As an English teacher I 100% agree we shouldn't force kids to read classics. We should be reading books that they can relate to/enjoy which opens the door for them to fall in love with reading and potentially the classics down the road. I'm 29 now and just beginning to appreciate the classics.
So true!, I starter ti read again this year after almost seven years without reading and last month i started The Lord of The Rings, wich i dumped whem i was 14 bcs can't read, now i just enjoy everything from the style to pacing and the way Tolkien slowly sets everything up. I still want to read, this year, Dune (before de movie came out) and Ana Karenina. Read classics is so much better whem you go for spontaneously
I think it should be a little of both. “Classics” are there as a good history into a genre or just the thinking of the time. It’s interesting to compare let’s say “classic sci-if” to “modern sci-fi” and see what’s changed culturally (if you’re comparing books that talk about a similar topic like technological advancement or race or what have you). But yeah, don’t force kids to read. This isn’t books, but I think it would be interesting to have an “English class” that let you choose to analyze books or movies or both. Not everyone will like reading, even if it’s not forced. But analyzing movies can be an interesting skill.
I remember back in high-school I used to dread English, mainly didn't like the class being assigned a book and having to read it over time. I didn't read back then, I thought it was boring, that changed lol. But the one exception to this was the outsiders, I remember me and most my buddies really liked that book and used to talk about it a bit and make Jokes about the characters, it kind of resonated with a lot of the class, the people who didn't like reading or hated it genuinely enjoyed that book especially when we read it during class. I can't say the same about any others though. Wish I had more of an open mind back then, would have liked to connect more with my English teacher back then beyond just being a class clown and making her laugh n stuff. Hindsight though eh.
I have a bachelor's in English Literature, and when you said "sometimes when people are forced to read things for school and so they no longer enjoy reading", I FELT that. It took me YEARS after graduating to pick up books again for enjoyment and I'm so glad I did! Reading fatigue is real, breaks are 100% okay. Makes the comeback to reading for fun that much better!
I was just about to post this exact comment. I remember being 18 months out of my lit degree, picking up a book and having the dawning realisation that reading could be, like, fun?!
I did engineering in college. Hats off to you for sticking with your English degree. I had to take an English course as a requirement freshman year. Hardest course ever. Calc 4 was easier for me. Just curious, what kind of job does an English degree land you?
@@Wordsalad69420 Thank you! It was difficult, but it was honestly a lot of fun too! I work as a technical writer currently but finishing up my masters soon with a concentration in medieval works.
My 7th grade teacher killed my love of reading. She had us read from a list of non fiction, historical fiction, or some books she thought had a “moral to be learned.” I didn’t read for about 4 years. I finally got back into reading late in high school with Game of Thrones. That series will always have a special place with me for that.
Daniel in the library: *looks up from his book. Sees someone open their phone. Checks watch and writes down the time. Gets back to reading until he notices them close their phone again *
The weirdest thing happened to me. I got into a literature degree, was forced to read more, and started enjoying it MORE. But yeah, reading assignments in school were horrible here as well. The books were terrible and the teachers couldn't get us engaged with any of them.
I’m alone in life and in this room I’m a nihilistic nothing matters there’s no point of anything we’re just smart monkeys who made electricity damn Daniel we need to talk
What I would do for some teachers was think of it like a predictive strategy game, I would try and predict the main talking points that professor would pick, and pick counter points, etc... I did pretty well and it helped my mind stay focused, but your mileage may vary.
In college I made it a point to read for personal enjoyment. Other students would ask how I had time to do so. I just took the time to do it. Yes, I had lots of other reading to do, but my personal reading was one of the ways I took study breaks. You CAN balance required reading and personal reading.
@@Rogue_VI if you've spend the whole evening reading books for your career .honestly reading more in your break sound really bad.... if I have read all evening it doesn't matter how much I want to read another kind of books, My eyes will stop me from doing it
@@matias_rgt1429 I always made it a point, and still do, to have some "me" reading time, even when I have to read a lot for work. That doesn't necessarily mean I read every day, but I do read more days than not.
@@mischarowe The alarm on most phones usually go off with sound even when muted :-D, best feature ever, that way I never need to have my phone's sound turned on
As a reader with ADD and knows many people with ADD who feel like "Its impossible for them to read" heres some of my advice. Try and make a quota of two chapters a day but dont do it all at once since unless you're on medication you will most likely get distracted. One chapter in the afternoon during say lunch, and then the second chapter during or around dinner. Two chapters a day is a steady pace for most books on the bookshelf and you can finish or at least get close to finishing one book per week depending on size.
I'm dyslexic and it takes me so long to read just one page never mind a chapter, I've recently started using audible and I'm now on book four of the wheel of time, I now only read an actual book if it's a standalone
Mk. Rowe I’ve heard a couple dyslexic friends say that helped them a lot. Also reading along with the audio book, in the beginning, helped them. One person did that with the fist page of every reading session the whole time I knew her. She said that by the end of that first page she was ready to start reading faster than the narrator.
I'm also dyslexic and found reading took forever. What I tend to do is listen to the audiobook and read along with the book. So rather than reading about a book a year (which is bad given I love to write) I've read about 20-odd this year. I find reading along with an audiobook massively helps with my comprehension of what I'm reading too.
Instead of a book store, returning readers should hit up their local public library! It's free & you don't have to feel guilty if you don't finish a book. I helped a young patron a little while ago. She had a few books she was interested in, but was worried she'd pick a book for her summer reading that was boring. She was shocked when I told her she *didn't have to finish every book*! I could see the wheels turning in her head. I showed her the shelves and said, "We have all of these if you don't like that one. You don't have to force yourself to read a book you don't enjoy- when we have all these others you might like more." I'm so glad you mentioned that! I've read interviews with Neil Gaiman where he explained that graphic novels-despite not being as wordy as other books- work as an "entrance drug" to reading. I fully agree. Kids should be helped to find *anything* they'll read to show them the worlds that open up to them... And I wish more adults realized the library is there and free, and that we even have different ways to experience books so people can enjoy them whatever way works best for them...
I recently got a job that allows me to read 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. This channels recommendations will help a lot for the mass of books I'm going to be shredding through!
After suffering a massive stroke in January 2016, I lost the ability to hold and read a physical book. My vision was decimated and with my glasses I only have 30% of my overall vision - all of it through my left eye, really. So, I've had to get used to a Kindle, and audio books. However, from 1978 -2015, I'd read over 5K books. I loved to read. Unfortunately, I have forced myself to finish some books based on hype (Dune for one), but no longer. Life is too short. Loving these videos, kiddo; very relatable!
So happy I found your channel. I was a huge reader as a kid, like, the kid that would walk around school with my nose in a book, kept one on my school desk all day for any second I could get in between lessons, then came home and sat in a chair and just continued reading all evening until my parents forced the book out of my hands. I would read 300+ page books in two days, sometimes one on a weekend. I would get stacks of books for my birthday, parents driving me back and forth to the library every week, bookstores were my favourite place in the world. This came to a screeching halt when I went to uni, and I had to do academic reading, and between that and other things I just found I didn't have time or energy anymore. But I never let go of the idea that I was a 'reader', and continued to buy and buy and buy books that I swore I was going to 'get round to reading eventually'. Yet every time I picked one up I would pressure myself to do what I did as a kid and sit for hours and churn through half of it in one afternoon like I used to. I don't have that stamina anymore, and I don't have that time. Reading now competes with video games, tv, socialising, studying (my MA degree is significantly more work than like, high school was lol) all sorts of stuff I didn't do as much of as a 10 or 14 or even 17 year old, and that I genuinely enjoy and also want to put time into. Because of that, for a few years now I just haven't been reading at all because of that thought that I don't have time to sit down and get through a book in a couple of days. Additionally, looking at my bookshelf and the absolute plethora of books I now own and haven't read yet is so intimidating. I don't think I've finished a book since I was maybe 18 (I'm turning 22 next week), and my bookshelf has gone from being my trophy case to a guilt-filled wall of all the money I've spent on books I just haven't even started. It was only after finding your channel and remembering my love for reading and especially fantasy that I thought, why am I putting all these time-limits and pressures on myself? Yes, I own a gazillion books, but I don't actually have any need to get through them in a certain amount of time. And even if I read only one or two chapters a few days in the week, I'll still get through the books quicker than if I try to find time to plow through 200 pages in one sitting, because that's so never going to happen anymore. So, partly thanks to your channel and enthusiasm for reading, that's what I've started doing - bedtime ritual of two chapters just before I go to sleep most nights. And this might slowly increase over time anyway! But for now, super happy to have rediscovered what's important about reading - actually reading! And enjoying it! Maybe one day I'll get to the point where the bookshelf consists of more finished than unread books like it used to. Until then, happy reading!
