i love that you have made such a succinct yet in-depth essay on the topic!! it was just lovely (*^o^*)
Aw thank you this is so nice!! :)
As an avid reader myself, I can say that I don't like big Goodreads goals or fake books or quantity over quality reading. We shouldn't let posers keep us from reading classics and philosophy. Reading good books is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It improves empathy, mental health, and various academic skills. Likewise, regular excercise is important lol. Striving to fight off obesity and have good muscle mass is a good thing. Can these things be pushed too far? Sure, but we should try to form healthy habits.
I'm of two minds here. On the one hand, fakery is never a good color and reducing reading to status is dicey. On the other hand, if books and reading have this cachet, then a certain number of the people buying books and surrounding themselves with bookish things will actually open the books and begin to read, and as many readers can attest, once you open a book, the book has the opportunity to open you.
Holy moly, this was so well done! I'm surprised you don't have a whole roster of videos and a collection of subscribers already! I do hope you make more video essays in this same vein, I can never have too much of them x
Thank you so much!
'May I never be perfect. Maybe self-improvement isn't the answer, maybe self-destruction is the answer. The lower you fall, the higher you'll fly.'
Switched to Kindle in 2009 and never looked back. I find physical book people to be obsessed with buying (book haul ya'll!) and showing off their shelves whereas Kindle readers just want to fucking read and enjoy the story and don't feel the need prove anything.
Good for you!
This was a great video! This topic has been interesting to me and I think you’ve articulated the thoughts I’ve had about this subject. One thing I wish our culture, and Booktube in general, would push is going to the library. Libraries are free, have WiFi, and are publicly funded. There is a desire from most readers to have an aesthetic home library or bookshelf, but these things come in due time. Hyper-consumerism has blurred these lines. One thing I would add to this video would be that reading may have a class distinction; however, the lines between socioeconomic classes has closed in. Before major publishers like Penguin and Vintage, the classics were mainly closed off to those who were classically educated (I.e. knew Latin, Greek, and French). When Penguin and the other major publishers started pushing out translations of these works, it closed an educational gap between the socioeconomic classes. I think many people take this for granted, myself included. We live in one of the best times for reading and book buying. We have far greater access to books than at any time in our history. I only fear we take that liberty too lightly. Thank you for the wonderful video and thanks for reading my TED talk.
i love my ereader so much. i still get the opportunity to "flip" and i take notes separately so im thankful that is not lost on me. im not sure what i am trying to communicate about myself here, maybe its just that my ereader has such a pretty cover i am way too proud of to let that go!
loved this video, and i would have loved a section in the history dedicated to reading as a radical and political act, for example women being taught to read and black americans choosing to learn how to read as an act of rebellion and to further the civil rights initiative. i think it would adds an extra layer to the video and as to why some people want to read more and what they choose to read; personally whenever i dont feel like reading my books or even participate in conversations about books, i always think about my ancestors and the efforts it took for me to even be ALLOWED to read.
holy shit amelia who are you and where did you come from and why is this so good. i feel like i've been waiting for this video for like two years without even knowing
20 likes is criminal
omg THANK YOU this is so nice !!
When you have scoliosis and several herniated discs that never really heal you can’t really think about the aesthetics of reading a paper book under a tree… my back and neck hurts after one minute. I have a stand for my iPad that makes it possible for me to read without bending my back. I know there are big book stands but they take up so much space and aren’t portable. Another high class thing about books is the space they take up! Whenever I look into the windows of downtown luxury apartments I just see floor to ceiling bookshelves covering the whole living room. I live in a tiny apartment and could never afford to collect books like that, just one bookshelf
This was a great video! Well edited and excellently communicated, you should make more :)
I think that the main reason ebooks stopped being popular is because their prices have quickly increased to the point where they couldn't compete with paperbacks.
Also, access to them depends on fallible devices and also mainstream stores force DRM.
Physical books started competing by more decorative physical books and also discounts and free shipping became a thing, and at the same time, there's a clear opposition in publishing industry to treating ebooks as much more affordable option.
Book industry has deliberately suppressed ebooks.
I highly recommend checking out John B. Thompson’s “Book Wars”! His research on this subject is really excellent :)
Very interesting video, glad youtube served it up to me, but with the discussion on "owning" books to look bookish, I would've liked to have seen a discussion of the role of public libraries in a digital age as borrowing from them won't necessarily project your bookishness as thoroughly as owning a book outright. Also, could you consider adding links or DOIs to the references in your description? Thank you for adding them and it's obviously not too difficult for me to google the ones I'm interested in, but it would be convenient for anyone interested lol
u make an interesting point abt the libraries
Just added the links! And really interesting point! :))
This is beautifully done!
One of the reasons I love kindle and ebooks is that the classics are really cheap. You can buy the complete works of an author for a few dollars.
