Not Interested in Reading? Here’s How to Actually Start Enjoying Books

For many people, the very thought of reading a book feels exhausting, almost as if someone has placed a dull school or college textbook in front of them. In today’s fast-paced life, when almost every piece of information is available in a 15- or 20-second reel or short video, sitting down to read hundreds of pages can feel like a huge task. But the truth is that books are not necessarily boring; sometimes, we simply fail to find the right book or do not know how to begin reading in the right way. If you feel that your mind is not made for reading or that you start feeling sleepy the moment you open a book, believe me, you are not alone. Millions of people in India struggle with the same feeling every day and gradually begin to see reading as a burden. But with the right approach, books can become much more than a habit they can be a wonderful source of entertainment, comfort and new ideas.

In our society, reading books is often associated only with education, studies and passing exams. When holding a book from childhood is linked only to tests, marks and being scolded by teachers, it is natural for a person to lose their connection with books. From a psychological perspective, our mind does not naturally want to engage with something unless it finds some enjoyment or comfort in it. Social media, apps and digital content provide instant stimulation and quick rewards, giving us an immediate sense of pleasure. Reading a book, on the other hand, is a slower process that requires some patience and concentration. That is why, when we try to shift our attention away from a screen and towards words printed on a page, our minds can become restless. We may find ourselves wanting to pick up our phones again and check for new notifications.

In the Indian context, a large section of the younger population now spends a significant amount of time on social media and digital screens. While technology has made access to information incredibly easy, it has also made it harder for many people to concentrate for long periods. Research has suggested that sustained attention can be difficult in an environment filled with constant digital distractions. Look around today and you will find countless young people like Rohan, who can spend three hours scrolling through reels before going to bed but complain of a headache after reading just one page of a book. In earlier times, when the internet, smartphones and television were not so widespread, people would spend their evenings reading books, magazines and stories. Books were one of the main sources of entertainment, and people could spend hours completely absorbed in a novel. Today, the internet has placed the entire world at our fingertips, but somewhere in this endless flow of information, our ability to think deeply and understand things with patience is getting lost.

From an economic and social perspective, staying away from books can have a much deeper impact than we realise. People and societies that develop a habit of reading tend to encounter a wider range of ideas and perspectives, making it easier to question information instead of accepting everything at face value. Reading can help people look at an issue from different angles and make decisions based on reasoning. In India, the book market is changing with the growing popularity of digital formats such as e-books and audiobooks, but many young people still remain disconnected from reading because they lack access, guidance or simply do not know where to begin. When young people stop reading, their vocabulary, communication skills and ways of looking at the world can gradually become limited. From global figures such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to former Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, many influential personalities have spoken about the importance of reading and learning from books. American writer Mark Twain is often credited with the idea that a person who does not read good books is no better off than someone who cannot read. In today’s digital age, that thought feels particularly relevant.

The disadvantages of not reading are not limited to intellectual growth; they can also affect our mental well-being. People who spend most of their day consuming short clips and bite-sized information can often feel mentally tired, stressed or disconnected. When we rarely read, our vocabulary can remain limited, and we may hesitate when trying to express our thoughts clearly to others. Reading, on the other hand, offers countless benefits. Some neurological research suggests that regular reading can help reduce stress and provide a calming break from everyday pressures. It can work as a form of digital detox, giving our eyes and minds a much-needed break from constant screen exposure. Reading also exercises the brain, supports memory and can increase our ability to understand and empathise with other people. When you follow a character through a story, experiencing their happiness, pain and difficult choices, you begin to understand perspectives beyond your own. In that way, books can help us become more thoughtful and sensitive human beings.

The question, then, is how to begin if you simply do not enjoy reading. How do you make books feel interesting instead of turning them into another burden? The first rule is never to begin with a dense, complicated book or a difficult philosophical work. Start with something simple and familiar. You could begin with short stories by writers such as Munshi Premchand or R.K. Narayan, preferably in a language you are comfortable with. When a story or chapter is short, it becomes easier to stay interested, and there is less pressure to remember a huge amount of content. Instead of setting ambitious goals in the beginning, make a simple commitment such as reading five pages a day or spending five minutes reading consistently for 21 days. And if a book still fails to hold your attention after five pages, leave it without feeling guilty and try another one. This can be thought of as the “five-page rule” the idea that you do not have to force yourself through a book that simply does not connect with you.

Feeling tempted to check your phone while reading and getting distracted is completely normal. One simple way to deal with it is to follow the “out of sight, out of reach” rule. Whenever you sit down to read, put your phone on silent and leave it in another room, or keep it far enough away that you would have to physically get up to reach it. If you are trying to develop a reading habit before bed, avoid reading while lying completely flat, because your body may interpret that position as a signal to sleep. Sit upright and keep a pencil nearby. Whenever you come across a line you like or an important event in the story, underline it or write a word or two in the corner of the page. The next day, before continuing from where you left off, spend two minutes looking at those underlined lines. They will quickly bring the earlier part of the story back to mind and help you stay engaged. You can also develop a habit of “micro-reading” by opening a book instead of your phone while travelling on the metro or waiting somewhere.

Instead of treating modern technology as the enemy of books, we can use it as a tool to make reading easier. If physical pages feel difficult to get through, you can try e-readers such as Kindle or audiobook platforms such as Kuku FM and Storytel, where you can listen to stories in a language you enjoy. You can also explore communities such as “BookTok” and “BookTube” on social media to discover new books based on your interests. Once you become comfortable with listening to books or reading digitally, you can gradually return to physical books if you wish.

The most important thing during this journey is not to treat reading like a competition. You do not need to set a record by finishing ten books in a month. The goal is to enjoy the process. Choose a small, quiet corner of your home or a particular time of the day when there is minimal noise and your phone is out of reach. When you read a good story or explore an interesting idea with a calm mind, you slowly begin to lose yourself in that world. Just as people once made books a natural part of their evenings, we can make reading part of our daily routine today. In doing so, we can not only reduce our screen time but also strengthen our ability to think, understand and look at the world from new perspectives.

Ultimately, there is no particular age or limit for reading, nor does it require any special talent. Books are not merely collections of pages; they contain years of human experience, knowledge and ideas that we can absorb within a few hours. If you have always stayed away from books, it does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with you. Perhaps you simply had not found the right subject, the right book or the right way to begin. So, choose a small topic that genuinely interests you today, pick up an easy book in a language you are comfortable with, leave your phone in another room and try reading just two pages. That small beginning might change the way you think forever and take you on a beautiful journey where every page opens the door to a new perspective.