So in school they tried to force me to read many “essential” books and my fantasy/scifi little brain didn’t wanted to, and since the education system its absolute trash in my country, I didn’t. I would just read a one page summary of the book and get a good grade at the test, so I went through the entire school reading the total amount of like two books (some times we were able to pick the books we wanted to read). I thought I hated reading. Then by many recommendations online I decided to pick up Mistborn and by now, since I finished school 3 years ago, I have read 39 books, currently reading 3 at the same time and with 9 to go in my 2020 challenge. So yeah, school sucks, reading is awesome.
PootatoTree All my life I did things like that, like watching 3 series at a time, reading 3 different comics and everything. Even now during quarantine im learning to program in python, c++ and c#. So I don’t now, I find it harder deciding which one to go on with than trying remembering who is who and whats happening. Obviously I have a limit, Im reading Oathbringer and Im not going to start The Wheel of Time until I have finished RoW, thats just asking for your head to explode.
Ironically for me public school is what got me to tolerate books, which led to me eventually finding enjoyment in reading. It also helped that they provided food and wouldn't take it away if I decided against reading.
I feel that. I wanted to read Lord of the Rings this month but my school said you can't. And now I have to read 4 books I would never heard of if my school didn't obligated me (sorry if my English isn't very good it's not my first language)
The book that got me back into reading was actually I Am Legend (my favorite shorter novel!) But I hadn't read for fun in YEARS because of the required reading in school, so I found I Am Legend and saw that it wasn't too much of a commitment time-wise and it got me right back into reading again! Love this video!
When I read a book and enjoy it, I tend to get lost in it and can plow through an 800 page novel in a day or two. I've been forced to get a lot of my books in audio format so I can keep my hands busy (during menial 'round-the-house-jobs or while driving; following the wife around a store...with audiobooks I've blasted through hundreds of books this year (I do re-read books that I enjoy) I actually read Tarzan at age 11 while sitting in a tree :). When I read (actual book/ereader) the wife has caught me standing in the garage at 2AM
I am so recognizing myself in this I walked (and rode my bike) to and from school while reading a book( audiobooks are so much safer lol) and I could get away with listing my books at my work.. and its amazing while in traffic or public transport
As someone who is close with teachers, the books that you're told to read in school are literally books that stuffy old men decided are required. Some are actually interesting reads but, in general, teachers are given a list of books to pick from to teach that year. Interestingly enough, this is why in high school, my sophomore year we read the book 13 Reasons Why instead of MacBeth. The teachers reasoning was that we get forcefed so much Shakespear every other year that she wanted to give us a break, and honestly, going through that book in a classroom setting was actually really helpful for a lot of the kids in the class
During high school, my English teachers would often spice things up a bit by giving a select number of students a character they'd encapsulate while they read the in between stuff. It was actually pretty fun and it helped make it a lot less boring.
I mean, the classics are good and important, but we should just enjoy reading whatever we want and not feel forced to read something we don't like. However, there are times when books are difficult to read but it feels like an accomplishment to finish them, mine was Moby Dick, it was a chore, but once I finished I felt great and I actually enjoyed it (not immensely though). Let's just all have fun and enjoy reading lol.
@@JLchevz oh, I agree. Classics are classics for a reason. But if someone sits me down and tries to make me read Kafkas metamorphosis again, I'll bleed out my eyes
Yeah it took me almost two years after finishing college to enjoy reading again, I started with comics, then pick up some novellas and now I'm reading 3 books at the same time, also watching booktubers like you make me be excited to read again!
I think people tend to underestimate the importance of short breaks when reading. I know I used to have a bad habit of reading for half an hour and getting worn out but pushing through to get to the arbitrary hour mark, which led to me reading at a much slower pace and losing the motivation to read at all for the rest of the day. This would result in 30 pages over an hour read for the entire day. Now I'm able to recognize when I need to recover and give myself 5-15 minutes of anything else to just reset my brain before carrying on and I'm reading at a faster pace for more hours of the day. It's a very small thing but it's so important.
It's funny for me to see everyone sharing trick on how to read more. If I decide to read something, it's either gonna be done in a couple days or it's not gonna be done because I think it's shit.
I stopped reading for years.. because of my eyesight and mental health (stress made my eyes sight very bad ) I used to go everywhere with 1 or 2 books last Feb I started listing to audiobooks again and I have listened to 108 books since then.
@@Rendref i ment 2020.. I was on a average of 1 book a day untill summer vacation started in juli and my daughter was home all day. And now we do arts and other fun stuff. I can be out of bed max 5 hours a day the rest I'm stuck in bed and I listen to books crochet draw or play games while listing. I make breakfast and wave my daughter good by to school rest make lunch and clean as much as my back and energy alow me to and rest again then when she gets from school we drink tea or lemonade and chat or do other stuff or she does her own thing and at 17 my husband comes home and I break off and lay down again.. this is my ritme per day and I dont sleep much so I listen to books to avoid bleu light/screen time. So that atleast a full 12 hours I can spend on a book. If I want i also watch series or movies and TH-cam. So aka I barely have a life outside the little fam life I have atm. ( I have chronic pain from a worn out back+ hernia since I was 28🤷♀️ )
@@Rendref i listen in regular speed i love books like the Dresden files because james acts out every voice and emotion but when i listen to chick flick urban fantasy the narrator's arnt as good and i sometimes fall asleep 🤣🤣 when i need to count or think i cant listen properly so i either rewind or stop. I dont listen when im with my husband but when he games im in the same room but with 1 earbud in and with some art. a day is ling when you only sleep 3 hours and are stuck in bed. Its bin 7 years and reading/listing is better then my wow addiction. I played 16 hours a day and you cant pauze a raid.. so my child comes first im never on my phone when she is around ( accept in the car for loooooong drives i snooze off with a book and the sound of the engine thats heaven right there ) on double speed i can't fully enjoy and boring books i dnf its like riding as a pasenger on a motorcycle through the most beautiful terrain and your going way to fast to see the sights. Drink in the tranquility or apricate it. But i have on occasion when i re read the first entries in a series to familiarize myself again with the story lines i can fast forward a few minutes if its boring or akward or cringe Cuz since listing when your also doing art its no real effort its easier to waist time on pulp. Check my good reads i listen to all the dresden files again i just finshed the witcher series but i also listened to advised series....😬 and a lot where pulp for shure. shayne silvers all 3 series + the iron druid chronicles and i even read 26 janet evanovich stephanie plum series (romance stuff) because I started that years ago left at book 9 and i have a ocd about finishing even when its pulp not realizing it had 27 books.....🤯. As long as a book isnt boring i finsh it. I quit on the weel of time when i was 16 in book 2 but i have to try again i guess. I have a to read list with better book on it brandon sanderson for sure and pratchett some Abercrombie and mark Lawrence. But when you do not have an abundance of time edit your to read list. Make sure the book has good ratings or sparks interest and enjoy it savoring the story on normal speed and edit or dnf the rest. Time is precious.
@@Rendref aaahhh that's cool man I get that. I can't stand slow speakers I get antsy so I guess that's how you experiance narrators. Do you do at double speed or 1.5 ? Do you have narrators you do like the speed of ? Who are your best narrators ? I like accents myself so when I listened to iron druid I liked the Irish a lot I think that was leek Daniel's. James marsters is my fav though I met him at Amsterdam comic con 6 years ago I was sk flustered and made a fool of myself but he signed my first Dresden book
@@Rendref i heard the kramer and reading couple names so kuch the last few weeks that i found booktube. I will have to listen to wot now and joe Abercrombie is on my tbr list already ill screenshot the comment to look them up. Thanks for the awesome conversation btw ive just found booktube and realy got inspired to go back to epic high fantasy some grimdark shit and just good writing instead of just getting by with pulp and chicklit.
I don't usually like reading fantasy or sci-fi, but my spouse is a very big fan. This video has encouraged me to start listening to The Wheel of Time. I had tried reading, but it didn't grab me, because I usually read sociology or psychology text books. My spouse is super happy now, because I'm finally ready to get into this story. Thanks to you I'm looking forward to seeing the series on screen as well. I'm not into reading fantasy, but I love your videos. Thanks 🙃
Honestly watching booktube has lead me to read more. When u surround yourself with other readers you want to read more. I didn’t read much anymore but when I found Daniel and Murphy’s channels my love of reading came back. Because of booktube I’ve read 38 books since the new year started
I don’t think I thoroughly enjoy a required book in school until my senior year in high school. Coincidentally, that was shortly after I started reading for fun again. Also, my teachers provided a quality audiobook for us (not one of the monotone versions) to read with if we wanted. I don’t know if those two things had any connection to why I loved that book so much or if it was just the story itself that I found more interesting. (It also might have helped that it was a more recent book-one published while I’ve been alive.)
