Reading is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable hobbies you can have. It can enrich your mind, soul, and life in many ways. You can learn new things, explore new worlds, experience new emotions, and connect with new people through books. Whether you prefer fiction or nonfiction, classics or contemporary, there is a book for everyone and every mood.
Reading
as a hobby
AKA: Perusing
Reviewed by:
Related Hobbies: Reading Poetry
A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.
George R.R. Martin
Helpful content to get started
The page is curated to inspire and help you get started with reading as a hobby.
Overwhelmed? Play a random video or podcast to start getting familiar with reading.
We strive for accuracy, but errors may occur. Always use your judgment. Refer to the listed resources for further research.
Videos
Short visual inspiration.
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Podcasts
Play an episode while exploring the page.
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Reading can improve your brain function, memory, concentration, empathy, and critical thinking skills.
Terms
Basic lingo for orientation.
Term Videos
First Steps
How to break the ice and make a start. One Aha! moment is all you need.
Try to understand what prevents you from reading more:
- If cost is a concern, consider using a free reading app and exploring free eBook options.
- If time and availability are issues, try a reading app or an eBook reader. This will make reading accessible at your fingertips during any spare moment you have.
- If attention and distraction are challenges, consider audiobooks, reading aloud to yourself, watching videos about the benefits of reading, and trying tips on how to read more.
- If you’re unsure about what to read, try book recommendations and review websites or visit book shops near you for immersive inspirations and suggestions.
- If vocabulary or language is a struggle, especially if you prefer reading classic literature or in a foreign language, consider using reading apps and eBook readers with built-in dictionaries and translation tools.
First Steps Videos
Products
Essentials to have.
Product Demos
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How-Tos
Step-by-step tutorials.
How-To Videos
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Books
Get read-y.
Articles
Further reading.
- The most brilliant bookshops in the world: our readers’ picks | Financial Times
- The Ultimate Guide to New Public Domain Books | Reedsy Discovery
Benefits of Reading
- Audiobooks or Reading? To Our Brains, It Doesn’t Matter | Discover Magazine
- Reading Fiction Improves Brain Connectivity and Function | Psychology Today
Book Lists
Video Articles
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Websites
Go-tos for information.
Book Recommendations and Reviews
- BOOK RIOT – Book Recommendations and Reviews
- Gnooks – Discover new Books
- Goodreads | Meet your next favorite book
- Literary Hub
- Literature Map – The Tourist Map of Literature
- TasteDive | Book recommendations
- The StoryGraph | Because life’s too short for a book you’re not in the mood for
Free eBooks
Website Previews
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Movies & TV
Nothing like a good film or a show for inspiration.
Movie and TV Trailers
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Public domain books are books that are no longer protected by copyright and can be used freely by anyone. You can find many classics online or in print, and discover new works every year as older ones enter the public domain.
FAQS
Get a clue.
Q: Is listening to audiobooks the same as reading?
A: Research usually suggests stories stimulate the brain in the same way, regardless of whether they’re read or heard.
FAQ Videos
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Apps
Smart start.
App Trailers
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Courses
Get smart.
Video courses and trailers
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Community & Near You
Get together.
Related Videos
Tips
Additional advice for beginners.
- Read public domain books for free. Enjoy classics and discover new works every year.
- You can borrow free eBooks & audiobooks from your library, using Libby.
- Consider an eBook reader for convenience and portability. Store thousands of books in one device and adjust the brightness and font size to your preference. Use tools like dictionaries and translation to build your vocabulary and read in foreign languages. Easily access public domain books for free.
- Join a book club near you or find a reading buddy. Sharing the reading experience improves commitment, motivation, and interest.
Video Tips
Related Hobbies
Explore related hobbies.
Additional Information
Hobby attributes.
| Attributes | Value |
|---|---|
| Activities | |
| Fields | Arts, Education, History and Culture, Language and Communication, Literature, Personal Development, Spirituality |
| Participants | |
| Locations | |
| Skills | Attention to Detail, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Cultural Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, Language Skills, Memory, Mindfulness, Patience, Research |
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