In an age of digital distractions, reading can feel like a challenge. But librarians have shared their top tips for rediscovering the joy of books and making reading a regular habit.
Nancy Pearl, known as 'America's librarian', says reading is a choice. 'If you have consistently not found pleasure in reading, then you're not going to choose reading,' she explains. Pearl recommends audiobooks as a way to fit reading into daily life, especially while walking.
Louise Morrish, a librarian turned novelist, notes that listening to an audiobook counts as reading. 'There have been scientific studies where the areas of the brain lighting up are the same when listening to a story as when reading it yourself,' she says. Morrish also suggests visiting your local library, where librarians can help you find books for free.
Danny Middleton of Manchester Central Library, the busiest public library in Britain with 4,200 visitors daily, says libraries offer more than books, including murder mystery nights and silent discos. 'Once we get them in the library, then it's bam! You can't go out until you've joined,' he jokes.
To find new reads, Morrish recommends searching online for 'books like' your favourites, using Goodreads, or trying shepherd.com, which curates lists by interest. BookTok and following authors on social media are also great resources. Joining a book club can help meet fellow book lovers.
Pearl's top pick for a satisfying read is Larry McMurtry's 'Lonesome Dove', a Pulitzer prize-winning novel about two Texas Rangers driving cattle across the United States. 'You will never forget the experience of meeting those two characters,' she says.
Morrish's big life hack is to read every day, even if just for five minutes. 'You get through a book that way. You don't lose your place or forget what is going on. It becomes a habit,' she advises.
