I’ve been trying to introduce my SO to reading. I love books and I wish I could share in that experience with her. Unfortunately she doesn’t read and hates having to do it. She is vehement in that books are boring because there’s nothing to watch and that using her imagination is too much work. Her reading comprehension or vocabulary is not the issue – she’s intelligent and a fast learner but denies these things. This hasn’t been a serious contention between us and at the end of the day I can enjoy books on my own. But I was wondering if anyone has been successful in changing someone’s perspective on books, or if I’m probably not going to achieve anything.
by burner830
8 Comments
Try comics? If she’s a visual person she might respond more to the art than the words
Not everybody has to enjoy the same thing; though she does seem stubborn to try considering that her argument that imagination is hard work seems silly. But it’s possible she doesn’t draw mental pictures well in her head and consequently that is where she is coming from. There is possibly a level of doubt she has for herself because she doesn’t “get” the visuals books describe.
One thing you could try is to incorporate reading as a “together” activity where you two may take turns reading a book aloud to each other. By making it something you and her can do together then perhaps you can engage her both in books and your relationship that way.
Tangent to books, broaching this subject can sometimes come across as a personal attack on people since there is an attitude being a bookworm can possess for some people. Sometimes trying to encourage reading can appear as though you are subjecting your “superior” hobby to someone because they are “dumb”. Just be mindful how you engage her in the discussion.
You’re more likely to create a negative relationship with reading by trying to get her into books when she clearly shows no interest. Best you can do is passively expose her to content from the reading community and see if anything sparks her interest.
Not sure but she sounds like she has a short attention span if she needs constant stimulation. Is she online quite a bit?
I don’t think you will be able to actively change this for her. She’ll need to come to this on her own. It may take a while, but an interest in reading is a pretty core part of a person. I think you risk being more of a hinderance than a help if you push too hard.
Why? People have different hobbies.
I once played an audiobook whilst on a road trip with a non-reader and she later read a couple of the author’s other books (Elmore Leonard)
I also agree with the person who recommended graphic novels
But at the end of the day, not everybody likes reading as entertainment
Don’t force someone to read, it’s probably part of the reason she hates reading.