By Cindy Orr
“Sometime late last year — I don’t remember when, exactly — I noticed I was having trouble sitting down to read.”
So begins an article by LA Times Book Editor David Ulin. This is obviously a situation that is shocking to ponder, since it’s his job to read books. Is he right? The problem as he describes it, is that we are over-networked now, and that we face constant interruptions — interruptions which may quite often be trivial.
You sit down to read and someone texts you a message. You stop and answer, put the phone down and get back to your book and then they respond. You find yourself trying to read in snatches of time here and there — while standing in line, or on the bus, or maybe a quick chapter between chores. You’re reading at night, and someone from work decides they want to “touch base” before tomorrow’s meeting.
But books, as Ulin sees them, require that we slow down and immerse ourselves — and that seems to get harder and harder as we attempt to live always-available lives.
We need to work to find that quiet space. Have you been able to find it anywhere except in the bathtub or in bed just before sleep? Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
I had to stop spending 7-9 pm watching MSNBC and surfing, at least every night. It was difficult! I now get a few more things done each night and turn in earlier to read a few times a week. That’s how I’ve had to do it. It’s easier to get to sleep as well, unless I’m reading something totally gripping . . .
God should have made an eighth day just for reading.
This is an interesting article, Cindy, and a very important topic. I know, I know, reading to learn or for recreation doesn’t seem like a big important issue, compared to everything going on in the world, but I think it is. For one thing, if we believe that reading and reading to learn is something we want our kids to do (and I do mean “our” kids–I don’t have any myself but I try to take an interest in the generations coming after us; hm, cue the Whitney Houston “I believe the children are our future…”), then the most important thing we can do is let them SEE us, the adults, reading and enjoying it. Reading to kids is nice too, of course, but to give them the idea that reading is something you can and should do for yourself, letting them see you read is the fastest way to accomplish that.
Anne’s ideas of simply turning off the phone are really probably the only way to go. I think we need to find more ways to encourage people that reading is a valuable and enjoyable activity–not that it is selfishly taking time for yourself, but simply finding another way to engage with others and the culture. Somewhere along the way I think we’ve lost that. I know everyone’s busy. But what are we busy doing? Is there one night a week when we can make the conscious choice to stay in with a book? A weekend afternoon somewhere where we can tell people, “I can’t make plans, I’ve got a book to read!”
I’ve always been a great before-bed reader.
In this man’s case, it sounds like reading is a huge part of his job. Is being constantly available a part of his job? If not, I have a radical solution: TURN OFF THE PHONE! A couple of hours of not being available while you do that part of your job is not unreasonable*. He might even want to put a message on his voicemail saying “not available from x-y.”
And who knows? Those who need to get in touch immediately might just start to plan ahead so it doesn’t have to be immediate.
*Does not apply if you are required to be available 24/7 for your job or if you have a family emergency requiring you to be available