When I was in first year of highschool, I had an asignment to do after reading a book of our choice (I chose a fantasy one of course XD, The Wardstone Chronicles #1). I had to make a quiz to give another reader of that book. And I don't remember why, but I really really didn't want to make the quiz. So my dad, who didn't read books so much, told me that if I did the quiz, he would read the book and try to answer the questions. It encouraged me so much! And to this day, he is still reading this books series, which is still ongoing. 🤍
As much as I like LoTR lore and mythology, movies and games, the actual books were a struggle for my ADHD brain. The pacing was so slow I would zone out at nearly every page and have to reread it several times to absorb it, slowing it down even more. I managed to get through all 3 but it took me literal years and several breaks. I don’t regret it but I don’t think I would ever reread it
I used to read full books a day. I had a massive book that has around five 350 page books and I’d read one every day. Now it’s been so long that I can only do 40-50 pages a day. A chapter is good enough and that feels so sad. It’s like reading as a skill is something I only use to finish school stuff faster. I need to return to my glory (7-7)
I go through moods. Start of this year, I did nothing but read. Read 50 books already. Helps that if my job is quiet, I can sit back and read in-between workload coming in. But last two months, been in the gaming mood again. Been playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition (played them back in the day too). Now on Mass Effect 3. Will finish that, and then be back reading again. I agree with what you said about keeping fit, improves attention span. I find I have far more energy to focus, when I have been to the gym and walked my dog.
Got burned out from reading physical books due to nursing school. Started listening to audiobooks. Been through about 100 in the last 2 years. Rekindled my love of reading! Great advice on the dnf and reading in different spots too!
Thanks for forcing me to actually sit down and pick up one of the books in the pile I’ve formed in my bedroom of ones I started and haven’t finished. Just set a timer for an hour and read until it went off (and a little after to finish the chapter). It’s not much, but it’s a start, and that’s all I really needed.
Having a good reading space is incredibly important and cannot be stressed enough. Didn't realize just how much it impacted my reading habits (or the current lack there of) until I changed reading place. Now I'm seriously considering dumping a lot of money into a very comfy swing chair because man is it fun to read in one of those. Hard agree on forced reading for education. Even as an avid reader in high-school, there were many required reading books that I either never finished until the end or skimmed a lot. My brother was put off of reading books through the entirety of elementary and high-school. In university he started getting into Warhammer, which warmed him up to reading and he's now enjoying The Witcher books.
Your theory about being forced to read as a child causes you to hate reading, is 100% correct. I read A LOT, but I was forced to read when I was in school, especially Les Miserable (which I don't care if you liked the book, Hugo's writing style is as heavy as house of bricks), and swore off reading, but when I was in my later teens, my teacher had a rule, that you have to have a book in your backpack, you don't have to read it, but you have to have a book, and I had to look for a book. Basically 14:40 happened to me, and I have been reading a lot since
Point one is so true. The goodreads reading challenge took the fun out of reading for me as I got obsessed with trying to smash my target. I've nothing against audiobooks but I fall asleep and lose where I was up to.
I love the knife microphone😂 it gives this video the same feeling of slight insanity I have 6 months into reading crescent city AND AM STILL NOT HALF WAY THROUGH IT!! 🙃🗡
I’m fairly new to the book scene (only been into reading and the community for a year and a half) and I’ve read 29 books this year so far. I read 12 total last year. I usually split my reading with 1-2 physical book(s), 1 graphic novel/comic, and 1 audiobook (if I can afford it- that shit EXPENSIVE). The booktube community has expanded my knowledge and I feel like my third eye has opened
Great advice Daniel. There is one more piece of advice I’d like to add, and that is if your brain is telling you that you need to do something else, go do that something else, and come back to reading. I know for me, I am a violinist, and often times if I haven’t practiced my violin I can’t in good conscience sit down and read. Plus ya’ know, music is a great stimulus for the brain. -T
As a physical therapist, I can vouch for your solid body-scientist assessment. Exercise is ABSOLUTELY related to cognitive function. Great vid, thanks!
That point about reading what you want to is great. It sounds so obvious, but sometimes it's really not. I'm currently studying Spanish in school, and I thought I didn't like reading books in Spanish until I realized I was just re-reading books that had been assigned in school. I picked up some Laura Gallego-Garcia low fantasy novels and sped through them. It sounds so obvious to read something you think you'll like, but that was a real epiphany moment for me.
One of my goals as a librarian is to try to reduce genre/age shame. AKA encouraging adults to not be ashamed to love YA or middle grade and vice versa, normalizing talking about romance books so people don't try to hide the romance novel they've just picked up because they're embarrassed, etc. Generally encouraging people to embrace what they enjoy
Not going to lie, I picked up the Hunger Game Series prior to the movies and that was the first set of books I read since I was a kid. Then I picked up "The Book Thief" and thought it was a good book. I'm still trying to find my style.
After getting kids, audiobooks is the only way I have time/energy to enjoy books. You know what? Some narrators enhances the experience (like Michael Kramer, Kate Reading, Simon Vance and James Marsters). Audiobooks are awesome. And a perfect way to trudge through tedious chapters if a book is a slow burn!
I personally don´t see why someone would want to read more just for the "Oh I read thousands of books per year". It´s a hobby and you should do it for fun.
Loved your tip about not finishing a book you aren't into. I have been a life-long reader of fantasy and sci fi, and there are occasional books that I forced myself to finish, just because... However, now I'm older, and can't afford to put time into things I don't enjoy, so if a book doesn't grab me right away, I delete it from my reader. It's not easy for me to do that, but I force myself. Life is too short, and I'll never read everything on my list, so I try to make my time count. BTW, I want to thank you for opening my eyes to more recent good fantasy, haven't had a bad experience yet.
I remember slogging through LoTR as a teen and finishing it, but I definitely fell asleep while reading it. That was the only time I've ever fallen asleep during a book.
That thing you said about books being ruined by forced reading in school... You are so right about that and it's a huge shame. I've thought about it before and complained about it to various people. I'm sure reading isn't for absolutely everyone, and that's okay, but I think that many people who don't like it just haven't found the right genre/writing style/whatever. Edit: I am now listening to an audiobook with my husband. I remembered how you mentioned DAMN YES AUDIOBOOKS COUNT AS READING and I want to mention I appreciate that so much. I have been wanting to reread the mistborn series for years (yes literally over 5 years) but I have so many things that are new to me that I also want to read. I... am doing a silly reading goal thing w/ good reads and have done so w/ the last few years. I wasn't sure if i should add this since it was audio and my husband said, without any pause, that I should. I Listened to him and... it's so nice that it's a different method of taking in a book. And I have grown to love the voice as well, though I can't listen while too tired or I will fall asleep (he is a great narrator but soooo relaxing at the same time)! Have you listened to The Original? Julia Whelan was the narrator (who I enjoyed very much). It Was written by Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette Kowal and fairly scifi-y.
"you have a right to call yourself a fantasy fan..." even if you've read only one fantasy book. Seriously just got a bit teary hearing you say that. I have wanted to read fantasy books for so long, but really struggled, because 1. So many books, you don't know where to start 2. There is a notion that you have to have read a certain amount of fantasy books and the 'right' ones to be considered a fantasy fan. But seriously, you have start with one, finish it and love it, right..? which is what finally happened to me couple of years ago. Since then I totally wanted to be part of the 'club' but feel I was not... NOW YOU'RE SAYING I'M ALREADY IN THE CLUB??!! Bless you, Daniel! 😍🙏😭♥️ And thank you for helping me decipher through all the fantasy books out there. Xx
I like to listen to an audiobook AND read the book at the same time, sort of like when I was a kid and had those read-along stories... LOL. The only thing missing is the "You will know it is time to turn the page, when you hear this sound (chimes)."
I like to move around as I read. I have 3/4 (when the weather is good) places that I like to read and I'll move every now and then and it feels refreshing. Audiobooks however... I wish I could enjoy but I always end up falling asleep or my own thoughts become louder than the voice.
DNFing has become my new favourite thing. I forced myself to read some really bad but really popular YA books last year and it killed me. I didn’t want to read anything, write anything, nothing, I hated everything! Then this year I forced myself into a book club with my friends to try to work on my reading and I hated every book we read and it made me feel even worse. This is my biggest reading slump to date and I really think it’s because I wouldn’t DNF. Now I’m slowly exposing myself to books I’m actually interested in and I’m starting to write again 🙌🏻 hopefully my reading will pick up over time.
