I’ve recently been pondering the question: Can reading be unhealthy? My immediate answer is no, because there are so many good and positive benefits for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health from reading books that feed our hearts and minds. Many studies have shown that illiteracy and being unable to read, listen, comprehend or communicate via language leads to poor outcomes.
Can reading too much be a problem? More specifically, can reading too many fiction books lead to negative outcomes? I’ve stumbled across a couple of book vloggers on YouTube who have talked about the downside of reading too much. Anything from the stress of meeting book reading annual targets to fulfilling book reviewing or influencer reading commitments to general burn out and not wanting to read at all.
Audiobooks have provided a wonderful alternative to eyestrain and other physical limitations to reading words on a page. Devices that allow font size changes and lighting adjustments have made it easier for many people to read without experiencing physical problems, including headaches and migraines.
A few weeks ago I was in Sydney, and I visited the newsagent store where my grandmother used to buy her monthly supply of category romance books. She passed away thirty years ago, and newsagent stores are totally different now to what they looked like last century. Physical newspapers and magazines were almost nonexistent. The stationery section was tiny. The book section was large, but it didn’t stock category romance. Giftware items made up the bulk of the retail floorspace.
My grandmother’s biggest hobby was reading. Her house contained boxes and boxes and more boxes of books. She’d read nearly all of her books, and she loaned them out to my aunts and her close friends who’d add their first name initials to the first page to help track who had read each book. And, my grandmother allowed me to explore her book collection and follow in her footsteps by developing my love for reading romance. My family is happy that my book hoarding habit is electronic rather than having a house filled with boxes of books, lol.
I remember family members criticising my grandmother for spending most of her time sitting on her front porch reading romance novels. She’d put aside her book to chat with neighbors who were out and about, and she’d always give visitors her full attention. I was outspoken, and I’d stand up for my grandmother and her right to spend her leisure time doing something she loved. The romance haters and reading grinches could keep their opinions to themselves!
I’ve always viewed diving into a book and becoming immersed in a great story as a constructive and positive way to escape the stress and pressures of life. Exercising while reading or listening to a book or a podcast combines the best of both worlds. My grandmother’s life wasn’t easy. She was married only a few weeks before my grandfather was deployed in the Australian Army during WW2. In the early 1950’s she sadly lost her third daughter who was only a toddler, and nearly lost my mother as well, to encephalitis.
I understood why my grandmother chose to read happy books, as she called them, to experience joy and optimism and hope. I read in different genres, but most of the books I read are CCR (contemporary Christian romance). If I’m looking for a happy and hope-filled story, I have a long line of CCR ebooks in my Kindle ready to meet that need.
What do you think? Can reading be unhealthy? Or, is it the book content rather than the action of reading itself that’s potentially unhealthy? I know there are book categories and genres that would be unhealthy for me to consume. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Books are like any other means of artistic expression such as music, movies, or comics: They are not bad or harmful in themselves but if you obsess over them to the point where you put aside your responsibilities or are filling your mind with things that do not honor God is bad.
Of course, even talking about healthy things can be harmful, for example, someone who is very sensitive can be affected by reading certain kinds of stories, no matter how good messages they bring, I got quite depressed after reading “the boy with the striped pajamas.”
I believe that doing any thing that we do to excess may not be healthy, even reading or exercise. If you are reading and shutting out the outside world, not being present in your life that is certainly not healthy either physically or mentally. Life balance is essential for a happy for a healthy happy life. I have always read a lot, and like your grandmother had boxes and boxes of books stashed everywhere, shared with whoever wanted to read the happy ending type of romance that I enjoyed . My life was the same as anyone else full of challenges. As a military wife, a balance of a demanding job as a nurse, raising children sometimes alone, frequent moves a starting over making new friends helping the children settle in to their new reality of new schools and neighborhoods sometimes somewhere that required a new language. At the end of the dayI really needed something just for me, a small escape if you will. I found reading allowed me to unwind, relax, and recharge. Many times my love of reading was criticized by others, it was a waste of money, and my time could be better spent on more important things. I was never without a book I read during my sons band and sports practices, while waiting at-appointments. A healthy coping strategy or selfish escape a matter of perspective.
