To read, or not to read

Is it an answer?

‘Have you ever noticed that people who are excited about books are never just slightly excited about books? They consider books to be best friends, guiding lights, powerful treasures to reshape lives. Avid readers are so passionate that they radiate when they read. Or talk about books.’

He moved his hands whenever he would speak with such passion. I nodded. I poured him some more coffee.

‘But the call of novels is fading. Just type in ‘the decline of reading’ and you will find more disturbing articles and surveys on the matter than you would want to read.’

‘Mmmh’ I said and moved my finger along my chin. ‘How could that possibly be? We don’t need professors to tell us why this is happening, right? Screens have taken over the world. Wherever you go you will see people on screens. Or people on screens with earpods in their ears… fricking zombies.’

Outside the rain had stopped, but November was relentless and it was cold inside.

‘When I studied English literature in Amsterdam between 2005 and 2009 there was nothing remarkable about reading a novel in public. But I graduated in 2009. What did we have back then?’

My cat had jumped onto the table to join us. I petted her on the head. ‘Myspace? But I remember the iPhone got everyone hooked instantly. Me included. And Facebook was on the rise around that time.’

He looked at me with a look as bewildered as his frizzy hair. ‘I believe I was too old already to notice any of that back then,’ he said.

‘I remember that period well because of the albums that came out in that period’, I explained. The Satanic Satanist by Portugal. The Man. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes. Vampire Weekend’s debut. Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals. And many more. These were great times for indie music. I used to check out all those bands on Myspace.’

He smiled. ‘Music really is your compass of how, what, why and when.’ He looked into his cup. As if some truth could be found in there.

‘But Frank.. now, 15 years later, reading in public has become a rarity. When I’m commuting in Amsterdam. I am the only person reading a book in public transport. What is worse, and I am not making this up, younger people scrutinize that strange thing in my hand with wonder and distrust.

Did you read that article by Ted Gioia I sent you some weeks ago?’

I shook my head.

‘Never mind. I will mail it to you again. He said he had become self-conscious about reading in public. Something he has done all his life has become something he does with unease.’

‘Oof. I feel the same. What you are saying is not strange, Walter. Not at all. I know you are not making it up. I experience this too! A group of kids even made fun of me about a month ago in the metro. But why? And why do I feel ashamed when I say I am proud to be a reader of books?’

Outside it had started to rain again. It was already getting dark.

‘Don’t you get it, Frank? Don’t you get it?’ His voice got edgy. The revolutionary in him was surfacing. This would happen every now and then.

‘We live in the time of hypercapitalism. The internet, TikTok, X and everything have taken over. Short-span consumerism has become a religion. Kids are baptized into it at a young age. Teenagers don’t know what breakfast is any longer. They don’t need food in the morning. They want their dopamine shots. Dopamine shots.’

He repeated the word one more time. ‘A book requires attention and commitment. The investment of time and thought. Reflection.’

I wanted to pour him some more coffee, but he put his hand over his cup and shook his head. Outside I noticed that the street lights were on. I got up and switched on the light, then returned to the table.

‘Walter… You are totally right. But we need to turn this story around. To read or not to read. That is the question. We should brag about our readership. Be as proud as we could possibly be.’

Walter opened his mouth, but I knew what he was going to say, so I continued before he could interrupt.

‘I mean bragging in a positive sense. Without any snobbery of course. By reading and especially reading in public, we are planting seeds. Powerful seeds. Whoever frowns on me when I am reading is ignorant. He or she is potentially witnessing me reading a life-changing line in a novel. Or witnessing how I am in fact not in the metro at all. But in some faraway city or trapped in a remarkable opinion I would never have encountered in my hectic day-to-day life.

These people may think that I am absent like them. But it is the total opposite. I am immersed in a book.’

‘I get you Frank. They will see how you radiate with joy when you read. And how the book is the reason for that. That simple thing you hold in your hand. Like a phone it is an object. But this object is not a source of distraction. Or content infinity. It is no sedating factor. It is a deliberate choice that you surrender yourself to it. Place yourself in the author’s hands.

And of course the book surrenders itself to the reader. It is a reflection of who you are and helps you reflect on who you are. As a person in this world. Books stand for personality. For empathy. When you read, you are interested in the world.’

I noticed how his typical grin had been growing and growing as he spoke these last lines.

‘To read is to be. Not to read is not to be.’

We were silent again. We looked at each other and started to laugh. The cat jumped from the table.

‘That is a shitload of snobbery there, Frank. But I like it. We should use our reading superpowers and go out with our books. Our cult will grow. Gradually, reading books will win the world back. Very soon we will see many people reading again in public. In parks, cafes, restaurants.’

‘That sounds good. We are not alone in this. I will send out a message to all readers. Let’s start our reading revolution in public transport.’

‘Agreed.’

Walter looked at his watch without really looking and got up.

‘I need to go. You know my wife. Dinner will be on the table at half past 5 sharp. Thanks for the coffee. Great to chat again. Let me know what you think of the book.’

He shook my hand and I showed him out.