I remember my elementary teachers would give us a sheet to fill out of books we'd have to have read by the end of a term. It was usually twenty-five to thirty, and I think I just kept the habit of reading outside of school until college. I do believe I stopped after college since I picked up other hobbies, but I remember my English professor in my first semester flipping out when I understood a Catch-22 reference. He knows most people stop reading by college, so for a Gen-Z kid to have read a fifty year old novel "critiquing world war 2 through the lenses of comedy" was astounding. (To be honest, I read it to learn how to write funnier and I ended up looking up eight words a page since the vocab was so high level for me.)
Im one of those people thatll sit and read a book in one setting and I get pissed when being disturbed. Of course I also move around becuase that stimulates my brain as you say.
You have totally jumpstarted reading for me. Did some ok amounts of reading in high school and whatnot, but I’ve dived into the fantasy world and can’t believe I’ve been missing out!
Speaking of how much research you put into which books you read, I would be interested in a video looking at your process! What do you look for, how do you avoid spoilers, how/where do you keep your tbr, etc! Just an idea. Love your channel!
The "Schools forcing you to read" thing happened to me. I loved reading as a kid. I read the Harry Potter series multiple times. Read so many books, and then in high school I was forced to read the "classics" and I hate to say it, a lot of them bored me to tears. So much so I didn't pick up reading again until this year! Then a few months ago I had an itch to read again and now I'm reading more than I ever did as a kid! The only school required book I ever liked was "The Outsiders" I loved that book so much I read it twice in a few months time span.
That last point you made really rung true for me. I hated reading in highschool mostly because of the books we were forced to read. We had to read some of the Portuguese literature classics that were BOOOOOORIIIIIING. There were not written for high school kids. One of them even as deliberate incest. I mean, what is a kid supposed to get out of that? Maybe if I picked them back up today I might even enjoy them but they really put me off reading in general at the time, only to find out I love it several years later... Great video as always!
Learning to turn off my phone was great. I seriously just keep it on the other side of my room when I’m reading. As long as it’s out of reach, I won’t grab it on a whin
What I hate most about reading books is how uncomfortable it is in some ways. I always have to spread the book open when I am lying sideways and then not only turn the page but also my body whenever I read through a page.
Besides changing between formats (audiobooks, ebooks, paperbacks, etc) to keep your reading interest fresh, chuck some short stories and also comic books in the mix. Quick reads, mostly with beginning, middle and end.
I was one of those kids that hadn’t read during college because of the nature of my degree. I made it a goal to read one book this year and I’m on my 16th. I can definitely say Daniel influenced that when I found his channel while I was reading Dark Tower so thank you and happy reading 👊🏼
I wish I could do audiobooks... I have a hard time focusing on what’s being read to me when I am trying to do something. So unless I sit still somewhere and do nothing but listen it would work, but in that case I’d rather just physically read. So frustrating! I applaud that you can use different formats!
Brandon Sanderson does a great job of lifting me out of this, because his books have the magical ability to play a film in my head, and the words no longer mean anything, the text no longer exists. It's like I become a computer interpreting code which I then use to execute graphical commands in my mind xD
Grade 9, 10, and 11 had the same teacher and anytime we had to read a book and of course a book report he told us we could choose any book, or series of books in case one book didn’t meet, the one rule it had to be over 250 pages. There were a few books that were frowned upon but he never told us what they were and this was before the internet really took so no one could look anything up. One kid did their book reports on the Silence of the Lambs series, another one did a whole bunch on Steven Kings books and I did mine on the Lord of the Rings and the Wheel of Time.
I once read a post where someone went as far as to read full articles about whether or not to finish a book and I'm just over here dnf'ing left and right lol. Seriously, I've never understood the issue. And another thing, if you're reading a book to give it a review? And you hate it so much that you don't finish it? That's it. That's your review right there. Job done.
Most I've ever read in one sitting was 400/500 pages of Words of Radiance, and I've done that after a particularly exhausting 24 hours of travel across Europe.... Let's just say I struggled with replicating that since. I have trouble with focusing just in general and if I read too quickly I will often forget what actually happened before. So what I do is I just switch between different types of books, but even that gets hard sometimes. I found it easier to start or finish a book, I often just have trouble getting through the middle of it. Quarantine's made it all even harder so... Yeah. Thank you for this video Daniel, hopefully it will help me get back on track.
I'm taking AP Language and Composition next year and one of the choices for summer reading was Stephen King's book "On Writing." I obviously chose to read that, just thought it was nice that some schools/teachers are trying to bring in more "modern" or popular authors for assignments like this
Thanks man! I'm highly considering studying litterary science at uni starting next year, so I should probably start training now 😅 Already read a fair bit, but there's definitely room for improvement
I find that yoga before reading helps, just like a 5-10 minute flow, you can find them here on youtube that'll help get you started. I suggest ekhart yoga. Also and this is key to helping us to understand different forms of books as well as styles of writing and that is TRANSCRIBING!!! Choose a book or two that you will take time each day to transcribe it a little in a blank notebook over the course of a year, but the key here is to choose your most favorite books and authors.
What kept me from reading for quite some time was that I had bought a kindle and therefore stopped buying books. But as much as the kindle was convenient, it just didn't make me want to reach for it when I had some free time. Since then I've started to buy nice physical editions of books I want to read and that made my motivation 200% stronger. I still use my kindle every now and then, but there's just more appeal to a good ol' bundle of pages for me.
Mood 1: reads 23 books in three months
Mood 2: reads nothing but fanfics for the rest of the year :)
It all depends on what to feel like doing
My fanfic consumption is ridiculous compared to my actual book reading xD I must read like a hundred million more words of Fanfic.
Same :')
Now if that doesn't describe me perfectly...
I just got over my 3 month fanfic phase and got into books again :D
Why hello, Me. 😂
As an English teacher I 100% agree we shouldn't force kids to read classics. We should be reading books that they can relate to/enjoy which opens the door for them to fall in love with reading and potentially the classics down the road. I'm 29 now and just beginning to appreciate the classics.
So true!, I starter ti read again this year after almost seven years without reading and last month i started The Lord of The Rings, wich i dumped whem i was 14 bcs can't read, now i just enjoy everything from the style to pacing and the way Tolkien slowly sets everything up. I still want to read, this year, Dune (before de movie came out) and Ana Karenina. Read classics is so much better whem you go for spontaneously
I think it should be a little of both. “Classics” are there as a good history into a genre or just the thinking of the time. It’s interesting to compare let’s say “classic sci-if” to “modern sci-fi” and see what’s changed culturally (if you’re comparing books that talk about a similar topic like technological advancement or race or what have you). But yeah, don’t force kids to read.
This isn’t books, but I think it would be interesting to have an “English class” that let you choose to analyze books or movies or both. Not everyone will like reading, even if it’s not forced. But analyzing movies can be an interesting skill.
I remember back in high-school I used to dread English, mainly didn't like the class being assigned a book and having to read it over time. I didn't read back then, I thought it was boring, that changed lol. But the one exception to this was the outsiders, I remember me and most my buddies really liked that book and used to talk about it a bit and make Jokes about the characters, it kind of resonated with a lot of the class, the people who didn't like reading or hated it genuinely enjoyed that book especially when we read it during class. I can't say the same about any others though. Wish I had more of an open mind back then, would have liked to connect more with my English teacher back then beyond just being a class clown and making her laugh n stuff. Hindsight though eh.
Yes, I am a college student and I never stopped reading fiction. But all my other friends say 'i just cant find another book'
If you want to get a kid to read a classic, forbid the child from reading it. ;-)
I guess Daniel spends all his time in the library watching other people on their phone instead of reading
👀
:'DDDDDD
@Dillon Byron thats pretty awesome. Can u help me find a file explorer coz i wanna find who the fuck asked u stupid dumbfuck
@@maedre9330 What the hell happened here
@@erburu i forgor💀
Daniel Greene: "It's my job to get through books I don't like..."
Everyone: Thanks for the epic Terry Goodkind rants!
Yes, but Daniel DNF'd Goodkind.
How to read nearly 100 books a year: be a truck driver, listen to audiobooks on the road.
& they say truckers aren’t that smart
Winning
I actually thought of being a truck driver for this very thing. (Didn’t end up doing it tho)
Technically you're not reading anything
@@ryanhlfc technically I don't care if it is or isn't technically reading. I'm still experiencing the books.
I have a bachelor's in English Literature, and when you said "sometimes when people are forced to read things for school and so they no longer enjoy reading", I FELT that. It took me YEARS after graduating to pick up books again for enjoyment and I'm so glad I did! Reading fatigue is real, breaks are 100% okay. Makes the comeback to reading for fun that much better!
I was just about to post this exact comment. I remember being 18 months out of my lit degree, picking up a book and having the dawning realisation that reading could be, like, fun?!
