I believe that the most harmful thing about Booktube is not their videos or lists or whatever. No, the real sin is titles like "I READ 100+ BOOKS IN 2022", that puts the emphasis on the quantity, not quality. Goodreads Challenge, TBR lists as well. Imagine finishing book for the sake of just starting next. I have friends that CONSUME audiobooks, listening 20 per month and having just vague recollections about 90% of them. Still, reading is always better than non-reading. I enjoy reading both classic literature and fantasy. In fact, I am psycho enough to binge-read philosophy books. And I try to read books in original language (English, German and Russian for me), even if it takes more time. While my girlfriend enjoys bizzare mix of hardcore classic literature (Tolstoy, Dumas, Dickens, Dostoyevsky, etc.) with YA.
That's a very interesting point. I will definitely reflect on some of the points you made. I can see how normalising reading '100 books' might come across badly. Thank you for your input!
As someone who read 120 books last year I have to say that there’s still a generalization to your statement. I’m not reading just to consume as many books as possible. I’m reading because it genuinely brings me joy. There are so many books that I want to read that I just want to devour them all. We shouldn’t criticize someone for something that makes them happy. 🤷♀️ I don’t think there’s harm in people reading a high volume of books. Just as there’s no harm in only reading one book per year. No matter how many books are being read at least people are reading.
@@Bloomgirl_books I agree about generalization part. I read 500-600 pages a day on average, which amounts to a lot of books per year. Since I enjoy reading fast and reflecting on the material later, maybe 200-220 books in 2022, excluding scientific articles and such. My point is that it is not obligatory to read a lot. Even more, it is kinda unrealistic. All I say is that overachiever mindset is not so great for reading. If we are talking about book culture in the context of the article, we mostly refer to aspiring readers that use BookTube or BookTok as source of inspiration. And every culture tends to go into extremes with shortcuts and unrealistic expectations. While I understand that my anecdotal experience is not to be drown conclusions upon, it still highlights some unhealthy practices) For example, my neice asked me to write down list of classic books. And she chose Animal Farm, Of mice and man, To the Lighthouse. Reasons? They are short, so she could read them in her 5 books for month challenge.
Really well articulated points! I totally agree with everything you said. Shouldn't we as readers be excited about new people joining our community? I hate the snobbery and gatekeeping, just live and let live!! Also, I personally think that there's nothing wrong with showing off book hauls and pretty book collections. In fact, I personally don't buy physical books anymore (for various reasons), so I find a lot of joy in seeing other people get excited about their collections! I experience those book hauls vicariously through them hahahah. Great video as always! 🤩
As a more recent subscriber and very new book tuber, this was my favorite of your videos so far. Thank you for making this and for such a well thought out commentary...Jarrod
Fantastic vid man ! I found booktube back in 2015 and thanks to that it got me back into reading again, and allowed me to talk to people across the world about books. But I'm glad to see that booktok is having a similiar effect in getting people to read more often. That article also misses the fact that tiktok also curates itself to the persons likes, thus its showing him books hes interacting with haha.
I’ve only recently started watching some of you Book Tuber guys and girls. I genuinely enjoy most of what I see and hear, mainly on the basis that I watch those who cover material I enjoy. But, I sometimes get a sense that some content providers keep an eye on what other content providers are doing, possibly with an eye on subscriber numbers. That could lead to a ‘dumbing down’ of what should otherwise be a diverse collection of individuals who love reading and love talking about what they’ve read.
For me, the main problem is inherent in the platforms. People are looking for growth, for more viewers. Viewers seem to hate spoilers. Thus, deep discussions of books don’t do well, so the content creators shy away from them. A large swathe of what’s left tends to be very shallow (book hauls, top 10 lists, TBRs, etc…). I don’t think there is any way to change this, but it is an inherent limitation in the formats. (I only tried booktoc for about an hour and a half, and was dumbfounded at how content free it was. Book tube much better suits my tastes, even with the faults I see in it.)
A wonderful video. I have been a long time avid reader, and have been watching booktubers since they started. For me, I enjoy listening to comments of books that I have already read, but also recommendations for future reads, and the discussions that are had with these recommended read. Keep it up, and all booktubers keep it up.
