Stop Only Reading Books That Agree With You
This is just me expanding on a thought that came to mind recently
At one point in my life, I had a consistent reading partner called Debby. Debby and I would read different books from one another, but we’d discuss the books we read and what we thought about them. This friend of mine was the perfect reading partner for me, because like me, she was open to reading absolutely any book from any author. This is what I love about reading. That feeling of discovery that comes from reading a random book. The ability to visit another person’s thoughts, feelings, and creative expressions, even if I’d never speak to this person in reality.
I used to go to bookstores and pick up any random book that caught my eye and had an interesting enough blurb. The genre or author didn’t matter to me.
As a black man, I recall reading many books when I was younger that you wouldn’t expect someone like me to read. Many were classics that didn’t shy away from casual racism. To this day, I’m a big Sherlock Holmes fan, despite the harsh descriptions of dark skinned Indians in The Sign of the Four. But guess what? I enjoyed myself while reading these books.
Even when those books included casual racism, I still found value in the storytelling. Because in my eyes, every reader should possess the ability to reflect on the themes presented in a book and separate what they liked and didn’t like. This develops critical thinking. It taught me things that I should be aware of in my life experience.
In recent times, I took a liking to Sarah J. Maas and her female-centric fantasy fiction. Her Crescent City series can sometimes depict men as dumb creatures with a one-track mind. She even coined the term Alphahole to describe undesirable male behaviour. Sometimes this word was assigned to the male love interest (Hunt) for doing something as simple as showing concern for the female Protagonist (Bryce). It came across as toxic. And while I wasn’t thrilled about the use of this term, I was excited about Sarah J. Maas’s ability to create such an enthralling urban fantasy playground with relatable relationship dynamics. I was excited that the human mind can imagine such intricate fantasy worlds and use words to communicate them to readers. That will always be incredible to me. I could feel Maas’ excitement about her world radiating off the page.
Nothing about her depiction of men changed this excitement for me. Instead, my brain took the word Alphahole and thought about reasons why the word exists. I took the time to consider the types of behaviour from men that women may experience that would warrant such a word. I concluded that though Maas didn’t always use the word in situations that warranted it, perhaps this word represents real behaviours that have been hurtful towards women. I also think that on some level, it was a creative term meant to fuel discourse surrounding the book and keep engagement high. Two things can be true.
But having my male lens challenged was important.
I feel like there are benefits to experiencing a negative aspect of our human experience inside a book. Sometimes it provides you with a broader view of the issue and why you believe it’s a problem. It invites you to come up with your own informed view, instead of just taking on views from a media person or influencer.
How algorithms changed our reading habits
Today’s world differs greatly from when I grew up. The internet has significantly changed how people discover new books and decide which authors deserve their time. Some readers only read books by authors who share their ideology. Some will only touch books recommended to them by TikTok book influencers.
There is nothing wrong with any of this, of course. But I do believe that all readers need a balance. If you’re getting your recommendations from algorithms like TikTok or Instagram, you may read more but explore less. Algorithms reinforce personal preferences. This makes it easier to be stuck in an echo chamber and harder to stumble on different voices.
Every once in a while, a reader should read a book that challenges their thinking and forces them to see another perspective. They don’t have to agree with this other perspective, but it’s healthy to understand another side of humanity that exists. Sometimes, it’s through these reflections that one learns something new about oneself.
What’s beautiful about humanity is that we possess the ability to see things in so many ways, while still being civil about it.
Reading widely enhances critical thinking skills that are crucial for developing minds
This isn’t just me saying this. Various educational institutions for young people cite that reading and evaluating various texts is important for a child’s developing mind.
“In a world filled with information—some reliable, some not—this skill is more important than ever. Reading helps children develop these abilities by challenging them to question, analyse, and interpret what they encounter.
From understanding a character’s choices in fiction to debating an author’s argument in nonfiction, critical thinking encourages children to engage actively with what they read rather than passively absorbing information.” – from Tutor Doctor
My take on this is that reading only like-minded authors is like only eating one type of food. You can get full but not nourished.
Your books need to raise new questions in your mind, not just reinforce beliefs you already have.
Read widely within reason
I am not suggesting that we should pick up a book written by some extremist with a harmful agenda. And if you’re a parent, you have a right to be careful of the books your child might consume. There are certainly exceptions to what is considered healthy exploration.
But I do believe that the common reader’s range of reading material is more confined than it once was. We should occasionally challenge ourselves to read something from a writer we never would have before.
Maybe reading something different will even challenge you to write up something contrary. Maybe it inspires you to pick up a new hobby or meet new people. It could even expose you to a new genre of books you didn’t think you’d enjoy.
Discovery is one of literature’s greatest assets.
So, I challenge you, next time you shop for books, pick up one that’s outside your comfort zone. It could be a new genre, a new author, or a book based on a topic you never had any interest in.