How To Stop Buying Books And Start Reading - Overcoming Tsundoku

3 quick tips on how to finish books you've bought and enjoy the journey of reading and lifelong learning

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[RCWaldun]

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[Eden-Restored]

Finally someone on YouTube who focuses on the pleasure of the reading experience, rather than how many books they can get through. 📚😊

[Momentumunboun]

I surprisingly have the exact opposite reaction when I enter a bookstore. My main goal is to buy a book or two that I have been meaning to purchase for some time. I go in, I browse, get overwhelmed by the all the options, and eventually get discouraged, and leave the store empty handed. So not only do I get discouraged from buying the book that I wanted to, I actually end up making up a justification or reason as to why I should maybe hold off on purchasing books for a while...AGAIN!! Not sure if I am the only one that goes through this!! 🙃

[betterdevils]

To the “artificial reading goals” point. I had to understand I didn’t have to “read the classics” to feel better about the book im reading

[Kenobiix]

For tips for people with adhd, or those who find routine hard - the best thing i’ve found is to only buy one book and read it straight away (while its new). I find it way easier to pick up and start reading when its a new object. So buy read buy read sort of routine. That’s what works for me, however when u have a huge pile to books to read its hard to get to that point :’D

[dimitrav]

On tracking your reading: you don’t have to have a reading goal and then read to reach that, rather than get pleasure from reading. But I think, at least for me and especially in second hand bookstores or getting ebooks, the impulse to buy comes from the anxiety that I’m going to forget this book and never have a chance to read it. It is a consumerist anxiety of an acquisitive way of thinking, and the best way I have used to alleviate it without spending money, is adding the books I find on to the to-read pile of StoryGraph. It’s really helped, but I didn’t see reading as something I ought to do anyway, I always do it for the fun of it

[TerryC]

Hi Robin! From age 15 on, I have been an unrepentant bibliophile. I love everything about books and own MANY. When I was a younger man, I found it much easier to read and my completion pace was rather impressive if I say so myself. Later, I started to struggle because I was often drawn away by digital content. The way I am battling this, with reasonable success, is setting aside time, each day, for digital free periods for reading, meditation, and walking. I find when I make a DELIBERATE effort I am able to enjoy my reading and progress to completion. I appreciate your insightful content very much. Thanks!

[Vita-eqoj]

I just watched an amazing documentary here on YouTube about this and I really wanted to share it here, it’s called “Bookstores: how to read more books in the golden age of content”. Really a masterpiece, it features some of the worlds most beautiful bookstores and a lot of experts on the field. The final message I got was to “read widely” instead of following a list of “books that you must read” and also, surprisingly, to read s l o w l y… let the book get you to a state of reflection “because is hard to read without reflecting”. So in a sense reading is like meditating, and also of course like time traveling ;)

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this video and good luck with your studies!

[tricky-vixen]

SIR, I did not need to be called out like this so early in the morning. 😂 But excellent points and tips!

I will say doing most of my reading on e-reading devices has somewhat helped curb my tsundoku urges. In a bookstore, there is something about holding the book in hand that creates an attachment and a compelling feeling to take it home with me. “It’s here, right now, and what if (irrationally, improbably) it’s not here next time I come back?” Whereas e-books tend to feel more like “Meh, it’ll be there when I’m ready for it.” But that’s just my experience!

[BunsBooks]

I’m a big proponent of tracking books, I write down all the books I’ve read in a dedicated journal. My goal for the journal is not to relish in how fast I can fill it up with titles but as a document that I can pass down to my grandkids. I got my love of reading from my late grandma and I’ve read some of her own journals, sometimes she mentions books she’s read and it makes me wish I had a whole list of all the books she read in her lifetime so that I can enjoy those too now that she’s gone. So I’m making that in the hope I’ll have my own grandkids and that they’ll appreciate it and take some bookish inspiration from it

[anthonyhowardstark]

For me personally, Goodreads actually helps me with reading! I love the idea of tracking my reading activities, not for the sake of being extra productive and reading as much as possible, but for me it‘s just fun :D

[aniaferr]

This is amazing life advice in general. "you need to resist the thrill of chasing highs because reading itself, it takes time" like any good things in life. Thanks for this video.

[gabriellebelcourt]

Another helpful point to overcoming Tsundoku is to utilize your libraries. Libraries now also provide audiobooks and ebooks, as well as good ol' fashioned physical books. If you truly loved the book after reading it from your library it's a nice treat to wander to the bookstore and purchase the book for your personal collection.

And as a person who likes to track what I read (and look back on my reading journey) a less aggressive approach could be to set a low reading goal (on Goodreads), and then as the year progresses you can set it higher. It's still giving you the option of having reading goals, but takes the pressure away.

[loveingbot]

Usually tracking what I've read doesn't take me more than 2 minutes a day. Opposed to the couple of hours I spend reading said day. I think the pressure we put on ourselves is what pushes us away from the actual reading experience. In my mind, it's fine not getting to read everything I set out to read that year. No pressure.

[grassypond]

To curb my desire for book buying I always look on my local Public Library website to see if I can just borrow the book for free. Sometimes it will remain on my table untouched, but at least I haven't payed any money for it.

Another way the library has been helping me is being part of a monthly book club. Having a regularly scheduled social obligation is often enough of a kick on the butt I need to actually read at least one book a month.

[DeweyDecimatum]

oh literally perfect timing for this video in my life, thank you haha 😅 literally have gotten over 30 books this summer (in my defense, I was abroad and getting a lot of books I couldn't get at home) but now I'm home and still buying new books so thank you from the bottom of my heart XD

[simoroshka]

I was in a bookstore and tempted by a 2 for 1 offer... and then I just checked every interesting book on my local library website, and added them to my list to order later. Library is a great money saver 🎉

[mfar]

Thank you! I’m just breaking out of this struggle. I’ve committed to not buy any new books, in an effort to minimize & reduce spending. I have done quite well with that! However, I’ve returned to being a library worm, & often borrow books & return them unread. I’ve considered it a slump, but honestly, it’s the magnetic pull of social media.

[enlightenedanalysis]

Another great tip for reading the books gathering dust on your shelf is actually taking them OFF your shelf and placing them near you. Keep them close so you can reach them and start reading. Thanks for your video. Agree with you.

[thecosmicprime]

Best reading advice, I just deleted my tracking app and realized that much of my reading was for the goal. Doing this small task has allowed me to not worry about reading for the sake of reading but reading to understand the text. Also, it helps get rid of the stigma of not finishing a book. With hundreds of books in my library, this is helpful.