All of this is so incredibly Bourdieusian -- which is exciting for Bourdieusians as it signifies his continued relevance. His idea of cultural capital and the way it intersects with the assumption of intelligence and high class associated with books and book reading, this performance to the masses of your own intellect -- it's all so crazy that it's still relevant, and it's still happening. People do look down on those who read "Spicy" books because it's not "intellectual" enough, regardless of how popular it is. We as a society just keep replicating the class issue, mainly because these symbols are a reflection of reality for us. Class divides still exist, symbolic violence and misrecognition has to continue to upkeep that.
What a wonderful video! Loved this.
Such an enjoyable watch !!
This video was great and also reminded my to go to the library to pick up my hold (which expired today!) so thank you!
Would everything we do be scrutinized if social media wasn’t so prevalent? Would we even go to such lengths to project and distort others views of ourselves? The truth is that reading and reading literacy are on the decline and that is a really bad thing.
maybe someone reading in public can return to just someone reading in public and it not having any morality attached to it.
I enjoyed this video :-) it for sure provides some food for thought
You raised a really interesting idea of e-books like kindle being unpopular because they do not convey the aesthetic of bookishness. I understand the appeal of the physical copies of books, but honestly, when you are really invested in the contect of the book itself, its form doesn't really matter. I've met people who read like enormous number of book a year just for themselves, not for the sake of challenges or anything. They were all using e-books as, when you do read a lot, it becomes much cheaper and comfortable to actually have your entire library in one place easily accessible.
so true, especially about the cost. i read A LOT this year and mostly on my kindle. had i purchased the physical copies of all the books i read, i would have spent over $1200.
This was such an enjoyable video analysis. It actually is true reading has become some sort of physical thing that shows other people that they are cool, it has become a sort of a prop specially on TikTok and ig.
As an avid bookworm since a kid cause I had no friends… it’s so bizarre to see how trendy books are now.
Excellent video Amelia!! Fascinating perspective, and a flawless execution! Wonderful!
I don't know what kind of videos you're posting in the future but if they are anything like this one I'M IN ✨️✨️
Got a couple more on this topic in the works!!
Super cool video with compelling editing and arguments. Subscribed!
This was very well put together! I SO wish that the same love for physical books could be extended to other forms of physical media as well.
This is such an interesting video, thank you! The class implications of reading are very interesting, I personally am working class and always have been. I fell in love with it when I was tiny and had access to libraries to feed my addiction… these days I often read on my kindle and buy books secondhand and I have never thought that reading and sharing my book thoughts might make me appear to be of a different class.
Amelia, this is fantastic!
Christi and I watched this and we loved it 🥺💖 You're so smart pls make more🙈
omg!!!
At 9:15 I was honestly shocked by the lack of responsibility, patience and interest she shows for so many book. This is so sad, and disrespectful of the author and ressources used to make the books.
Your video was really interesting ❤
Interesting take! That clip makes me think about the wealth inequality that makes it harder for people who want to buy books they actually like to be able to do that. While the ultra-wealthy (not sure if she's in this category, but she is certainly way more than just comfortable financially) can afford things they don't even want or need, while also hoarding the resources everyone else needs to live. By focusing on the bookish faking, it feels like we're side-stepping the issue of resources. Is Ashley Tisdale herself hurting anyone by buying a bunch of books? Or is the problem that so few have so much, while the rest of us struggle? I'm so grateful the library still exists, it's one of the only equalizing institutions left. Support your libraries! Especially since so many of our houseless neighbors access services there, and things are about to get even harder for the most marginalized communities. It's totally fine to feel annoyed or angry at the phenomenon of bookish fakery, I just want us to save our ire for those who'd watch us all starve as they destroy the earth (billionaires). Who does it benefit to police people's authenticity in their hobbies? Especially since women seem to be the common targets for the "faking bookishness" accusation.
“It was the 2010s. People were wearing owl necklaces…” 😂😂 this was great. Your humor is sublime. 💫
As a life long reader I’ve never understood the fake book thing. If you care enough about looking like an intellectual, why don’t you buy real books and actually read them and become an intellectual? 😅
What a great essay video!
Great video! You have a talent for this sort of essay.
A really good video. Hope you plan to make more!
I love my e-reader and I love getting free books on it from my library.
It was a great video, I like your opinion.
Espero que subas mas videos.
Sick Gilmore girls breakdown!
loved the video.
i dont even own a kindle because it is not accesible to me right now so i read on my phone on airplane mode and an epub reading app. i sometimes think people could perceive me as phone addict and i know its ok and it doesnt really matter but it resonated with me. like reading a book would look cooler but buying every book i want to read is just too expensive in my country and i feel the symbol of books is even more elite here because of that.
very well done!
i love physical books, and i have a mini library in my home. i just wished they weren't so expensive sometimes. i'm the type of person that if i read a book that i bought at full price where something happens in it or how the book ends is something i don't like, i would feel as though i wasted my money buying a book that made me unhappy. which is odd, i understand. that's why i find a free version of it online or find it at my local library, read it, and if i like it well enough, i try my best to save up and buy it to have in my mini library. i've also thrifted books that seems intereseting and are in decent conditions, so even if that book had something or ended in a certain way i didn't necessarily like, i won't feel as bad about spending my money getting it cause at the very most, i probably spent like $1-$4 max on it.