I made a similar video last week, and my overall view is that while the article does make valid points, as you said it’s over exaggerated and just pretentious. As for the commercialization, I did notice that there is a certain “formula” that big creators need to do to get a lot of views/subscribers/etc. it’s just the nature of social media, so I don’t blame them, but it does make their channels just a little bit more shallow as they can’t do deep diving reviews for fear of losing engagement. Great video, And subscribed!
I don't think booktube or booktok are destroying reading itself. Like you, Daniel, Merphy, as well as many otheres have all mentioned, it has introduced reading to so many people! I have always been an avid reader, but these platforms have introduced me to books I would have never picked up otherwise. However, I do think social media as a whole has had a semi-negative effect on book culture. I see this more so on Facebook (I don't use instagram or twitter to speak on those). Whenever someone comments or posts about not liking a book, *especially* if it's a super popular book at that moment, the fans of the book absolutely rip that person to shreds. Sometimes it's more passive aggressive comments, such as "you're entitled to you're opinion," but many other comments are rude if not outright mean. People will say that if someone doesn't like an author/book, they should just keep it to themselves, because it might deter others from reading it. They will insult the person that doesn't like the book and their intelligence. It got so ugly that one of the largest book communities on Facebook recently got closed down. But what those people are missing is that is the purpose of these communities! To share differing views on books! Now I will say that if someone doesn't like a book, they should be constructive in their criticism and what they didn't like and they should NEVER insult the author as a person. For example, they shouldn't just say, "I hate this and the author is stupid." But to say that people should not be able to comment or post about not liking a book is ridiculous. As much as negative reviews can keep one person from reading a book, it might encourage others to pick it up. If I read a negative review of a book that talked about them not liking it because it was a quest and had multiple points of view, weird character names and unreliable narrators, I would be like SIGN ME UP! Even though that's a negative review, I would be highly likely to pick it up. What's more is that negative reviews can spark conversation. People can see the same sets of words invoke different emotions. I've even had reviews (positive or negative) change MY view on a book because they brought up a perspective that I haven't thought of. However, more than just not hating on the haters so to speak, I think it's more important that people be secure enough in their tastes in books that they should need to feel the need to attack anyone that doesn't hold their favorite book to a five star rating. Ok... this comment got away from me. I'm gonna let it be before I have an entire thesis in the comment section.
The biggest problem I have with booktok and booktube (an tbh more with the former) is that I feel some books are given hype just because some key reviewers like them. For example, while I do think Babel is a decent book, and I can see how a portion of reviewers may find it great, I have a hard time believing that 95% of booktokers and booktubers found this to be 5 stars. I don't know if it is because of the author or if because some reviewers think that if they are more critical they will be looked down on, but I was shocked after reading it.
I haven’t read this article, but the easily bingeable book criticism screams gatekeeper snobbery! While there might be some things I don’t agree with, I appreciate that this article has generated so much discussion. Thanks for the cameo! 😄
I totally agree! I always appreciate healthy discussions, and while I dissagree with almost everything in the article I do think that it is healthy for every community to reflect if its practices are causing unintentional harm! Thank you for watching!
This was interesting, more content like this would be great. I’ve been an avid reader my entire life other than about 4 years ago when I got away from it for about a year. I have really enjoyed Booktube, I’ve been introduced to a lot of books I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
We already talked about it on Twitter, but I'll reiterate here: TikTok has destroyed long form book reviews, IMO. By far my least watched videos each month.
I just got back into reading again. I love that i can look up what someone recommends that I have similar taste as and trust what they say so I dont have to waste my money and time on books I may not enjoy
Fantastic video!. What I don't understand about the author of the article, is the fact that he used to be a booktuber and seems to be actively DISCOURAGING people from doing the one thing he is passionate about, reading! I agree with all the points you've made here. I'm a firm believer that everyone should read whatever they want. There's no 'one size fits all ' when it comes to reading. We all have very different tastes, experiences, lives etc, why would anyone expect books and reading to be any different?. At the end of the day, reading ANYTHING can only be a good thing! Reading utilities many different skills, all of which are transferable and useful in a multitude of 'real life ' / daily scenarios. I love watching a variety of different videos regarding reading, though I do see how some types can come across as problematic for some people. For example, 'I read 100+ books this year!' can come across as a competitive, as well as making it seem that the quanity of books is more important than the quality, which of course isn't true. I 100% agree with the sentiment 'attack the argument not the person'. If only more people shared those beliefs, we could all enjoy life the way we want to. .
