The author reflects on the evolving sense of competition and productivity surrounding reading in the past decade. They discuss the influence of platforms like Goodreads on turning reading into a task and setting arbitrary goals. The author emphasizes the importance of reading for personal enjoyment and experience, rather than for meeting societal expectations or keeping up with trends. They suggest stepping away from the online book discourse, focusing on the joy of reading without the pressure of quantifying the number of books read. Ultimately, reading is an individual experience that should be cherished regardless of external expectations.
https://reactormag.com/on-letting-go-of-the-idea-of-keeping-up/