You have me, who can't read e-books do the way I read. It also takes me awhile to finish the book on e-reader as I have to lock it so I can read a page. It is just too sensitive.
It's not the virtue that's the problem - it's the signaling.
Reading has changed in some ways but not on the same timeline. In the nineteenth century (1800s), there was more reading of poetry and it was more of a communal/ familial thing - someone would read aloud and others would listen.
As a book reader, I do not feel the urge to post my outfit on the internet.
When I read I'm usually in my comfy clothes. 😂. Holes, stains so comfortable
Well done!
Me, as a bookworm, who just wants to disappear into a book without techy & social (message popup) distractions.... XD
Interesting video essay, thanks!
Physical books are good and all when you have bookstores. I remember when I was a kid and the only bookstore we had (Borders) closed. Then the only way to read anything was online.
who's watching in 2024 👀
Well, so far, literally all of us.
Extremely interesting and insightful! I definitely have experienced this subculture to a certain degree, although I guess it would be more prevalent on upper class and first world societies that in others that are as detached from books as a whole as they are from many of humanities advancements and knowledge.
Great video
Great video. I think it is interesting people now doing something similar with movies, in home or at the theater. If you can now sit through an entire movie rather than a stream of tiktoks, you are somehow superior to a lot of preteens and teens. Books are = to movies or any other form of entertainment to me.
LOVE!
excellent video.
In short, I care.
Great video! Subbed ✌🏽
MAKE MORE VIDEOS THIS IS GREAT!
Top tier video essay 💖
Audiobooks from the library not mentioned😢 They my besties
The I-Pad is also an expensive shiny fetishized object, with a 101 distractions from the text built in. Access to content it offers can be revoked by the platform that offers it.
great video!!
i love this
It was during the Victorian era when culture and art were striped from ordinary people to be a hobby for the bourgeoise. Is not a postmodern phenomena. Reading isn't a moral imperative. Is merely another way of expressing ideas. I would certainly recommend to read at least the classics. However I wouldn't recommend to close yourself to the contents of novels, which is what most people read, because most people hate reading science articles which are just as good. tl;dr no, reading a book won't make you smarter than the average joe, more so if you're unable to change a tire.
Man, this is so interesting and intellectual that becomes almost hot🤷🏻♂️ Keep up with it!
Very cool video.
Awesome awesome video
I like physical books because my eyes hurt from looking at the text on the screen
Great video! I also think there's something to be said about the genre of book that is typically read/associated with on booktok - they're near exclusively smut books that hinge on fanfiction tropes. Very far from the classics associated with 'true' bookishness, but they still seem to be used as a symbol of intellect merely through the fact it is a book. (Not that there's anything wrong with those books, but it is interesting how the identity of being a reader has shifted so much that you don't need to know anything about the literary canon in order to adopt it.)
nice video. i do think it's a bit silly to be overly concerned about this stuff. i dont care if someone fakes bookishness. in my opinion the greater harm is accusing people of being fake based on surface appearance at most. does someone really need to prove they are a reader because all they post about are Rory Gilmore outfits? is it really abnormal that an actress who makes art for a living is interested in other forms of art? besides, faking it a little, as a source of motivation, is normal. if someone is faking it too much, leave it to their close circle to make that observation to them, i dont need to assume it from a distance.
What's the difference from reading an article and listening to a video essay?
If completing the Rory Gilmore list imparts on you Rory Gilmore’s morals then I am afraid we are all at risk of becoming conceited, classist, self-serving adulterers.
I dislike book instagram / TikTok cuz most influencers are always online posting 🤔🤨 so it’s just a look and idk I think for lots of people it becomes an itch to want to post to show people they are the person who reads (or goes to beach or is at the mall idk) I think social media in general can be used to share but some people are always trying to create an image of themselves online
I am so sad that people will buy books as decor… books that are seen in your library should be accumulated over time. Filled with favorites and well-read books
Most of true readers (scholars, me) read on screen
Superb video essay- we need more of you
I LOVEEEEEE
hehehe thanks 4 watching :D
I got lost in a forest after dark and used my kindle to light the way to the highway where I hitchhiked home 10/10 would have died without it
fire
Why everytimz I find a good intelligent youtuber they only make videos every few years
got another one in the works!! :)
@@ameliamcclux That so great ! I am hitting the notification bell to make sure I dont miss it. Hope the channel will grow !
Deep reading is not promoted as attractive.
TLDR;
READING MAKES YOU HOT - emma chamberlain
“By pinning one of Rory Gilmore’s outfits, people can proclaim a nearness to books without actually reading one.”
This seems very far fetched.. let people enjoy books or outfits without having to ‘form an intellectual appearance’
Why do you want fake books? Buy the real book, read the freaking thing. I can understand collecting but if that's the only reason you have books that just seems wrong
this video was great, but it maybe could have used more ice spice
I'll keep that in mind
It could also be that I can't fucking stand staring at a screen and reading for hours on end?
Come to say this