I think reading is generally positive. On two occasions reading has been unhealthy for me. When I developed RSI and reading physical books aggravated the injury (no ebooks back then). When I first started reading on a mobile phone, the muscle strain from holding the mobile and when my grip of the phone would loosen it would fall on my face, ouch! Now I have alternate strategies so I can enjoy reading without hurting myself :D
I fully admit to reading too much sometimes. Like when I read to myself instead of spending time with my kids. Or when it causes me to burn the dinner. ;-) And I gave up one of the reading challenges I had done the last three years because I knew I had so much else going on this year that it would stress me out more than bring enjoyment. Especially since I am still in a book club, too. But I think as long as we make sure we don’t let it take over and skew our priorities, it’s fine. :-)
Hi Narelle. Great question. Personally I do not believe that reading is unhealthy. There are genre I prefer not to read. Also I read different genre depending on my mood. I prefer variety. Exploring new authors and genre. Several times a year, especially after read boxed sets there are times I need a break from romance and HEA. This was true during the darkest winter days of Covid, while sheltering at home. I read more mysteries, since many romances didn’t mention Covid. Enjoy your weekend.
I think reading, or anything else we may do, can be unhealthy if we are using it in place of actually “living” our lives, and if they become more important than our relationship with God. However, I also see reading CCR and other CF as a way for us to grow and expand our faith and draw us closer to God. We may never experience what the characters in the books do, yet we can learn from their examples without having to experience whatever they did, and sometimes we may question (in both good and bad ways) some of the theology in the books we read, which can then get us digging into what God’s Word actually says. Just like there are tv shows, movies, and music I won’t watch or listen to, there are also books that I know are not for me, which is why I stick with CF, CCR, and authors I know and love. I have found new authors to love through the Christian authors I follow, so it’s a win in my book!
I think reading is like anything, it can become an idol or harmful if you allow it to take over your life in an obsessive way. I don’t really see it as harmful though if you’re reading to enjoy, refresh, or find a happy ending. Stories are important, they matter, and wanted to be careful what stories we’re taking in but I don’t think we should stop reading for enjoyment.
I agree with the responses here. As a young girl, I used reading to escape my anxiety and social awkwardness. To the point that in middle school the kids named me Bookworm. It took a lot of effort to change and get my nose out of fictional worlds and engage in the real one. Even now it can be a struggle, which is ironic considering I’m actually an extrovert who gets a lot of satisfaction from engaging with people. So yes, reading can become unhealthy if done for the wrong reasons, just like any other habit or hobby. It can also become an idol when we go to a book to meet our needs before going before the Lord, spending our focus and energy reading rather than worshipping. But that’s another issue altogether. 😉
I’m not sure about unhealthy, but I know that I have to be in a certain mindset to read some stories.
I do not think that reading is unhealthy. The content in the book can be the issue that is unhealthy. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
I can understand bloggers and reviewers being stressed out due to having to read x amount of books or worried when they dislike a book the author will be upset. I use to do challenges but due to migraine pain I now don’t read as much and I choose what I want to read and when. Its not as much as before but I can handle it now. (although the last book stalled about 2 or 3 weeks ago).
It can be unhealthy when you read to 3 am in the morning and then are not able to function properly in your job but its more because a reader is undisciplined and doesn’t set boundries for reading.
It could also be unhealthy depending what you read but reading CCR isn’t the same as reading dark satanic books or erotica etc.
I don’t think reading can be unhealthy, unless we are filling our minds with things that aren’t good for us. I only read Christian fiction with the rare clean Regency romance, so I know I won’t ever fill my mind with filthy language or bedroom type scenes. There are certain genres that I am careful with, for example suspense or speculative CF. There are CF authors who write speculative that I won’t read because for me the stories are a little too “edgy”, if that makes sense.
I also had to give up a lot of my review/launch teams years ago because I was reading so many books at a time that I became burned out. Trying to meet deadlines was becoming stressful and reading felt like a chore instead of pleasure.
So while I don’t believe that there is ever a time that reading becomes unhealthy, I think if we let it interfere with real life responsibilities & relationships that it can become unwise. As much as I read, I try not to let it take place of more important things :-) Or read genres that don’t feed my soul & spirit.
