How to read books without raiding a Bookshop
Introduction: How to read books without raiding a Bookshop.
‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.’ (George R.R. Martin)
Above is a picture of my bookshelves and the many books I still have despite more than halving them. (If you struggle to part with books, read my blog post: People’s difficulty of parting with books).
If it’s not apparent from the above, I love, love, love reading books. I read on the tube, in the bath, in bed and on my sofa. I read fiction and non-fiction in equally large numbers.
At the age of eight, I won a competition in my local library for guessing the right length of a book. When the librarian asked me how I knew the book had X number of pages, I replied: ‘I read that and the sequel while on holiday.’ She looked surprised.
As an avid reader, I want to discuss how to read more without raiding your local bookshop or spending a ton of money.
Many of you will already be avid readers, but I will briefly outline the benefits of reading for those on the fence or wishing to read more.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, the average American is reading fewer books than forty years ago. In the UK, 41% of people spent less than an hour a week reading or listening to books. I will leave you with these two numbers. For more detailed statistics, click on this link.
I also need to explain the two main reasons why not owning every book you ever read is a good idea.
The Benefits of Reading
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
(Dr. Seuss American children’s author)
In a 2023 Medium article, Jim Kwik gives us 10 reasons to make reading a habit:
1. Strengthens Your Brain
2. Reduces Your Stress
3. Expands Your Knowledge
4. Enhances Creativity and Imagination
5. Improves Your Memory
6. Improves Your Concentration and Focus
7. Improve your Vocabulary
8. Improve your communication skills
9. Improve your mental health
10. Reading is Entertainment
In a blog post titled ‘Benefits of Reading Books: How It Can Positively Affect Your Life,’ Healthline makes similar claims, such as strengthening the brain, enhancing vocabulary, reducing stress, preventing cognitive decline, and alleviating depression.
It is beyond the scope of this blog post to outline in detail the benefits of reading. But I am sure most of us, especially those growing up before the internet, are well aware of the goodness of reading, be they readers themselves or not.
Two Reasons to Buy Fewer Books
1. The Cost of Living Crisis
‘The current cost of living crisis affects us all, but the impact is disproportionately felt by those of us who are already struggling to make ends meet.’ (Crisis Website)
Now that we have established the benefits of reading, let us focus on the two main reasons why buying fewer books might reduce spending and clutter in your home and why this might be beneficial. Again, I can only talk about both briefly.
The cost-of-living crisis has risen in the UK and elsewhere since 2022. Food and energy prices have increased dramatically, partly due to the Ukraine conflict and COVID-19 recovery. The Office for National Statistics, in a February 2024 report, says this:
In the UK, prices of consumer goods and services rose by 9.6% in the year to October 2022 – the fastest rate in four decades. Since then the annual inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupier’s housing costs (CPIH), has slowed.
The same report links tools that allow you to compare shopping prices and calculate inflation.
According to HM Land Registry, UK house prices increased by 4.6% in 2024.
I haven’t got the scope here to give detailed stats on price rises. Feel free to read the report yourself if you want to learn more. I also want to emphasise that statistics are always complex and can be interpreted differently by people of different political persuasions. But I think it is fair to say that costs are rising, and wages are not rising by the same amount, thus making it necessary for many of us to cut costs:
People affected by the cost-of-living crisis in the UK have seen prices of rent, energy and food increase dramatically, while their income, such as housing benefit, has not increased proportionally. This has made it harder for people to make ends meet. (Crisis)
I also want to say that politicians and energy companies could do a lot more to help those struggling and that cutting expenses is not the only solution.
Minimising your possessions and living a more minimalist life
More and more people realise the benefits of a minimalist lifestyle or having fewer possessions. I have written about minimalism elsewhere in detail. My article ‘What is minimalism?’ is a good introduction for those unfamiliar with the concept.
In a nutshell, I see minimalism as living with fewer ‘things’ in your life, be they material possessions, hobbies, projects, or people. Instead of amassing endless material possessions of low quality or being engaged in ongoing activities and feeling stressed and overwhelmed, decide what truly matters to you and what adds value to your life. I am cautious about what I purchase and concentrate on quality rather than quantity. For example, I will buy one pair of high-quality shoes in a neutral colour that will last me for many years rather than have many low-quality shoes.