I vote for more discussions! This particular main character had completely passed me by, so it was all new to me. I have definitely started hauling a silly amount of books post discovering BookTube so I did feel called out with a big 😍 attached to that 😊
Agree so much on the easy to read books. My son is 10. He loves manga. I love anime but have never read manga. I love reading and I could care less that what he is reading is easy to read. He is reading and that makes me happy, it makes him happy and his young imagination is firing while reading and exploring manga.
Personally i started reading more because of Booktube 🤷♀i used to just read only 4-5 books a year now it's 15-20 so i'm grateful. +many great recommendations.
As always everything you say is so brilliantly said. I wish I could be half as articulate as you are. I completely agree on the fact that booktube (and booktok) has got people reading again... I'm one of them. I was an avid reader in my teens early 20s it just went out window when I had kids. After discovering booktube during lockdown I am now completely in love with reading again 😍
Some mild push back, I wouldn't call a 3 star rating a "very critical review". I use Booktube mainly to find new books. I have found that about 1 in 10 books I see on booktube are books I'm actually going to enjoy. It's rough because reading is such a personal experience and booktube can make it seem like you have to like certain books.
As someone who adores “sound” literature as you put it. (Think, Moby Dick, War and Peace, Don Quixote) people in the classic literature space REALLY need to stop gatekeeping. Yes, people who only read popular literature miss out on some of the best stories ever told, but people need to put in effort encouraging new or popular readers to dig further and deeper; to show how and why these classics are great, rather than tear down what’s mainstream. By making people out to be dumb you only frustrate your own ends by guaranteeing people will avoid what you like. They should be happy people are reading at all and find ways to encourage and help others to broaden their horizons rather than say “it’s my favorite stuff or nothing.” Edit: I should also stress, fantasy and modern pop lit have some tremendous stories in them as well! I’ve bought everything Sanderson has sold, for example. Worm, a superhero web-serial, is one of my favorite works of all time. But liking one to the exclusion of the other is destructive.
Brilliant discussion, and right on point. I read every single night to my kids and they would beg and beg for more, our home was filled with suitable books for them Then they hit their teens and just dropped reading. As my son got to adulthood he did return to reading, and we now have great discussions about books. My daughter did not, until BookTok persuaded her and yes she has been roaring through these bingeable books and loving them and encouraging others. She is now starting to outgrow them and seeking out better authors and better books For my part I was just glad she was reading again I love seeing a queue in my local book stores again ❤
I don’t understand this, I read a lot more since I discovered booktubers… 🤷🏻♂️ so much good recommendations!, it’s clearly good for the book business.
I hadn't read since I was in high school. I'm 32 now and just picked up reading again because of booktube and people like you. I've read 12 books in the last two months (all 500+ pages) and just started The First Law and Mistborn and listening to WoT audiobook on my way to work. Thanks for what you do!
Great rebuttal :) Clearly Booktube is not a homogeneous genre/medium, either - a plethora of channels for a wide variety of readers. I'm happy to have found just two or three channels that I like.
I am an older lady who has been a bookworm since I was about 12. I subscribe to a few book tubers, but they are also those who love the genres I do - science fiction, classics, horror, mysteries, etc.Because of Booktube, I have discovered many authors I wasn't familiar with, and I am enjoying reading them - Robert E. Howard, Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood. I enjoy hearing what others think of the books I have enjoyed and they sometimes open new avenues of reading to me. I'm very choosy about who I subscribe to and won't subscribe to those who have to inflict other readers with their political beliefs.
I never heard of Booktube until today (2023.12.13), but I can see how it would have an adverse effect in today's instant-gratification culture. My English teacher preached: "Read intensively before you read extensively." I read slowly, for comprehension, appreciation, and retention.