Hi Lilly, yes, an obsession with reading, or with reading material that’s not good for us, can be harmful. Knowing our personal sensitivities to specific issues or topics is definitely important. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Teri, If ebooks didn’t exist, I’m pretty sure I’d either have more books than I could store, or I’d be visiting the library all the time. It’s sad that people feel the need to criticise us for our choice to read for leisure. Years ago, when I first started writing romance, one of my work colleagues told me I was wasting my time and I should be writing and reading ‘proper’ books. She loaned me an award winning literary fiction book that was so boring and definitely not what I wanted to write. We agreed to disagree, and I continued on my romance writing journey. I’m unapologetic about my love for escaping into a great story and, nine times out of ten, that story is likely to be a romance or have romantic elements. I do enjoy being able to read on my phone while filling in time rather than lugging a print book everywhere. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Dianne, Reading a print book while struggling with RSI would not be fun. I’m glad phones and devices are now lighter and easier to manage. It’s not good if you’re hurting yourself while reading! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Amy, Years ago I used to read paperbacks on the bus while travelling to and from work. The only problem was I’d get absorbed in the story and miss my bus stop. I’d have to trek back up a steep hill, which became longer and steeper depending on how long it took me to notice I’d missed my stop, lol. I learned not to read my book when I had to change buses and couldn’t afford to miss my stop. OTOH, writing and becoming too absorbed in my fictional world has led to late dinners. I use a timer on my phone if I’ve put something in the oven, and I used to have a 2.30pm alarm set for Mon-Fri so I’d remember to collect my kids from school on time. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Renate, I mostly read CCR but I do enjoy reading different genres. My mood will dictate my genre choice. I will confess, unless the box set is a strongly interconnected series, I will rarely read all the books in the box in a row. I don’t have KU and, since I’m buying the box, I can go back anytime to read it. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, I agree, and CF and CCR can be helpful in both nurturing our faith and expanding our horizons. I don’t often come across theology in CCR that I view as problematic, but I think that’s more a reflection of my reading choices. I primarily read authors who I know or who are recommended by trusted sources. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Megan, yes, reading could definitely become an idol if we’re not careful. Knowing my personality and my drive to meet my commitments, I can see how taking on too big a reading challenge goal could be detrimental to my life. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jaycee, yes, the idolatry aspect is something we can’t ignore. It has also become easier to avoid social interactions because we all carry phones or devices, and we use ear buds etc. It has never been easier to avoid engaging with the people around us in ways that are considered socially acceptable. An interesting topic to ponder. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Mary, yes, I’ll pick up a light read if I’m looking to relax and unwind and switch off to problems and stress. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, yes, book content can be problematic. I’ll happily stop reading a book and pick up another if the content is not good for me. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jenny, yes, that can be a difficult situation for bloggers and reviewers to navigate. I’ve intentionally stopped reading books in the evening if I know they’re going to keep me awake. Those are the books I start reading in the morning and read around my daily activities. When my migraines were really bad, I hardly read any fiction because it was too hard to concentrate. I did try audio books, but I kept falling asleep and forgetting where I was up to in the story. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trixi, yes, the content does matter. If I’m feeling a bit anxious, I’m not going to pick up a thriller/suspense that’s guaranteed to ramp up my blood pressure, lol. Burn out can definitely be a problem if we take on too much and lose life balance. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I’ve only done it once, myself, and it was one particular author, and I’d read over 20 of her books. The last one I read of hers was way over the top with wrong theology, though her others had all been great. I haven’t read another one of hers since, and though I loved the other books, I now can’t read those, either, as she had characters from those in the last one I read.
Okay, y’all have gone from preachin’ to meddlin’! Really. I feel terribly convicted reading all these admonitions about not letting reading interfere with the responsibilities of everyday life. That’s precisely what I am trying to escape from!
So, I guess I have to say I’m my own work-in-progress. :)
Hi Lincoln, lol, we’re all a work in progress. Don’t let us interfere with your escaping plans! Thanks for commenting. 😊
That’s disappointing, especially after reading 20+ books. You’d think you’d know the ins and outs of their faith beliefs after reading so many books. I always hope that readers feel they have the freedom to leave kind reviews that mention they weren’t comfortable with some of theological beliefs in the story.
Books are only unhealthy if they keep you from enjoying other aspects of life or if the content interferes with your life.
Hi Denise, That’s a helpful way of looking at it. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Yes! To read the last one, and she said that it was the “closest” to her actual beliefs, wow! It has totally colored my opinion of her and her books, for sure! I’ve told a few friends not to read that particular book if they wanted to keep a good opinion about the others. I did reviews, too, and put exactly what I had a problem with. That was one book I wish I had read reviews on! I was totally blindsided, as I knew her other books were really good, and did NOT see this coming at all. After reading so many of her books, I didn’t see a reason to check the reviews. All of her newer books, from what I can tell from reviews, are building on that one, so I’m glad I stopped reading her books.
What a great topic!
Actually I think it can be unhealthy but not reading itself, rather the idea of a perfect romance and HEA. As a young girl, when I read romances, I had so many expectations for my life LOL – I can laugh about it now – but it was an eye opener that real life is not a story in the book.
Hi Natalya, yes, the expectations can be a problem. Although, sometimes I’m glad my real life is boring and not as crazy as some of the CCR’s I’ve read, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