A recent Chicago Tribune article titled, Why Don’t Men Read Novels? describes that many men don’t read in any genre. Is it the way we are wired or the type of content we consume? Or both?
I admit that in my younger days, I was not much of a reader. As I get older though, I have learned to pick up a good book or magazine more often. I also skim-read my local newspapers every day, starting with the sports section followed by the business news, then the main section. I occasionally read nonfiction books on self-help or a business topic, or a timely autobiography. Of course, I do read my Bible, primarily whenever I lead the discussion in our men’s group. I’m still not a voracious reader, probably due to my increasingly bad attention span or self-diagnosed case of ADD. I just don’t like to read as much as my wife, who can sit for hours reading a book. I am like most guys.
No Surprise: Men Read Less than Women
The Tribune article by John Warner, author of Why They Can’t Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities states women buy the vast majority (around 80%) of books in the United States. Warner, a straight man, middle-aged man who reads a lot of novels, wasn’t surprised by the statistic but hadn’t considered that it was the type of novels specifically that men aren’t reading. Men usually don’t read literary novels like character-heavy romance stories or plot-driven dystopian horror fiction like women do.
However, as I wrote in Men Who Read Learn to Lead, males are falling behind in the education system. Statistically, they also lead in the “deaths of despair” (suicide, drug addictions, and alcoholism). Guys who struggle tend to watch content to offset their stress, whether its through pornography or binge-watching their favorite streaming service, rather than read.
Could the type of content cause these poor reading habits? More importantly, what can we do to improve reading among men.
We are Productive Readers
Among men who do read, we read mostly self-help and business books since those help our productivity. Warner cites Georgina Elliott that men are not socialized to read as much as women. Writing for Dazed magazine online, Elliott shares a theory that men internalize the expectation they must be “productive” agents in the world so they read more self-help and business books (I’m guilty as charged!). For many guys, reading novels is viewed as lazy. Some view it as not productive because you passively experience the lives of others rather than learn a new skill.
Warner also quotes Alistair Brown, a literature professor at Durham University who studies reading patterns, that men see reading fiction pays off in “meaningful returns.” This falls in line with the mantra “Leaders are Readers” that so many of us heard during our careers. But we also lack reading role models in other men.
We Should Read More for Pleasure
My wife reads very few non-fiction books. She doesn’t read trashy novels but frequently passes recommendations and copies of completed books between her friends. I tend to read only non-fiction so she encourages me to read more for pleasure, especially now that I retired.
While I’ve tried to read more fiction, I can’t seem to get over the hump. Years ago, I read several John Grisham books (Time to Kill, The Firm, Pelican Brief, The Client). I even picked up Grisham’s recent book (The Exchange) based on a recommendation from one of my buddies. Maybe I need to find a favorite author again!
Reading (in Print) is Good for Your Brain
Having worked in the printing and publishing industries, I’’ve read a lot about the impact of digital consumption on our brains. While I no longer have access to the articles and brain science studies on reading via a screen vs paper, I did notice a change in my attention span and concentration that last season of my career as everything went through email and over the web. Several school districts are also exploring bans on cell phone use in the classrooms.
Studies also show the tactile aspect of paper is better for comprehension than clicking a screen. The content pulls the reader in more and they concentrate better when they read ink on paper. Also, stories in books and magazines are linear so you aren’t distracted by links to other sources (like the links in this post… doh!).
Multitasking also hampers your ability to listen and process learning material as effectively since it takes the bran up to 15 minutes to return to its focused state after a distraction. Notifications from your email or pop-up texts when you read digitally also become a distraction. The blue-light from screens also inhibit melatonin production which affects your sleep quality. Try staying away from your cell phone or digital reader in the evening.
I know the “ship has sailed” and we will never eliminate screen content from our habits. However, I do think there is room for both digital and print. For instance, its very convenient (and less weight to carry) to download several books to your tablet for traveling rather than lugging around three or four 800+ page tomes.
Friends Encourage Each Other to Read
As I previously stated, leaders are readers so I believe mature men should be continual learners. We need to make reading a daily practice. Although men usually don’t join book clubs, I do suggest you join a men’s Bible study or couple’s group with your spouse. You can also ask your buddies about what they are reading and share your conclusions on the book. Practically speaking, try reading either first thing in the morning. Sit down with a good book during the last hour of the evening to sleep better (Trust me, as someone who does not sleep well, I’ve made it a practice to move away from my computer by 9 o’clock every night to reduce the blue-light effects).
For GodBuddies, reading your Bible is important to your spiritual growth. It helps you learn the Old and New Testament stories of God and His Son which help you become more Christ-like. So start a read plan, regardless of whether you use a Kindle or read in print. And make sure you read both fiction for study and non-fiction for pleasure reading. You will become more reflective, thoughtful and knowledgeable.
Wisdom for Men is based on my opinions on topics that help men become better men. The sources used for these posts are not fact-checked, but support my theory that men are better with deeper, more authentic friendships. My GodBuddy theory is based on biblical principles but applies to all men, regardless of their beliefs. Better friendships among men will help solve the crisis of male friendships and many of today’s problems… because the world needs better men!
[Feature Image: Books Flying Through the Sky by Luis Pedrosa from Salon.com]