I haven't read the article, so my comment is going to be my opinion on what I heard in this video. Again: my opinion. I really think that many booktubers (or at least in tik tok) are commercialized. And I don't mean in the "you get a free book so don't criticize it" way. I mean that I see booktubers that say a book is good -when is not- because is popular. I have to say too that that is something I've seen mostly in women booktubers. At least when it comes to the YA fantasy romance books. They all recomment the exactly same books, again and again with exactly the same reviews and words, and casually all of them focus on toxic romaces instead of the plot itself. While in the male booktubers, I've seen more variety and more plot focused book recommendations. So in that matter, for me, yes. I think the article's author is right to a certain point when he says that the act of reading is more important than the reading itself, because people aren't being honest with their review, only saying what they readed a certain popular book and loved it even if is a lie. I mean, is more important to say that you've readed that book than focusing on the story itself, the reading, and read it in a critical way with your own sincere opinion. In my opinion, booktook isn't a problem, but it is how is done. I don't like to read a review before I read the book, because yes. Reviews influence on people, and more if are teenagers who still don't have their critical side developed, making them to have a previous conception on a book that will affect how that person reads and sees the book (the story), even probably making not to see the errors which will be "absorbed" and getting used to them, so our perception of what's wrong and good (like errors in the writing) could be erased, allowing more low quality literature but seeing it as good. Returning to the "all have the same review over the same book" is also a problem. Where's the own criteria there? I know people who liked a book just because their favortite influencer said they liked it, but when I readed it, it was a bad book -it had a lot of errors in the narrative-. And another problem I've seen is that it creates a single way of thinking community, and when someone has a different point of view, is criticized, insulted and despised. I know that's not a problem of the influencer per se, but by not being sincere on their reviws and saying exactly the same as the others, they contributes it. Is a white or black situation: or you like it, or you don't. And I think that's bad. There are books I love but I always find defects, because no book is perfect. I don't see that in many booktookers. I only see the "black or white" situation.
i stay away from all things related to tiktok. i guess im too much of an old man....but something about it seems insanely superficial.. more so than any of the other social medias. booktube now- has been incredible. has stoked my fire for reading again and only just discovered it....last november or so.
Love the video as always. An interesting and important discussion that needed to happen in my opinion. I do agree with you on all of it and the author of the article has very similar view points to some of the more elite and book snobs out there. Let people read what they want to read and if they want it be book collectors let them have big collections is what I would say. I love watching people's book hauls because it always bring joy when watching their excitement over new books. Also easily binge able books are so easy to get through for people who are native English speakers and are trying to get to reading English. So yeah it seems he missed a lot of nuances while writing his article.
Oh wow, I actually remember Barry's channel from way back in the day. He was extremely sarcastic and frequently lambasted books. He also did not have a very high opinion of genre fiction or YA - guess not much has changed 😂Although think old Barry would have come up with better insults for the people criticizing him😆
Feel the exact same way. I've just started ARC reading in exchange for an honest review. Note if my review seems positive, that's because I genuinely enjoyed reading it or thought it was good. I'm very selective in some ways about what I decide on but I do branch out and have been surprised. There are a lot of books that I wouldn't have found out about if not for social media or finding sequels to books I've previously enjoyed. So there's that aspect. Do I think the same books are overly churned out to the public? yes. Do I think it's annoying if you can't read it, aren't interested, or have already read it? yes. Do I think it's a great way to talk to other readers and find new books? yes.
Booktube can be annoying at times, but I just stick to channels I like such as this one. Booktok however is a giant mess of immature people that I'm not sure if they can even read.
Weird article. I recently got interested in reading again, and fantasy/sci fi booktube has been my primary way of finding ideas for things to read after being out of the loop for a very long time. (I'm in my forties, and the most "recent" fantasy on my radar was Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire.) I'm very thankful for all your content.
Your channel plays a major part in my history with books, and it's been really good, I dunno other channels tho but yea, the guy sounds salty for some reason
Anything that encourages more people to read has to be good. Judging the quality of what we read is elitism at its worst. Most parents would love to see their children read anything and enjoyment drives engagement. Without booktube do we really think everyone would pick up classics? No they would be on games consoles etc. My 8 year old son adores The Beano and I love what that has done for his love of reading.
The absolute garbage state of "booktok" is not the cause of poor reading, it's a symptom. Society is stupid in general and the book people read are a sign of it.
Wow, you made good points. I have this little nagging feeling that he wrote this article with this purpose in mind, to get the types of reactions he gets. Because otherwise, I can't see how he had the balls to say what he said... especially having been in the booktube community himself. Another thought I had, is that he's just another person who hasn't really realized that he's gotten older, and become irrelevant amongst the newer generation... it happens to the best of us adults. But to go public trying to shame young people's passion, it's simply just sad...