Hats off to all English majors who managed to push through I studied English for teaching it and even there reading fatigue got me several times
I did engineering in college. Hats off to you for sticking with your English degree. I had to take an English course as a requirement freshman year. Hardest course ever. Calc 4 was easier for me. Just curious, what kind of job does an English degree land you?
@@Wordsalad69420 Thank you! It was difficult, but it was honestly a lot of fun too! I work as a technical writer currently but finishing up my masters soon with a concentration in medieval works.
@@artemisiaabsinthium1794 If you didn't enjoy reading, how did you get the idea that a lit degree might be the right thing for you?
My 7th grade teacher killed my love of reading. She had us read from a list of non fiction, historical fiction, or some books she thought had a “moral to be learned.” I didn’t read for about 4 years.
I finally got back into reading late in high school with Game of Thrones. That series will always have a special place with me for that.
Daniel in the library: *looks up from his book. Sees someone open their phone. Checks watch and writes down the time. Gets back to reading until he notices them close their phone again *
The weirdest thing happened to me. I got into a literature degree, was forced to read more, and started enjoying it MORE. But yeah, reading assignments in school were horrible here as well. The books were terrible and the teachers couldn't get us engaged with any of them.
"I'm alone in life and in this room"
You and me both Daniel 😂😂
I’m alone in life and in this room I’m a nihilistic nothing matters there’s no point of anything we’re just smart monkeys who made electricity damn Daniel we need to talk
Why are you in Daniel's room? 👁👃👁
@@kaladinstormblessed9829 let go of nihilism, acquire hope
Glyph the Denier Too relatable
@@thingshappenedpr Easier said than done, Doug! How the hell can you acquire hope? It's not a physical thing that you can lock in a cage!
Daniel: read for enjoyment
Me: looks at the pile of books I have to read for school
Me: throws them out of the window
What I would do for some teachers was think of it like a predictive strategy game, I would try and predict the main talking points that professor would pick, and pick counter points, etc... I did pretty well and it helped my mind stay focused, but your mileage may vary.
In college I made it a point to read for personal enjoyment. Other students would ask how I had time to do so. I just took the time to do it. Yes, I had lots of other reading to do, but my personal reading was one of the ways I took study breaks. You CAN balance required reading and personal reading.
@@Rogue_VI if you've spend the whole evening reading books for your career .honestly reading more in your break sound really bad....
if I have read all evening it doesn't matter how much I want to read another kind of books, My eyes will stop me from doing it
@@matias_rgt1429 I always made it a point, and still do, to have some "me" reading time, even when I have to read a lot for work. That doesn't necessarily mean I read every day, but I do read more days than not.
It could be worse. At least schools are required to feed you
Therapist: Wide Daniel can't hurt you he's not real
Wide Daniel:
Listen to audiobooks while running, working out, walking, biking (with one earbud out), etc. It changed my life!!
People don't have their phone on mute normally??? My phone has always been on silent. ALWAYS 😳
I mute most of the time too but then "I need to check my notifications...🙄" it's better for me to leave my phone across the room or in another room.
I meant more like do not disturb where it won’t even light up.
@@DanielGreeneReviews ohhh that's a good point!
I use my phone for alarms so I can't mute it.
@@mischarowe The alarm on most phones usually go off with sound even when muted :-D, best feature ever, that way I never need to have my phone's sound turned on
Daniel: I read things that I'll like.
Also Daniel: *reads Wizard's First Rule and Fifth Sorceress*
xD
Mistakes were made.
@@DanielGreeneReviews I wouldn't call those rib-cracking videos mistakes
@@CatSingerB The videos were good. The books themselves were mistakes, lol
Wizard's First Rule literally got millions of people into the fantasy genre. Slay the hate for them.
"TURN OFF YOUR PHONE" i came out to have a good time and i'm feeling so attacked right now
Ehat of you habe e reader or my case Hoppla where you reading from the phone.
As a reader with ADD and knows many people with ADD who feel like "Its impossible for them to read" heres some of my advice. Try and make a quota of two chapters a day but dont do it all at once since unless you're on medication you will most likely get distracted. One chapter in the afternoon during say lunch, and then the second chapter during or around dinner. Two chapters a day is a steady pace for most books on the bookshelf and you can finish or at least get close to finishing one book per week depending on size.
I've also heard you can listen to the audiobook while you read (sometimes speed it up a little) and it makes your brain engage
Also good advice if you have to read a book for school.
I have adhd, and have recently learned I really enjoy listening while also following along with a physical book.
I'm dyslexic and it takes me so long to read just one page never mind a chapter, I've recently started using audible and I'm now on book four of the wheel of time, I now only read an actual book if it's a standalone
I think that's why Daniel needs to switch between physical, audio and ebooks. Maybe that particular advice from him would help you a lot. :)
Mk. Rowe I’ve heard a couple dyslexic friends say that helped them a lot. Also reading along with the audio book, in the beginning, helped them. One person did that with the fist page of every reading session the whole time I knew her. She said that by the end of that first page she was ready to start reading faster than the narrator.
If you open a pdf book in microsoft edge you can make it read to you and you can read and listen at the same time. I use that to study textbooks.
Thank you all for the advice, I'll try them out
I'm also dyslexic and found reading took forever. What I tend to do is listen to the audiobook and read along with the book. So rather than reading about a book a year (which is bad given I love to write) I've read about 20-odd this year.
I find reading along with an audiobook massively helps with my comprehension of what I'm reading too.
Instead of a book store, returning readers should hit up their local public library! It's free & you don't have to feel guilty if you don't finish a book.
I helped a young patron a little while ago. She had a few books she was interested in, but was worried she'd pick a book for her summer reading that was boring. She was shocked when I told her she *didn't have to finish every book*! I could see the wheels turning in her head.
I showed her the shelves and said, "We have all of these if you don't like that one. You don't have to force yourself to read a book you don't enjoy- when we have all these others you might like more."
I'm so glad you mentioned that!
I've read interviews with Neil Gaiman where he explained that graphic novels-despite not being as wordy as other books- work as an "entrance drug" to reading. I fully agree. Kids should be helped to find *anything* they'll read to show them the worlds that open up to them... And I wish more adults realized the library is there and free, and that we even have different ways to experience books so people can enjoy them whatever way works best for them...
I recently got a job that allows me to read 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. This channels recommendations will help a lot for the mass of books I'm going to be shredding through!
What job is that? 🙃🤔😱
“Bounce around like a ping pong ball of nerdyness” that describes me perfectly
Find a place where you dont bump or Barack things and read and walk. Just make sure your preference virw is good.
After suffering a massive stroke in January 2016, I lost the ability to hold and read a physical book. My vision was decimated and with my glasses I only have 30% of my overall vision - all of it through my left eye, really. So, I've had to get used to a Kindle, and audio books. However, from 1978 -2015, I'd read over 5K books. I loved to read. Unfortunately, I have forced myself to finish some books based on hype (Dune for one), but no longer. Life is too short. Loving these videos, kiddo; very relatable!
So happy I found your channel. I was a huge reader as a kid, like, the kid that would walk around school with my nose in a book, kept one on my school desk all day for any second I could get in between lessons, then came home and sat in a chair and just continued reading all evening until my parents forced the book out of my hands. I would read 300+ page books in two days, sometimes one on a weekend. I would get stacks of books for my birthday, parents driving me back and forth to the library every week, bookstores were my favourite place in the world. This came to a screeching halt when I went to uni, and I had to do academic reading, and between that and other things I just found I didn't have time or energy anymore.
But I never let go of the idea that I was a 'reader', and continued to buy and buy and buy books that I swore I was going to 'get round to reading eventually'. Yet every time I picked one up I would pressure myself to do what I did as a kid and sit for hours and churn through half of it in one afternoon like I used to. I don't have that stamina anymore, and I don't have that time. Reading now competes with video games, tv, socialising, studying (my MA degree is significantly more work than like, high school was lol) all sorts of stuff I didn't do as much of as a 10 or 14 or even 17 year old, and that I genuinely enjoy and also want to put time into. Because of that, for a few years now I just haven't been reading at all because of that thought that I don't have time to sit down and get through a book in a couple of days. Additionally, looking at my bookshelf and the absolute plethora of books I now own and haven't read yet is so intimidating. I don't think I've finished a book since I was maybe 18 (I'm turning 22 next week), and my bookshelf has gone from being my trophy case to a guilt-filled wall of all the money I've spent on books I just haven't even started.
It was only after finding your channel and remembering my love for reading and especially fantasy that I thought, why am I putting all these time-limits and pressures on myself? Yes, I own a gazillion books, but I don't actually have any need to get through them in a certain amount of time. And even if I read only one or two chapters a few days in the week, I'll still get through the books quicker than if I try to find time to plow through 200 pages in one sitting, because that's so never going to happen anymore.
