Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 17:59     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I can’t get into most books. I force myself to read Lessons in Chemistry and thought it was dumb. That’s what I think of most books nowadays… stupid, dumb and not at all clever.



That book was beyond dumb. What a waste of money.


100% agree


I liked it! But, I often like easier to read books, so maybe that's why.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 15:51     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been an avid reader my whole life. Mostly fiction.

In my mid 40s now and I feel like my desire to read more serious books is mostly gone and I’m enjoying more fluff books. I’m currently enjoying easy to read popular romance novels that end up having similar plot lines. I occasionally pick up a deeper historical fiction novel and I’ll enjoy it, but not quite as much as the other books.

Is this due to a drop in my attention span due to screen use? Or a general change due to age?

Can anyone relate?


Why are you so self-critical? People go through phases in life. If you have a family, you're probably reading fluff because life is otherwise so demanding. When you're in your 70s, you'll have nothing but time to read serious books. Enjoy the phase you're in and quit wasting time worrying about stupid stuff.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 15:50     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:45F here and I actually thought I'd written this thread because I posted something similar last month.

I think some of it is just wanting to read to escape.

But I also think that what's being lauded as top literary fiction is a bunch of try hards who care more about playing with the form than good stories and good writing.

I genuinely think that what we're being told are the best books just aren't the best books.



46 here and I have come to this conclusion, or at least pondered this.

I want engrossing fiction, not engrossing form.

51 and 100%. Tell me a good story, don’t just wank over your own stylistic cleverness. Telling a good story is harder.


+1 pp and same to all including age!
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 15:49     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:My two cents. It's the internet and easy access to mass media. We're really addicted to mass news media and the hysteria/drama it gives us. The phone give us too easy access to this and therefore makes it harder to consume slower paced but ultimately deeper works. Reading serious works just doesn't supply the drama/dopamine hits we can easily access through the internet.


Hmm. I think it’s the pandemic and politics, more than anything. It’s not an attention span issue if people are still reading. It’s the heaviness of the material.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2025 07:16     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Try reading the book alongside the audiobook. Using my eyes and ears keeps me focused.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 20:14     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
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Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:45F here and I actually thought I'd written this thread because I posted something similar last month.

I think some of it is just wanting to read to escape.

But I also think that what's being lauded as top literary fiction is a bunch of try hards who care more about playing with the form than good stories and good writing.

I genuinely think that what we're being told are the best books just aren't the best books.



46 here and I have come to this conclusion, or at least pondered this.

I want engrossing fiction, not engrossing form.

51 and 100%. Tell me a good story, don’t just wank over your own stylistic cleverness. Telling a good story is harder.


DP, lol, thanks for putting in such a funny and clear way!
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 18:30     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:45F here and I actually thought I'd written this thread because I posted something similar last month.

I think some of it is just wanting to read to escape.

But I also think that what's being lauded as top literary fiction is a bunch of try hards who care more about playing with the form than good stories and good writing.

I genuinely think that what we're being told are the best books just aren't the best books.



46 here and I have come to this conclusion, or at least pondered this.

I want engrossing fiction, not engrossing form.

51 and 100%. Tell me a good story, don’t just wank over your own stylistic cleverness. Telling a good story is harder.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 18:30     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:That’s me. I don’t want to think about anything profound or be depressed- I read for fun and want light fluff


Same. There is too much real stuff to worry about, my mental health is hanging by a thread so not going to push it over the edge by reading about more depressing stuff!
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 18:23     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I can’t get into most books. I force myself to read Lessons in Chemistry and thought it was dumb. That’s what I think of most books nowadays… stupid, dumb and not at all clever.



That book was beyond dumb. What a waste of money.


100% agree
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2025 23:38     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
I can very much read serious books still. But I can’t read any of these overwritten over anguished novels that appear on bestsellers lists. Colson Whitehead, Sally Rooney, Rachel Kushner, George Saunders, Zadie Smith, I’m talking about you. Some writers forgot that we just want a good story.
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2025 23:28     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:I can’t get into most books. I force myself to read Lessons in Chemistry and thought it was dumb. That’s what I think of most books nowadays… stupid, dumb and not at all clever.



That book was beyond dumb. What a waste of money.
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2025 22:26     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:I’m reading more fluff as I reach middle age. My actual life takes my entire brain and I have nothing left in the evenings. It’s fine. I read many serious books for the last few years, trying desperately to get help for my special needs son. We found the help. Now I am enjoying my rest and my fluffy fiction.


Same! My job is very challenging to me and I work hard to parent my kids, especially my one with SN. Reading is like the only thing I do for *me* and it’s not enjoyable if I’m too tired/upset to enjoy it. And I also can’t read anything at all with violence of any kind against children. Just can’t do it.
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2025 18:24     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:45F here and I actually thought I'd written this thread because I posted something similar last month.

I think some of it is just wanting to read to escape.

But I also think that what's being lauded as top literary fiction is a bunch of try hards who care more about playing with the form than good stories and good writing.

I genuinely think that what we're being told are the best books just aren't the best books.



46 here and I have come to this conclusion, or at least pondered this.

I want engrossing fiction, not engrossing form.
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2025 18:04     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Literary short stories are a way back into it, due to their brevity.
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2025 14:59     Subject: I can’t read serious books anymore
Anonymous wrote:So what is the way back to serious reading?

I love history, and there are so many books I want to read, but my attention span has been degraded.

Will improving my reading stamina be as straightforward as improving physical stamina seems to be? And where do I find a good personal reading trainer?!


Do you read multiple books? What I would recommend is picking the more serious history book you want to read and dedicating some time to it each day - start with 20 minutes - long enough to get sucked in, but not too long. And then have fluff reads going for the rest of the time when you feel like reading but don't have the attention span. You may need to experiment with when during the day your attention is best.