Why I’m Not Impressed By How Many Books

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[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The article was angled more from the perspective of the writer sharing their reading journal from the

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] But where they lost me was when I saw the reaction to this particular article in both

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] To borrow a popular phrase from Nick and Charlie in Heartstopper: why are we like this?

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Sign up to Today In Books to receive daily news and miscellany from the world of books

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] I’m also not implying that all readers necessarily suffer from the same mental health concerns as

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] But I do know for a fact that we have a tendency to believe books are magic,

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Of course books are magic — go watch The Pagemaster if you need a reminder of the right

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] In this context, books are magic in the figurative sense, not the literal

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] If anything, reading too many books just increased my periods of burnout that I could never explain,

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] I don’t believe that the writer of the BuzzFeed Books article sought out to encourage people

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] I’m sure the intention behind the headline was genuine and innocent, just wanting to share their

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Because I don’t wish the pain and suffering that an unhealthy coping mechanism, like reading too