Watching your video I feel you make some good points and articulate them well. However, without having read the original article, allow me to offers some counterpoints in a, hopefully, better manner than the author of article in question. First off, on the point of Booktube/Booktok and "commercialization". I'm not sure I fully grasp the labelling being done here, but if we assume that what is meant is the symbiotic relationship between publishers and authors and BookTubers/BookTokers as something bad I will try and unpack my two cents. If the backbone of BookTube/Tok reviews are made from freely sent copies, that absolutely constitutes an inherent conflict of interest. Now, conflict of interest is something that I see many, many people struggling to understand whether it is within politics, journalism or, yes, even BookTube. Conflict of interest does NOT have to have direct transfer of money to exist. The second a book is being handed out for free, with the understanding the the recipient will use said copy in a commercial manner, that is a conflict of interest vis a vis the consumers that will have to incur financial losses to obtain the book. In that sense, I can see the argument that the overall validity of BookTube/Tok reviews are lessened due to the close ties with publishers and authors, as the conflict of interest will always be inherently present. This taken-for-granted or misunderstanding of conflicts of interest is something that has become very apparent within video-game journalism, where, throughout many years, various journalists and publications became overly attached/dependent on access to these "free" review copies etc., to the point that video-game journalism is seen, at least within game spaces, as a joke or just straight up corporate shilling. The second point, relating to BookTube/Tok and the way in which they recommend or do not recommend certain books, I think you make a really good point. It is awesome that these channels are introducing or re-introducing more people into reading. The problem, that I can see, which might be the point the author is trying to make, is that both RU-vid and TikTok, as devices, tend to revolve around engagement algorithms and, as such, tend to create echo-chambers, where only certain viewpoints, opinions etc. are allowed/thougt to be "right". By having so many people be introduced to reading through RU-vid or TikTok, I believe it a fair worry, that the breadth of books and the topics discussed therein might skew heavily. Overall these are just a couple of thoughts and are not meant to take the original author in excuse, as I have no idea as to his original intent, and merely serve as observations/counterpoints to your otherwise great video.
I think it isn't booktok or booktube's issue. It is the way people advertise their videos like, "I READ 200 BOOK IN 2023" that could make readers pressured to read even more just to get to a certain number of books. I personally stay away from tiktok generally as i don't like the platform but booktube has made me discover such good books I wouldn't have known otherwise. I like to use youtube to know what book to buy that fits my interests and genres so I won't waste money on books I wouldn't have enjoyed. A thing I tell myself it isn't the books fault or the authors fault that the book got made a 'booktok book' the community just found it and decided to make it popular. Read what YOU want. So I will be sticking to BookTube for recommendations,thanks.
in the world today- authenticity is the BIGGEST thing people are drawn to. they can sniff out fakeness very sharply like a hound and thenn thats the end of you!
That "journalist" sounds like a big ol' gatekeeper to me. I have never been a reader at all in my life. School make me dislike reading and I could never find anything that engaged me. Until I sloooowwly stumbled upon booktube (having read a few Gaiman books and diving into myths) Booktube helped me know how to tackle Pratchett (who's now my favourite author) and introduced me to Sanderson (my second favourite author) and now I read every night. I feel my vocabulary increase, my brain functions better, and I'm happier and chiller than ever. Books did that and I'm so thankful for booktube for introducing books in a way void of Academia and education. Just reading for fun! Yay! (On a side note, I also think books are giving me, personally, what movies/tv no longer can: Originality! Movies and TV are stuck in franchise IP mind, so everything is just superheroes and comic book movies which I'm sick and tired of. Reading books have broadened what fantasy and sci-fi can be, which has increased my imagination and excitement for the genre.)
I've learnt my mistakes from believing goodreads reviews. They ain't always right. Read many overhyped five star books, usually from people who get an ARC so I take reviews as a pinch of salt now.
Booktube got me interested to read more, and for me is always a good place for suggestions. For instance, i read The Associate by John Grisham, wich I really liked, and it was my first introduction to the author. Moreover there is a booktuber Krimson Rogue that did a review for 500 by Matthew Quirk and said that if you enjoy John Grisham novels you are going to enjoy it. He wasn't wrong i did enjoyed. I can't comment much on TikTok readers other than i don't go there for suggestions but someone else might. To sum up is TikTok and Booktube destroying my reading? No. It encourages me to read and check out more books.
Yes and no. It's good to promote reading but it feels like most of soc media tubers ant tokers are just doing for clout and without any substance. I would probably never read what those people recommend.
Now that a year has passed….HE WAS RIGHT about the state of book tube. You were in your feelings on this but as people are quitting book tube..have you changed your mind?