So, partly thanks to your channel and enthusiasm for reading, that's what I've started doing - bedtime ritual of two chapters just before I go to sleep most nights. And this might slowly increase over time anyway! But for now, super happy to have rediscovered what's important about reading - actually reading! And enjoying it! Maybe one day I'll get to the point where the bookshelf consists of more finished than unread books like it used to. Until then, happy reading!
So in school they tried to force me to read many “essential” books and my fantasy/scifi little brain didn’t wanted to, and since the education system its absolute trash in my country, I didn’t. I would just read a one page summary of the book and get a good grade at the test, so I went through the entire school reading the total amount of like two books (some times we were able to pick the books we wanted to read). I thought I hated reading. Then by many recommendations online I decided to pick up Mistborn and by now, since I finished school 3 years ago, I have read 39 books, currently reading 3 at the same time and with 9 to go in my 2020 challenge. So yeah, school sucks, reading is awesome.
Well my school doesn’t allow us to bring books to school at all and they took every book I brought with me so yeah I’m in the worst school
PootatoTree All my life I did things like that, like watching 3 series at a time, reading 3 different comics and everything. Even now during quarantine im learning to program in python, c++ and c#. So I don’t now, I find it harder deciding which one to go on with than trying remembering who is who and whats happening. Obviously I have a limit, Im reading Oathbringer and Im not going to start The Wheel of Time until I have finished RoW, thats just asking for your head to explode.
I agree schoolbooks are no fun.
Ironically for me public school is what got me to tolerate books, which led to me eventually finding enjoyment in reading. It also helped that they provided food and wouldn't take it away if I decided against reading.
I feel that. I wanted to read Lord of the Rings this month but my school said you can't. And now I have to read 4 books I would never heard of if my school didn't obligated me (sorry if my English isn't very good it's not my first language)
The book that got me back into reading was actually I Am Legend (my favorite shorter novel!) But I hadn't read for fun in YEARS because of the required reading in school, so I found I Am Legend and saw that it wasn't too much of a commitment time-wise and it got me right back into reading again! Love this video!
Come out, Neville!
When I read a book and enjoy it, I tend to get lost in it and can plow through an 800 page novel in a day or two. I've been forced to get a lot of my books in audio format so I can keep my hands busy (during menial 'round-the-house-jobs or while driving; following the wife around a store...with audiobooks I've blasted through hundreds of books this year (I do re-read books that I enjoy)
I actually read Tarzan at age 11 while sitting in a tree :). When I read (actual book/ereader) the wife has caught me standing in the garage at 2AM
I am so recognizing myself in this I walked (and rode my bike) to and from school while reading a book( audiobooks are so much safer lol) and I could get away with listing my books at my work.. and its amazing while in traffic or public transport
I wish Daniel could put his energetic, standing up in front of a green screen videos in a playlist. They are definitly a fav of mine!
As someone who is close with teachers, the books that you're told to read in school are literally books that stuffy old men decided are required. Some are actually interesting reads but, in general, teachers are given a list of books to pick from to teach that year. Interestingly enough, this is why in high school, my sophomore year we read the book 13 Reasons Why instead of MacBeth. The teachers reasoning was that we get forcefed so much Shakespear every other year that she wanted to give us a break, and honestly, going through that book in a classroom setting was actually really helpful for a lot of the kids in the class
altoguy16499 in my highschool we had a similar experience a teacher we had would read us stuff like Skellig and stone cold instead of shakespeare
During high school, my English teachers would often spice things up a bit by giving a select number of students a character they'd encapsulate while they read the in between stuff. It was actually pretty fun and it helped make it a lot less boring.
I mean, the classics are good and important, but we should just enjoy reading whatever we want and not feel forced to read something we don't like. However, there are times when books are difficult to read but it feels like an accomplishment to finish them, mine was Moby Dick, it was a chore, but once I finished I felt great and I actually enjoyed it (not immensely though). Let's just all have fun and enjoy reading lol.
@@JLchevz oh, I agree. Classics are classics for a reason. But if someone sits me down and tries to make me read Kafkas metamorphosis again, I'll bleed out my eyes
@@altoguy16499 haha I agree even though I read it and kinda liked it, but it was depressing as hell
Yeah it took me almost two years after finishing college to enjoy reading again, I started with comics, then pick up some novellas and now I'm reading 3 books at the same time, also watching booktubers like you make me be excited to read again!
“I’m alone in life, and I’m this room” he just went all out and described my life as well... (just started online school so yeah)
I used to read so much but then I kinda just stopped a couple of years ago, I’m glad I found this
Did the math, I'm up to 35 books this year. Not a flex, just thought it was really cool! :)
Congrats!
Wait actually 37 if you count the ones for school
I now know what books see when I browse at the library, I’m now self conscious of that angle.
I think people tend to underestimate the importance of short breaks when reading. I know I used to have a bad habit of reading for half an hour and getting worn out but pushing through to get to the arbitrary hour mark, which led to me reading at a much slower pace and losing the motivation to read at all for the rest of the day. This would result in 30 pages over an hour read for the entire day.
Now I'm able to recognize when I need to recover and give myself 5-15 minutes of anything else to just reset my brain before carrying on and I'm reading at a faster pace for more hours of the day.
It's a very small thing but it's so important.
It's funny for me to see everyone sharing trick on how to read more. If I decide to read something, it's either gonna be done in a couple days or it's not gonna be done because I think it's shit.
I stopped reading for years.. because of my eyesight and mental health (stress made my eyes sight very bad ) I used to go everywhere with 1 or 2 books last Feb I started listing to audiobooks again and I have listened to 108 books since then.
Same. And other people pressure you to do it when you're *not* ready for it.
@@Rendref i ment 2020.. I was on a average of 1 book a day untill summer vacation started in juli and my daughter was home all day. And now we do arts and other fun stuff. I can be out of bed max 5 hours a day the rest I'm stuck in bed and I listen to books crochet draw or play games while listing. I make breakfast and wave my daughter good by to school rest make lunch and clean as much as my back and energy alow me to and rest again then when she gets from school we drink tea or lemonade and chat or do other stuff or she does her own thing and at 17 my husband comes home and I break off and lay down again.. this is my ritme per day and I dont sleep much so I listen to books to avoid bleu light/screen time. So that atleast a full 12 hours I can spend on a book. If I want i also watch series or movies and TH-cam. So aka I barely have a life outside the little fam life I have atm. ( I have chronic pain from a worn out back+ hernia since I was 28🤷♀️ )
@@Rendref i listen in regular speed i love books like the Dresden files because james acts out every voice and emotion but when i listen to chick flick urban fantasy the narrator's arnt as good and i sometimes fall asleep 🤣🤣 when i need to count or think i cant listen properly so i either rewind or stop. I dont listen when im with my husband but when he games im in the same room but with 1 earbud in and with some art. a day is ling when you only sleep 3 hours and are stuck in bed. Its bin 7 years and reading/listing is better then my wow addiction. I played 16 hours a day and you cant pauze a raid.. so my child comes first im never on my phone when she is around ( accept in the car for loooooong drives i snooze off with a book and the sound of the engine thats heaven right there ) on double speed i can't fully enjoy and boring books i dnf its like riding as a pasenger on a motorcycle through the most beautiful terrain and your going way to fast to see the sights. Drink in the tranquility or apricate it. But i have on occasion when i re read the first entries in a series to familiarize myself again with the story lines i can fast forward a few minutes if its boring or akward or cringe
Cuz since listing when your also doing art its no real effort its easier to waist time on pulp. Check my good reads i listen to all the dresden files again i just finshed the witcher series but i also listened to advised series....😬 and a lot where pulp for shure. shayne silvers all 3 series + the iron druid chronicles and i even read 26 janet evanovich stephanie plum series (romance stuff) because I started that years ago left at book 9 and i have a ocd about finishing even when its pulp not realizing it had 27 books.....🤯. As long as a book isnt boring i finsh it.
I quit on the weel of time when i was 16 in book 2 but i have to try again i guess. I have a to read list with better book on it brandon sanderson for sure and pratchett some Abercrombie and mark Lawrence.
But when you do not have an abundance of time edit your to read list. Make sure the book has good ratings or sparks interest and enjoy it savoring the story on normal speed and edit or dnf the rest. Time is precious.
@@Rendref aaahhh that's cool man I get that. I can't stand slow speakers I get antsy so I guess that's how you experiance narrators. Do you do at double speed or 1.5 ? Do you have narrators you do like the speed of ? Who are your best narrators ? I like accents myself so when I listened to iron druid I liked the Irish a lot I think that was leek Daniel's. James marsters is my fav though I met him at Amsterdam comic con 6 years ago I was sk flustered and made a fool of myself but he signed my first Dresden book
@@Rendref i heard the kramer and reading couple names so kuch the last few weeks that i found booktube. I will have to listen to wot now and joe Abercrombie is on my tbr list already ill screenshot the comment to look them up. Thanks for the awesome conversation btw ive just found booktube and realy got inspired to go back to epic high fantasy some grimdark shit and just good writing instead of just getting by with pulp and chicklit.
