BOOKSTORES: How to Read More Books in the Golden Age of Content

Bookstores have always driven me crazy. So much to read and so little time! And now with our lives chock full of CONTENT--Netlflix, podcasts, social media, YouTube, and the 24 hour news cycle--when the hell are we supposed to find the time to get through a book? This has haunted me for awhile now. So I decided to make a film about it, hoping to find a way through my bookstore anxiety--a way to re-balance my content diet in order to read more books.



Music:

Local Drone/Ronin Outfits:

Bookstores Featured:
Elliot Bay Books (Seattle, WA)
Bookhampton (Easthampton, NY)
Cook & Book (Brussels, Belgium)
Tropismes (Brussels, Belgium)
Boekhandel Dominicanen (Maastricht, Netherlands)
Ler Devagar (Lisbon, Portugal)
Obidos Bookshops (Obidos, Portugal)
The Literary Man Hotel (Obidos, Portugal)
Lello (Porto, Portugal)
Re-Read (Barcelona, Spain)
Cultura (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Saraiva (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Livraria Da Vila (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Ateneo Gran Splendid (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

[addledhead]

The irony of going "wow only 30 minutes a day, why don't I do that?" while I watch a 37 minute short film on books is at least not *entirely* lost on me

[hugoankarcrona]

This is what youtube should be like. Entertaining, intelligent, creative and important. The fact that it's free almost makes me feel guilty.

[superfanofmavisdracula]

32:19 "maybe the whole purpose of reading wasn't to learn more, but to get in touch with that deep and quiet part of yourself." This sentence made me so emotional because it is so true. I wouldn't trade being an avid book reader for all the money in the world.

[kai_bittner]

Read what YOU want to read. If you're reading as a hobby, you can read anything you want and never touch what you aren't interested in. There's no pressure to read popular books, or classics, or anything else. Just pick up something that interests you and try it! Also, don't be afraid to put something down if you start and find out it's not for you. There's no shame in putting down a book when reading feels like a chore.

[mariabelenlopez]

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO’S ANXIETY IS CAUSED BY THE FEAR OF NOT READING ENOUGH IN MY WHILE LIFE

[casey]

this is incredible maxi. there aren't many creators who the put work and thoughtfulness into their video (i know i lack the patience) to make something this deep. you are a light that guides the way. oh. also.. UPLOAD MORE!!!

[MelineTarpinyan]

Tricks that helped me read a lot more
1. Always having at least one book on you wherever you go, especially at school or work. You'd be surprised that in a seven hour school day you can get 40-150 pages done just by using vacant time to read a few pages!
2. Simply start by reading for enjoyment. Reread your childhood favorites if you're in a slump. I reread Harry Potter as a 16 year old and when I say that shit was enjoyable af, I mean it.
3. If you're gonna try and tackle a really hard classic, read stuff that's easy and fun in between. For example, when I was reading Dostoevsky, I sandwiched it by reading romcoms and before and after.

The point of reading is not just to learn but to enjoy yourself. Keep this is mind!
That's how I was able to read at least 50+ books this year.

[alharris]

Non-reader here, reporting in after watching this 3 years ago. Up till 29, I’d read maybe…3 books. Since watching I’ve read all of HP, GoT, 2 dozen self help books, and a few other randos. This video deserves an Oscar.

[averiellevanhorne]

"the busyness does not make our lives meaningful" damn that line really hit

[debjyotibiswas]

Reading starts becoming fun when you stop seeing it as a chore and start seeing it more as a source of entertainment like insta or yt because thats exactly what books are.

[bibitheunicorn]

As a child/teenager, reading was my favourite thing to do. You'd never catch me without a book. Then, suddenly, I fell out of love with reading. I don't even know what happened. I still told people that reading was a hobby of mine, but I probably only read about 3 books or so per year.
In 2021, I saw this video. Specifically the first 6 minutes. Seeing visualized how few books I'd get to enjoy in the time I had left at my reading pace, encouraged me to pick up reading again, and I managed to finish 12 books that year. Yay!
After that, my friend introduced me to goodreads and I set my reading goal to 14 books for 2022. I thought that was plenty; more than 1 book a month! Seeing my virtual shelf of read books grow just gave me such a satisfying feeling.

But the more I read, the more I remembered why I used to love it. I fell in love with the stories again.

I read 248 books in 2022, and I have no intention of stopping. I love books again <3

[Cupidsransom]

I honestly felt like I was the only person who felt the overwhelming feeling / anxiety of ‘there’s too many books and not enough years of my life’. Thank you so much for at least making me feel like I’m not crazy.

[Lee-jexz]

When you're supposed to be reading but instead you're binge watching videos about how to read more.

[hanb]

“Bookstores are basically art galleries with stories attached.”

So, in other words, my heaven.

[micheller]

I decided like 5 days ago that I was gonna replace my morning doomscrolling for reading 5-10 pages from a book first thing every morning unless it's not possible. So far I love it, I start my day inspired and relaxed instead of overwhelmed and anxious. It was a very easy switch to make too.

[Crazard]

Despite being 3 years late, this is one of the most well produced videos on YouTube. Well done mate

[lalalallalalaala]

i think our book anxiety comes from romanticizing the action of reading books instead of reading them for their stories :(

[araag]

The quality of this video is too damn high

[vinnie]

this is genuinely one of the best youtube videos i’ve ever watched, it felt like a documentary.

[JacobeWilson]

This video profoundly changed how I spend my time. I've always loved reading, I was a voracious reader as a child and before going into university, but upon graduating and starting working, I stopped reading for pleasure (mostly). Then I saw this video, and it made me want to reclaim my love of reading. Since watching this in 2019, I've read about 240-260 books-- and I'm again known as a 'reader'. I can point directly to seeing this video and changing my life, and I can thank you indirectly to reigniting my love of encountering new ideas and lives on the page. Thank you!