As the season of resolutions begins, many of us will commit to some form of self-improvement. We pledge to exercise, eat better, or spend less time doom-scrolling. But, if there was one realistically achievable resolution I would wish for, it would be for us all to rediscover the simple joy of reading for pleasure.
Amid the digital cacophony of TikTok, video games, and YouTube, the unmitigated joy of losing oneself in a good book is fading. Rekindling a love of reading might be the most transformative resolution of any.
It matters. Reading for pleasure isn’t just a pastime; it’s a portal to better mental health, sharper cognitive skills, even a more compassionate worldview. For years, studies have shown that children who read regularly not only perform better academically but also develop stronger emotional intelligence.
Books teach us to imagine other worlds, empathise with characters’ struggles, and process complex emotions. For adults, the act of reading slows us down in a way that today feels radical. A book doesn’t demand likes or retweets or ping for our attention. It offers mental sanctuary.
My son says he is not a book person. Where did my parenting go wrong?
Read MoreDespite decades-old knowledge of its benefits, reading rates are declining. Fewer children are reading beyond the classroom, while adults are trading novels for screens. It’s not just a loss of habit, but of cultural imagination. You might argue that as an English teacher and Head of Literacy I would say this, wouldn’t I? But the key point here is “beyond the classroom”.
Over the Christmas holidays, I’ve read two books for pleasure that I don’t have to teach and it’s been genuinely thrilling.
Butter, by Asako Yuzuki, encapsulates everything brilliant about the written word. Set in Japan, this sensory slow read is ostensibly about a murder investigation, loosely based on a true story, but evolves into a meditation on food, relationships, and the expectations society places on women. Butter becomes an extended metaphor for freedom, indulgence and self-acceptance. Yuzuki does this through universal themes: our complex relationships with food, desire, and identity.
It’s the kind of book that reminds us why stories matter. They connect us to others, challenge our assumptions, and expand our horizons. The same goes for my second, shorter, surreal holiday read, The Vegetarian, by the 2024 Nobel Literature Prize-winning South Korean author, Han Kang. Again, it challenges us about expectations, acceptance and rage.
So, how can we make reading for pleasure a resolution that sticks? We have to prioritise the time for it. Try replacing 15 minutes of scrolling before bed with one chapter. For parents, lead by example: let your children see you reading, and share stories with them.
Public libraries, too, need our support. More than just places to borrow books, they are community hubs that make reading accessible to all. Schools should foster a love of reading, not by treating it as a chore but by introducing diverse, compelling books that resonate with young readers.
We can also make reading a social activity. Book clubs, in person or virtual, can transform reading into a shared experience, encouraging people to explore stories they might never have chosen.
As we increasingly prioritise speed and productivity, reading for pleasure is a pastime of slow, deliberate joy. Let’s resolve to make 2025 the year we recommit to the magic of books.
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