I don't usually like reading fantasy or sci-fi, but my spouse is a very big fan.
This video has encouraged me to start listening to The Wheel of Time. I had tried reading, but it didn't grab me, because I usually read sociology or psychology text books.
My spouse is super happy now, because I'm finally ready to get into this story.
Thanks to you I'm looking forward to seeing the series on screen as well.
I'm not into reading fantasy, but I love your videos. Thanks 🙃
Yay.... I'm so excited! 😀 😎
@@mathewroelofs4669 ha ha slowly my love. Thankfully Daniel has explained enough of the context, so I'm not completely lost. 😇🙏🏼
School ruined reading for me, being forced to read by my parents and teachers. Then when I get into it it's never the time to read.
Oof
Honestly watching booktube has lead me to read more. When u surround yourself with other readers you want to read more. I didn’t read much anymore but when I found Daniel and Murphy’s channels my love of reading came back. Because of booktube I’ve read 38 books since the new year started
"Body scientist" lmfaoooooooo doctor? 😂
I was thinking psychologist
@@DanielGreeneReviews isn't that "mind scientist" :D
@@tracyvargas4725 probably. Dyslexia in addition to autocorrect is a bad combination
Kinaestheticianperson
I don’t think I thoroughly enjoy a required book in school until my senior year in high school. Coincidentally, that was shortly after I started reading for fun again. Also, my teachers provided a quality audiobook for us (not one of the monotone versions) to read with if we wanted. I don’t know if those two things had any connection to why I loved that book so much or if it was just the story itself that I found more interesting. (It also might have helped that it was a more recent book-one published while I’ve been alive.)
9:58 So true, leaving Wuthering Heights in page 250 has changed my life.
When I was in first year of highschool, I had an asignment to do after reading a book of our choice (I chose a fantasy one of course XD, The Wardstone Chronicles #1). I had to make a quiz to give another reader of that book. And I don't remember why, but I really really didn't want to make the quiz. So my dad, who didn't read books so much, told me that if I did the quiz, he would read the book and try to answer the questions. It encouraged me so much! And to this day, he is still reading this books series, which is still ongoing. 🤍
As much as I like LoTR lore and mythology, movies and games, the actual books were a struggle for my ADHD brain. The pacing was so slow I would zone out at nearly every page and have to reread it several times to absorb it, slowing it down even more.
I managed to get through all 3 but it took me literal years and several breaks. I don’t regret it but I don’t think I would ever reread it
I used to read full books a day. I had a massive book that has around five 350 page books and I’d read one every day. Now it’s been so long that I can only do 40-50 pages a day. A chapter is good enough and that feels so sad. It’s like reading as a skill is something I only use to finish school stuff faster. I need to return to my glory (7-7)
“I’m alone, in life, and in this room” I let out an audible oh, yikes at that. Hope you’re okay, Daniel
I am happier than I have ever been. Just like that kinda humor.
Thanks for clearing that up, lol. Glad you’re happy! :)
I go through moods. Start of this year, I did nothing but read. Read 50 books already. Helps that if my job is quiet, I can sit back and read in-between workload coming in. But last two months, been in the gaming mood again. Been playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition (played them back in the day too). Now on Mass Effect 3. Will finish that, and then be back reading again.
I agree with what you said about keeping fit, improves attention span. I find I have far more energy to focus, when I have been to the gym and walked my dog.
Got burned out from reading physical books due to nursing school. Started listening to audiobooks. Been through about 100 in the last 2 years. Rekindled my love of reading! Great advice on the dnf and reading in different spots too!
Thanks for forcing me to actually sit down and pick up one of the books in the pile I’ve formed in my bedroom of ones I started and haven’t finished. Just set a timer for an hour and read until it went off (and a little after to finish the chapter). It’s not much, but it’s a start, and that’s all I really needed.
Read 35 books in 2021 and hoping to up it to 40 in 2022, love tips!
Having a good reading space is incredibly important and cannot be stressed enough. Didn't realize just how much it impacted my reading habits (or the current lack there of) until I changed reading place. Now I'm seriously considering dumping a lot of money into a very comfy swing chair because man is it fun to read in one of those.
Hard agree on forced reading for education. Even as an avid reader in high-school, there were many required reading books that I either never finished until the end or skimmed a lot. My brother was put off of reading books through the entirety of elementary and high-school. In university he started getting into Warhammer, which warmed him up to reading and he's now enjoying The Witcher books.
I've only read 6 books this year, but I've listened to 92.
Your theory about being forced to read as a child causes you to hate reading, is 100% correct. I read A LOT, but I was forced to read when I was in school, especially Les Miserable (which I don't care if you liked the book, Hugo's writing style is as heavy as house of bricks), and swore off reading, but when I was in my later teens, my teacher had a rule, that you have to have a book in your backpack, you don't have to read it, but you have to have a book, and I had to look for a book. Basically 14:40 happened to me, and I have been reading a lot since
Daniel always gives the best advise: "read what you want" and "shove them of a bridge"
Point one is so true. The goodreads reading challenge took the fun out of reading for me as I got obsessed with trying to smash my target.
I've nothing against audiobooks but I fall asleep and lose where I was up to.
Daniel: It took me seven months to read 42 books.
Me: I’ve had a good ten years I read 22 books. Darn it.
I love the knife microphone😂 it gives this video the same feeling of slight insanity I have 6 months into reading crescent city AND AM STILL NOT HALF WAY THROUGH IT!! 🙃🗡
I’m fairly new to the book scene (only been into reading and the community for a year and a half) and I’ve read 29 books this year so far. I read 12 total last year.
I usually split my reading with 1-2 physical book(s), 1 graphic novel/comic, and 1 audiobook (if I can afford it- that shit EXPENSIVE). The booktube community has expanded my knowledge and I feel like my third eye has opened
Can't believe there is still not a "Why you should Read more SFF books" on this channel.
Might be preaching to the converted. Though I could see an "arguments to defend SFF books" from realists.
Great advice Daniel. There is one more piece of advice I’d like to add, and that is if your brain is telling you that you need to do something else, go do that something else, and come back to reading. I know for me, I am a violinist, and often times if I haven’t practiced my violin I can’t in good conscience sit down and read. Plus ya’ know, music is a great stimulus for the brain.
-T
"I'm not a body scientist, that's not the term but I'm too lazy to think of it"
Do you mean... a doctor?
Lmao at body scientist, nice vid Daniel :)
As a physical therapist, I can vouch for your solid body-scientist assessment. Exercise is ABSOLUTELY related to cognitive function. Great vid, thanks!
That point about reading what you want to is great. It sounds so obvious, but sometimes it's really not. I'm currently studying Spanish in school, and I thought I didn't like reading books in Spanish until I realized I was just re-reading books that had been assigned in school. I picked up some Laura Gallego-Garcia low fantasy novels and sped through them. It sounds so obvious to read something you think you'll like, but that was a real epiphany moment for me.
One of my goals as a librarian is to try to reduce genre/age shame. AKA encouraging adults to not be ashamed to love YA or middle grade and vice versa, normalizing talking about romance books so people don't try to hide the romance novel they've just picked up because they're embarrassed, etc. Generally encouraging people to embrace what they enjoy
Not going to lie, I picked up the Hunger Game Series prior to the movies and that was the first set of books I read since I was a kid. Then I picked up "The Book Thief" and thought it was a good book. I'm still trying to find my style.
After getting kids, audiobooks is the only way I have time/energy to enjoy books. You know what? Some narrators enhances the experience (like Michael Kramer, Kate Reading, Simon Vance and James Marsters).
Audiobooks are awesome. And a perfect way to trudge through tedious chapters if a book is a slow burn!
I personally don´t see why someone would want to read more just for the "Oh I read thousands of books per year". It´s a hobby and you should do it for fun.
I enjoy watching Daniel move and erratically gesticulate because it makes me feel better about my own bizarre flailing spider mannerisms.
9:40 this was so beautiful
What research do you do while not spoiling the story so you know its not a waste of time?
Loved your tip about not finishing a book you aren't into. I have been a life-long reader of fantasy and sci fi, and there are occasional books that I forced myself to finish, just because... However, now I'm older, and can't afford to put time into things I don't enjoy, so if a book doesn't grab me right away, I delete it from my reader. It's not easy for me to do that, but I force myself. Life is too short, and I'll never read everything on my list, so I try to make my time count. BTW, I want to thank you for opening my eyes to more recent good fantasy, haven't had a bad experience yet.
