Thoughts on the State of the Book World
- Briana Azar
- Jul 28
- 9 min read
I'm trying something a little different for this post. Over the past six months, I've noticed that when I have conversations with people about books and reading, the same themes and thoughts are consistently coming up for me. Reading has blown up in a way I never expected. As someone who has been an insatiable and avid book worm since I was five, I love that so many more people are now discovering the joy of reading. It's one of the main reasons I started this website -- I wanted to share my joy and make reading feel more accessible. And while there are many positive effects of reading becoming cool, there are some I have struggled with and found myself asking friends and strangers if they also are mulling over these topics.
So, here are some of my thoughts on the state of the book world.
Separating the art from the artist
I'm starting out with a bang. This is a topic that I have been grappling with for many years, as I'm sure a lot of people have. To me, it's an important question whether you can separate the art from the artist, and will always be relevant to discuss (despite a guy recently telling me he is tired of this question, but he was an ass). It applies to any artist -- musicians, actors, poets, filmmakers, painters. But of course, with the insanely disappointing reality that JK Rowling is actively anti-trans, the conversation has been especially front of mind for me.
I love Harry Potter. When I said I have been a book worm since I was five, it's because my mom read me the first Harry Potter book, in her cute Polish accent, every night before bed and it embedded in me a love of reading that will never die out. I've always looked to that series as the bedrock of my passion. I have come back to it time and time again, like an old friend, waiting with open arms to welcome me into its magical world. It's been heartbreaking watching the author reveal more of who she is and disrespect so many people, especially her loyal fans, many of who are queer and found comfort in the world she created. And even more so, that she has announced she is actively using her money to support anti-trans groups.
I do think there is nuance in whether you can separate the art from the artist. I don't believe it's a yes or no answer. Context is important -- at what time in history the artist lived, are they actively using their fame and platform to hinder people's rights or hurt others, did they have a controversy that seems to be an isolated event or a reoccurring toxic behavior, is it our business to judge artists' personal issues. All of these and more are important to consider. It's a question I ask myself a lot, and the answer will depend on many circumstances and is unique to each artist.
In terms of JK Rowling, based on the criteria I consider, I don't feel I can separate the art from the artist now. If I were to buy something Harry Potter related, I would be giving money to her knowing she wants to use that money to hurt trans people. I am not okay with that.
Now, does that mean I will never again read Harry Potter? Honestly, no. I still love that series and plan to read it to my future children in hopes they will fall in love with reading the same way I have. But I am no longer buying any new Harry Potter books or paying to see any of the spin off movies Rowling has been part of. I saw recently a book store stating they will no longer be selling Harry Potter books but encouraged patrons to buy used copies, borrow from friends (everyone has a copy), or borrow from the library. I also see so much wonderful fan fiction that has come from the series, many written by queer and trans people, and encourage those who wish to still be connected to that world and its beloved characters to look into fanfic. Wattpad is a solid place to start (Manacled has been on my TBR for ages).
As with most things in this world, nuance and context are crucial, and I have no doubt I will be grappling with whether to separate the art from an artist for the rest of my life -- but it's an important question that helps me train my critical thinking skills on a practical and grounded level, which I'm grateful for.
People should be reading outside their comfort zone
I've been contemplating this topic for awhile now, but dove even more into it when a Substack writer I enjoy, Steven Reese, wrote a post on it. I love the way he describes a reader’s diet -- carbohydrates being the romance, thriller, consumable fantasy that is often the genres that get people reading in the first place; protein being the classics, heavy nonfiction, and other books that make your brain work hard to grow stronger; and fat being memoirs, poetry, spiritually satisfying texts that leave your soul feeling nourished for years.
I've actually written previously on a few posts how romance especially feels like candy to me -- sweet, easy to consume, but too many always leaves me feeling a little queasy and unsatisfied.
I want to acknowledge that for some readers, books will always be about escapism and nothing else. It will be about getting entertainment from a page instead of a screen, and they won't feel the need to expand their hobby further. I don't want to discourage those readers but I do want to challenge that complacency a bit.
Reading will always have a sense of escapism to it, no matter the genre. It's the reason I started reading and it's the reason I will always be a reader. To dive into a world that is not your own is an amazing and precious gift of reading.
But another gift of reading is its ability to expand your existing world. To learn about other people, places, things, experiences, whether fiction or nonfiction. To become a more empathetic, curious human being. To want to know more.
