Blog.

When asked about reading

Recently, we had a team icebreaker session. For my hobby, I shared that I’m into reading. Later on over lunch, my teammate asked me: “What have you been reading recently?” I answered and asked, “What about you? Have you read anything recently?” He replied, “Not really, I haven’t gotten to read anything” after a while, we moved on.

We hear that reading isn’t one of the common pastimes anymore. People are not interested or can’t prioritize it in this highly stimulating modern world of ours. But I find “I couldn’t get to read anything” answer a tad lacklustre. I think people are ashamed to admit they’re not into reading. That’s an unnecessary white lie. I’d prefer to hear a more genuine answer. Here are my thoughts and alternatives to consider regarding this question:

  1. Reading is not a necessity. It’s one of tens of thousands of hobbies. So, simply say, “Not really, reading isn’t one of my hobbies.” When a runner asks you, “Do you run?” and you don’t, you wouldn’t construct a vague, complicated answer. You’d simply say, “No, but I go to the gym. [Here’s my fun gym experience.]”
  2. We actually read more than we realize. It doesn’t always have to be books. Maybe we’ve read an interesting document for work or a blog post, perhaps a recipe on Instagram. So, say, “Not a book, but I came across this interesting article a while ago...”
  3. It’s really a question of “What grabs your attention these days? What fascinates you?” Talk about a video, podcast, song, a certain content creator’s posts, a tutorial, anything. “Not a book, but I really enjoy [Awesome content] these days.” Then I’ll beam with "Tell me more. "
  4. You’ll always have Paris. Talk about your favorites from the past if you used to read. “Not recently, but one of my all-time favorites is...”
  5. And last but not least, ask for recommendations if you’re in the mood. “Not recently, but I loved [this and that] in the past; do you know anything with the same vibe?”

There’s no shame in saying you’re not reading; don’t make it bigger than it is. Really, the question asker is simply looking for new ideas to explore or to connect over the joy of reading. Don’t avert the question; it’s a beautiful one that can lead to meaningful conversations about what piques your interest. And if you’re the one getting the lackluster answer, never make the person in front of you feel bad about themselves; that’s a given.