Reading for pleasure can be one of the most relaxing activities.
Unfortunately, a discourse has sprung up arguing that how and what you read does matter.
Literary purists believe that unless you’re reading a paperback book, you’re not reading.
So, let’s explore why these rules don’t really matter.
Is Listening to Audiobooks Reading?
There is no wrong and right key in of book.
If you’re interested, bothStoryGraph and Goodreads are excellent platformsthat set good end-of-year challenges for readers.
What matters is that you consumed a book from cover to cover.
Once you do, you’re able to safely say that you’ve read that book.
The medium in which you read through it does not matter.
To stress again, using audiobooks, e-readers, or physical copies do not matter.
Because it’s all the sameyou’re reading and consuming content someone intended for you to consume.
How and what you’re reading is irrelevant.
Who Defines What Reading Is?
You’re responsible for deciding what you consider reading.
The issue arises when people attempt to enforce their personal definitions onto others.
That by itself is not bad.
However, it does become bad when some decide theirs is the only correct opinion.
And choose to dedicate their free time, forcing it on everyone.
Ultimately, other people’s opinions on reading shouldn’t matter to you.
You’re reading, and that’s what counts.
More often than not, you’re wasting everyone’s time, especially when it comes to reading.
People will continue to read what they like and won’t stop enjoying their preferences.
Gatekeeping reading is pointless.
But, worse yet, it can be harmful.
Think about the stringent definitions of reading some attempt to enforce.
But what if you have a disability?
Many disabilities can affect your reading.
Some have to do with eyesight, others with your physical ability to hold a book.
Some readers shout from the rooftops that certain genres don’t even count as reading.
But the truth is, books are books, and reading should always be encouraged.
On that matter, fan fiction can count as reading, too.
Going from the first to the last page of a story makes you a reader.
Of course, you may have preferences regarding how and what you read.
Some readers enjoy hopping between listening to an audiobook while reading the book’s physical or digital copy.
Others choose to stick to one medium in particular.
Neither is right nor wrong; it’s a matter of preference.