I remember slogging through LoTR as a teen and finishing it, but I definitely fell asleep while reading it. That was the only time I've ever fallen asleep during a book.
That thing you said about books being ruined by forced reading in school... You are so right about that and it's a huge shame. I've thought about it before and complained about it to various people. I'm sure reading isn't for absolutely everyone, and that's okay, but I think that many people who don't like it just haven't found the right genre/writing style/whatever.
Edit: I am now listening to an audiobook with my husband. I remembered how you mentioned DAMN YES AUDIOBOOKS COUNT AS READING and I want to mention I appreciate that so much. I have been wanting to reread the mistborn series for years (yes literally over 5 years) but I have so many things that are new to me that I also want to read. I... am doing a silly reading goal thing w/ good reads and have done so w/ the last few years. I wasn't sure if i should add this since it was audio and my husband said, without any pause, that I should. I Listened to him and... it's so nice that it's a different method of taking in a book. And I have grown to love the voice as well, though I can't listen while too tired or I will fall asleep (he is a great narrator but soooo relaxing at the same time)! Have you listened to The Original? Julia Whelan was the narrator (who I enjoyed very much). It Was written by Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette Kowal and fairly scifi-y.
Not even done with the video but your advice is more comprehensive than anyone else's on the internet, thank you.
I do most of my reading on the toilet.
"you have a right to call yourself a fantasy fan..." even if you've read only one fantasy book. Seriously just got a bit teary hearing you say that. I have wanted to read fantasy books for so long, but really struggled, because 1. So many books, you don't know where to start 2. There is a notion that you have to have read a certain amount of fantasy books and the 'right' ones to be considered a fantasy fan. But seriously, you have start with one, finish it and love it, right..? which is what finally happened to me couple of years ago. Since then I totally wanted to be part of the 'club' but feel I was not... NOW YOU'RE SAYING I'M ALREADY IN THE CLUB??!! Bless you, Daniel! 😍🙏😭♥️ And thank you for helping me decipher through all the fantasy books out there. Xx
I like to listen to an audiobook AND read the book at the same time, sort of like when I was a kid and had those read-along stories... LOL. The only thing missing is the "You will know it is time to turn the page, when you hear this sound (chimes)."
I never made the connection between workout and good reading days, but thinking back on it, days I work out I do read more!
I like to move around as I read. I have 3/4 (when the weather is good) places that I like to read and I'll move every now and then and it feels refreshing. Audiobooks however... I wish I could enjoy but I always end up falling asleep or my own thoughts become louder than the voice.
DNFing has become my new favourite thing. I forced myself to read some really bad but really popular YA books last year and it killed me. I didn’t want to read anything, write anything, nothing, I hated everything! Then this year I forced myself into a book club with my friends to try to work on my reading and I hated every book we read and it made me feel even worse. This is my biggest reading slump to date and I really think it’s because I wouldn’t DNF. Now I’m slowly exposing myself to books I’m actually interested in and I’m starting to write again 🙌🏻 hopefully my reading will pick up over time.
I remember my elementary teachers would give us a sheet to fill out of books we'd have to have read by the end of a term. It was usually twenty-five to thirty, and I think I just kept the habit of reading outside of school until college.
I do believe I stopped after college since I picked up other hobbies, but I remember my English professor in my first semester flipping out when I understood a Catch-22 reference. He knows most people stop reading by college, so for a Gen-Z kid to have read a fifty year old novel "critiquing world war 2 through the lenses of comedy" was astounding.
(To be honest, I read it to learn how to write funnier and I ended up looking up eight words a page since the vocab was so high level for me.)
Im one of those people thatll sit and read a book in one setting and I get pissed when being disturbed. Of course I also move around becuase that stimulates my brain as you say.
You have totally jumpstarted reading for me. Did some ok amounts of reading in high school and whatnot, but I’ve dived into the fantasy world and can’t believe I’ve been missing out!
Speaking of how much research you put into which books you read, I would be interested in a video looking at your process! What do you look for, how do you avoid spoilers, how/where do you keep your tbr, etc! Just an idea. Love your channel!
The "Schools forcing you to read" thing happened to me. I loved reading as a kid. I read the Harry Potter series multiple times. Read so many books, and then in high school I was forced to read the "classics" and I hate to say it, a lot of them bored me to tears. So much so I didn't pick up reading again until this year! Then a few months ago I had an itch to read again and now I'm reading more than I ever did as a kid!
The only school required book I ever liked was "The Outsiders" I loved that book so much I read it twice in a few months time span.
That last point you made really rung true for me. I hated reading in highschool mostly because of the books we were forced to read. We had to read some of the Portuguese literature classics that were BOOOOOORIIIIIING. There were not written for high school kids. One of them even as deliberate incest. I mean, what is a kid supposed to get out of that? Maybe if I picked them back up today I might even enjoy them but they really put me off reading in general at the time, only to find out I love it several years later...
Great video as always!
Learning to turn off my phone was great. I seriously just keep it on the other side of my room when I’m reading. As long as it’s out of reach, I won’t grab it on a whin
What I hate most about reading books is how uncomfortable it is in some ways. I always have to spread the book open when I am lying sideways and then not only turn the page but also my body whenever I read through a page.
Besides changing between formats (audiobooks, ebooks, paperbacks, etc) to keep your reading interest fresh, chuck some short stories and also comic books in the mix. Quick reads, mostly with beginning, middle and end.
You can pace while you read. I’ve done it at previous jobs a lot.
I was one of those kids that hadn’t read during college because of the nature of my degree. I made it a goal to read one book this year and I’m on my 16th. I can definitely say Daniel influenced that when I found his channel while I was reading Dark Tower so thank you and happy reading 👊🏼
I wish I could do audiobooks... I have a hard time focusing on what’s being read to me when I am trying to do something. So unless I sit still somewhere and do nothing but listen it would work, but in that case I’d rather just physically read. So frustrating! I applaud that you can use different formats!
Brandon Sanderson does a great job of lifting me out of this, because his books have the magical ability to play a film in my head, and the words no longer mean anything, the text no longer exists. It's like I become a computer interpreting code which I then use to execute graphical commands in my mind xD
Grade 9, 10, and 11 had the same teacher and anytime we had to read a book and of course a book report he told us we could choose any book, or series of books in case one book didn’t meet, the one rule it had to be over 250 pages. There were a few books that were frowned upon but he never told us what they were and this was before the internet really took so no one could look anything up. One kid did their book reports on the Silence of the Lambs series, another one did a whole bunch on Steven Kings books and I did mine on the Lord of the Rings and the Wheel of Time.
I once read a post where someone went as far as to read full articles about whether or not to finish a book and I'm just over here dnf'ing left and right lol. Seriously, I've never understood the issue. And another thing, if you're reading a book to give it a review? And you hate it so much that you don't finish it? That's it. That's your review right there. Job done.
Most I've ever read in one sitting was 400/500 pages of Words of Radiance, and I've done that after a particularly exhausting 24 hours of travel across Europe.... Let's just say I struggled with replicating that since. I have trouble with focusing just in general and if I read too quickly I will often forget what actually happened before. So what I do is I just switch between different types of books, but even that gets hard sometimes. I found it easier to start or finish a book, I often just have trouble getting through the middle of it. Quarantine's made it all even harder so... Yeah. Thank you for this video Daniel, hopefully it will help me get back on track.
I'm taking AP Language and Composition next year and one of the choices for summer reading was Stephen King's book "On Writing." I obviously chose to read that, just thought it was nice that some schools/teachers are trying to bring in more "modern" or popular authors for assignments like this
Thanks man! I'm highly considering studying litterary science at uni starting next year, so I should probably start training now 😅 Already read a fair bit, but there's definitely room for improvement
I find that yoga before reading helps, just like a 5-10 minute flow, you can find them here on youtube that'll help get you started. I suggest ekhart yoga.
Also and this is key to helping us to understand different forms of books as well as styles of writing and that is TRANSCRIBING!!! Choose a book or two that you will take time each day to transcribe it a little in a blank notebook over the course of a year, but the key here is to choose your most favorite books and authors.
What kept me from reading for quite some time was that I had bought a kindle and therefore stopped buying books. But as much as the kindle was convenient, it just didn't make me want to reach for it when I had some free time. Since then I've started to buy nice physical editions of books I want to read and that made my motivation 200% stronger. I still use my kindle every now and then, but there's just more appeal to a good ol' bundle of pages for me.
Totally agree with moving between places when reading stops me from getting uncomfortable
Awesome that you read the Farseer Trilogies!! I’m a rookie in this genre, but I really loved those books! Robin Hobb is a great author