Authors, March Is National Reading Month
We can, do, and should promote reading books as part of our normal activities
As a book publisher, I have long known that there are many non-book readers out in the world, but I have not overly concerned myself with that even as I wish the general populace were more capable and eager readers. For their own sake and for all our sakes. But, authors and publishers release, publish, and promote books for and to readers. Readers are our audience and our customers and that’s who we concern ourselves with on a day-to-day basis.
I have been alarmed though to hear in the last two to three years from a number friends and family members—avid readers by any definition—who admitted their reading was way down. They can no longer meaningfully sustain their focus most days to sit down and read a book. Or read more than a couple pages without distraction.
March is National Reading Month
It’s as good a time as any to suggest to authors that when you’re promoting your books to take the opportunity to remind people from time to time of the joys and values of reading. To encourage readers to keep on reading, to keep on letting others see them reading (Reading…it’s a thing!), to keep discussing books, to share their love of reading with friends and the next generation. To not just ensure an audience and an industry for authors going forward, but to help ensure the ongoing contributions and pleasures of reading for human civilization.
These days, it’s as important a message for strong, traditional, enthusiastic readers as it has always been for new and reluctant readers.
We All Should Keep Reading Books!
To expand our imaginative and empathetic capacities.
To maintain and expand cognitive abilities.
To learn new things and new perspectives.
To spur our own thinking and dreaming.
To digest and consider what those who write them have to say.
To reclaim our attention and rebuild our attention span.
To slow down life. (Read about that in In Praise of Slowness.)
For the sheer pleasures of it.
For the joys of learning.
For the joys of escaping and immersion.
Because a world of increasing automation should leave us more free time for such leisure pursuits. Let’s not drop reading, a cornerstone of human flourishing, just as we’re poised to have more time to engage it more often and more fully.
Audio
It’s not the same but it does come with its own values and rewards and it’s worth mentioning: Listening to audiobooks counts as reading.
Calls to Action
Incorporate a call to read books anywhere you’d insert a call to action.
Other Reading Resources
And, on a similar topic…
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