There are several benefits associated with adopting a minimalist lifestyle. I will briefly outline the three most important here:
Minimalism encourages you to declutter your physical space, which can lead to a more organised and tidy living environment. Having fewer possessions means less time spent cleaning and maintaining your belongings.
Dust and dirt sticks to every item in your home, so the fewer items you have, the easier it is to make your home clean. You don’t have to spend as much time cleaning, and you won’t have as many items to check over and clean thoroughly. (Maidstr)
A clutter-free and simplified living space can reduce feelings of overwhelm and stress. Minimalism can help you let go of unnecessary worries about material possessions.
Minimalism often aligns with a reduced ecological footprint. Owning and consuming less can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.
According to sustainability expert Mike Berners, cited in a BBC article, ‘A typical paperback book accounts for around 1kg of carbon dioxide’ The same article states that:
Perhaps that does not sound like much. But in the US alone, where 767 million paperback books were sold in 2023, this is equivalent to the electricity use of more than 150,000 homes for a year.
The NPR website states statistics in a similar vein:
According to 2023 data from the literary industry research group WordsRated, when it comes to pulp and paper, print book publishing is the world’s third-largest industrial greenhouse gas emitter, and 32 million trees are felled each year in the United States to make paper for books. Then there’s the printing and shipping — to say nothing of the many books that are destroyed because they remain unsold.
How to read books without raiding a Bookshop – My Top Tips
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
(C.S. Lewis, British writer and lay theologian)
Below, I will share my tips for fuelling your reading habits without purchasing new books or raiding your local bookshop.
With the average price of a new book at about £9.54 for a paperback and as much as £20.25 for hardbacks, you will also save a ton of money.
Borrow books from your local library.
Go to your local library and try to borrow the books you want to read. With over 325 libraries in London, a whopping 4.1 thousand in the UK, and an excellent inter-library loan system, it is easy to get many books you are interested in.
Get free books Online.
Perhaps the tip below is not for everyone, as some people prefer the tactile feeling of books, but many websites offer free eBooks for works out of copyright. Project Gutenberg, The Marxist Internet Archive and the Open Library are just a few worthy of mention. Google your favourite author or book and see what you can find.
In theory, any device that can display text, such as a tablet or phone, can be used as an e-reader, but e-readers are specifically designed to be kinder to the eye. eBooks feature e-ink, which emulates paper.
eBook readers first came to the market in 2004 with the pioneering Sony Librie. However, the idea dates to the 1930s when Bob Brown envisioned a reading machine in his manifesto The Readies.
‘An e-reader, also called an e-book reader or e-book device, is a mobile electronic device that is designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital e-books and periodicals.’ (Wikipedia)
Find your nearest Little Free Library.
Little Free Libraries exist in many towns and cities worldwide and are an excellent way to give your old books a new lease of life as well as a source for finding new reading material.
There are over 150,000+ libraries in 110+ countries. According to the Little Free Library website, their mission is to be a catalyst for inspiring readers:
Our mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries.
Our vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.
They aim to provide 24/7 book access, especially in high-need areas. They aim to champion diverse books and foster the creation of new libraries.
Book Swapping and Borrowing from your friends.
If you are like me and have many bookworm friends, why not swap books with them? Buying and sharing one copy with your friends is an excellent way to increase your reading without everyone purchasing the same book.
Your old cookbook, which you bought to improve your diet but never used, might be your bestie’s treasure trove of new recipes.
Suppose you don’t have anyone nearby who loves reading. Fear not! There are official book swaps throughout the UK. Last year, Londonist compiled a map of official book swap locations in London.
Conclusion: How to read books without raiding a Bookshop
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
(Stephen King, American author)
I hope the above shows you that reading books needn’t cost the earth or put a massive dent in your pocket.
I hope this article has shown some ways you can read without buying your personal copy of every book you have ever read.
I want to clarify that I am not criticising anyone who enjoys raiding bookshops or possesses an extensive library; that is perfectly acceptable. Before book decluttering, I used to have well over two thousand books.
Happy reading!
Ps. Can you think of any other way to read books without buying them? Let me know in the comments below.