I've seen quite a few people online complain of being in reading ruts or feeling unsatisfied by many of their recent reads. A lot of the time I notice they tend to stick to the same genres. Don't get me wrong, I've gotten into reading ruts, but I notice when I balance my book diet with carbs, protein and fats, I'm much less likely to fall into one. And even more so, reading feels more satisfying and invigorating. I am a lover of all genres, it's something I admire in myself, and I know that's not the norm. However, I believe more readers could be reaching for books out of their comfort zones, pushing their minds into places that are unknown. For me, it's the way I've been able to be a consistent reader my whole life, but also a curious and engaged human being out in the real world.
So, next time you're figuring out what your next read should be, I challenge you to choose something outside of your comfort zone, whether that be a thriller, a nonfiction account of the Vietnam war, or a book of poetry from Mary Oliver. You might be surprised where your next favorite book could be hiding.
Men don't read enough fiction
If I had a dime for every time I spoke to a man about reading and they told me they only read nonfiction, I could buy a 2009 Nissan Altima.
Jokes aside, in this day and age, it shocks me how many men tell me they still only read nonfiction. I thought this video from YouTuber Man Carrying thing, aka Jake, was an interesting take from a man's perspective. What's even more confusing is when those same men tell me they grew up loving Percy Jackson, Lord of the Rings, Eragon, Harry Potter, The Hardy Boys. When I ask why they don't reach for similar adult versions of the books they once adored, they tell me they feel they should be learning from the books they read instead of just being entertained (some also say they've been reading the same boring ass book about WWII for a year now and are struggling to finish it).
In a similar vein of feeling that readers should diversify their genres, I believe men absolutely should be reading fiction. First off, if you're struggling to read a book for weeks or months, put the damn thing down. Try something else. Develop a reading habit with books that actually engage you and grab your attention, and then once that habit is strong, start diving into the hefty protein books that you think are worth your time.
But to the men who feel that their time spent reading should be for 'learning,' I fear that reading has been presented to you in an inaccurate way. Whatever book you read, no matter the genre, you're learning. Even smut (and men could definitely learn a thing or two from smut). Fiction is not just for women, and I have no earthly clue where that insane idea even came from. Fiction can transport you into the mind and soul of someone else. It creates empathy, shown in study after study. And if there's one thing I think men could use more of, it's empathy.
So men, if there's a fantasy book (Brandon Sanderson is a great place to start), or thriller (The Silent Patient is a hoot), or romance book (can't go wrong with the queen Emily Henry), that has been catching your eye, please, try it out. If anything, it would be a great conversation starter on a first date, or with anyone in your life.
The highest form of intelligence is presenting information in an accessible way
Okay, that was a long title but there's not really a catchy way of boiling that topic down. I'm going to be honest and say I used to feel that if someone sounded extremely smart, that meant they were the smartest person in the room. This notion is probably one that many people carry with them, as it feels ingrained in most societies. I'm not saying that people who use big words or have a deep understanding of esoteric topics aren't extremely intelligent, but I have changed my tune on just how intelligent or even how that intelligence is used in this world.
There are many different kinds of intelligence and the world needs them all to keep moving forward. I want doctors to know minutiae details about the body when they're about to do surgery on a patient; I want astrophysicists to understand quantum mechanics in a way 99% of the population never will; I want economists to have thought of and considered every possible financial scenario or consequence to the most insane degree.
However, I have come to feel that the smartest people I have encountered, whether in real life or through media and content, are able to communicate their area of expertise in a way that people can understand and comprehend. And those people are very important, equally as important as the others I mentioned, because they're the ones who can develop trust with the public and inspire others to pursue knowledge and learning. This also means they have a level of emotional intelligence that is needed to connect with a broader audience. For me, emotional intelligence has slowly become the most important quality for me, in a friend, in a coworker, in a partner, in an author. I crave intense connection but that connection can only happen when both me and the other person are empathetic, curious, good communicators and even better listeners.
Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson come to mind -- the way they've been able to explain complicated ideas with nuance and understanding have inspired so many to gaze up at the stars with cognizance as well as wonder, including myself. The books they've written are engaging, exhilarating, and accessible. Another is Cat Bohannon. I recently read her book Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution and was absolutely intoxicated with the way she was able to present evolutionary theories and research. She had her own opinions but explained the facts in a way that I understood and ignited a hunger -- I've already looked for more books on human evolution, matriarchal cultures, and female anatomy because her book inspired me to want to learn more.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be dense textbooks or philosophical novels that are esoteric and difficult for lay folks to grasp. But I am saying that when an author is able to explain their vast knowledge in a way that is accessible and engaging, it means they have the rare combination of expertise and emotional intelligence that helps fuel the world's curiosity. And for me, that is the highest form of intelligence.
If you have any thoughts or opinions of your own that you would want to share, I would love to hear from you. I'm always just an email away -- brianasbookshelf@gmail.com
Happy reading, y'all.