Cultural observations: people that read books in public

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Filmed by Raven Goldston

[meditationsfortheanxiousmind]

Hello everyone it’s me I’m typing this from an iPhone. If you would like to support me so I can continue to make documentaries like this you can buy me a coffee with the link in the video description. Namaste 🙏🏻

[VexJinks]

As a public book reader, I patiently await the day someone sits beside me and casually asks me what I'm reading.

[mcnair]

I just wanted to read my book for 30 mins on my work break but now I've gotta think about the cultural implications of my simple action.

[mduffy]

I know this is a joke video but It's kind of sad to me that something as simple as reading has been reduced to an exercise in identity, and is seen as pretentious when it used to just be a thing that people did.

[vincentlaw]

As a puplic book reader, I couldn't keep a straight face 😂 because this is just going through my head too often, especially because I just want to read a book while also being outside, but I always feel the pretentiousness of that image creeping up to me.

[arsionak]

If you ever feel confident just wait until Frankie makes a study of the exact kind you belong to

[SindreGaaserod]

As a scholar, historian and, of course, a public book-reader, I do look down upon people who are glued to their phones, as I view it as cultural decadence. And, it is, indeed, a spectacle since I always read highly glorious books in public for my own enjoyment as well as for the public, so they can admire the sight of such a gentleman of high culture and intellect.

[BunsBooks]

I didn’t know people felt self conscious reading in public or read to be seen, this is an interesting cultural observation. I’m a GenZ but didn’t get a phone until I was a teenager, I was also homeschooled so that might have something to do with it, maybe I didn’t get bullied enough. My mom taught me to take a book with me wherever I went so I wouldn’t be idle even if I had to sit and wait somewhere.

We did a math equation where we calculated the average books we read in a year and compared that to the average age people live to in my family and determined the minimum and maxium amount of books I could read in my life before I die and that has instilled in me a special type of fomo. It makes it feel like crap when I catch myself staying at home doom scrolling, cause I could be reading, discovering a new world and new ideas to me, instead I’m just watching memes 😶

I’m gonna go read

[thatonepekokinnie]

I remember reading a book while watitng at the train stop, and a little girl, who I'm sure was in primary school, took out a book from her backpack and pretended to read next to me, and she was eyeballing my every move, even when we entered the train.

[ironflazambat]

I read in public for a reason that’s probably more embarrassing, because in my own private space I can’t trust myself to not fall into a YouTube (or just tech in general) rabbit hole like the one I’m in now. I can have such little self control that sometimes I’ll go out without even taking my phone—just me and my book (and keys I guess)—so that I’m put at ease by the fact that I’ve made it more or less impossible not to have a productive reading excursion.

[mishXY]

I don't call it reading in public, but reading outside. It is just nice to find the right bench in the park with the least amount of foot traffic, but with a nice backdrop - and just read, sometimes I go on a hike to a place where there are no people at all and read there for hours.

sometimes I feel so locked up at home, distracted by computer, phone, TV, music production equipment, and the fridge - always looking for an easy dopamine hit. outside, like some others mentioned, I go with just a book and some coffee, tea, or even soup in a thermos and read for a couple of hours.

the only distraction is all those Irish youtubers asking me questions all the fucking time

[ACShotRun]

as a public book pretend reader, I congratulate you on your observations and efforts. i can only hope more people pay attention to us -- or, even better, to me.

[mehakverma]

One time I was reading a book at a bus stop and this guy started waiting for the bus with me. He asked me what I was reading and we had a whole conversation. Then he told me that he wasn't actually waiting for the bus he just wanted to ask me out because he thought I looked smart and pretty.

Another time I was reading a book at the bus stop, a car on the road literally pulled over, the driver got out, and gave me his business card trying to hire me because I looked like I was smart and well-read.

So yes, reading a book in public is not just narcissistic, but it also brings good things.

[VidelRed]

I read in public and it’s 50% reading and 50% stomping out the pompous voice in your head that tells you you’re better than other people just for reading a physical book. Do not listen to that voice. Good video as always!

[katharina...]

Frankie: People who read books in public are control freaks.
Also Frankie: Are you swinging your legs? 😁
This is the most sophisticated unsophisticated humour I've witnessed in a long time 😁👍

[lewiss]

I occasionally read in public. People who don’t are really missing out though. Sitting down in a cafe, drinking hot chocolate while occasionally glancing out the window, people watching as you read. Truly a tranquil experience.

[sonyclaystation]

reading in public is extremely comforting with the free background noise. sometimes wind, most times chatter. my house gets isolating really fast so everytime i get to go out and read, it feels like a blessing

[LordHighTorturer]

As a public book reader, this cut like a knife through to the deepest part of my psyche.

[sushimidget]

They're reminding people that books exist. I thank them for their service.

[siennaskye]

as a public reader, half of it is for the aesthetic, half of it is because its more fun to read outside than in bed, and a small part is because its really fun to be in a busy place and pay zero attention to what's around and just get lost in the book (until I reach the end and have to cry)