Yes, sense that time spent reading is unproductive is a syndrome—a deeply problematic phenomenon plaguing the adult human population and strangely enough, the general demographic of English students. To discover if you may have this syndrome, ask yourself these questions:
- When was the last time I read something just for the sake of reading it? Not to answer essay questions or prep for a literary exam or to sound knowledgeable, but just to get lost in the frolicking and wondering?
- When was the last time I allowed myself to stay a little longer, to linger on the cadence of a phrase, the beat of an honest thought?
If the answer to these questions is “a long time ago” or “not enough,” read on. If, like me, you get anxious just thinking about leisure reading, then you need to read on. I promise the solution is short and snappy.
Why the Syndrome is Bad for You
Let’s return to Botany 101 for a second:
Reading is to the human as absorbing sunlight is to a plant. Every healthy plant needs to undergo the process of photosynthesis, where the absorption of light fuels and kickstarts the production of food that keeps the plant alive and thriving.
Similarly, we human beings, specifically English students, need to undergo a literary photosynthesis. We need to absorb those pages if we ever expect ourselves to produce in our writing and/or teaching! As simple as this logic is, we somehow manage to understand Dostoevsky or how to write an entire curriculum better than it.
How to Treat It
As kids, we never felt the urgency to close our book in order to be “productive.” That was a time when we didn’t check the year’s “Best Seller” lists, when we didn’t care about literary merit, when we read a book simply because we liked its cover or couldn’t put it down.
Your treatment slip is short and sweet: Read like a child again. We need to go back to the times when we read simply because we wanted a good story, a good laugh, a good mystery, good art. When we loved things simple, slow, and sensational.
As for your practical treatment, re-examine how you use your time. Get rid of “dead time”—moments when you doom scroll or stalk that kindergarten schoolmate on Facebook. You’ll discover you have time. If your schedule is still extremely packed, there is almost always the option to make some compromises.
So yes, reading is very productive indeed. But we must take care not to fall into the alluring adult-like temptation to make it into work. I’ve fretted over making too many annotations perfect and have wasted too much time and joy forcing myself to read something because of its acclaim or sales record, giving up on books I would’ve enjoyed so much more.
Instead, let’s view reading as a beautiful, ethereal chance to get lost. Pick the book up for no reason at all. Be directionless. Embrace the wandering.
Why do we believe greatness lies in fast thinkers? Read slowly. Slow is deeper. Deeper is thoughtful and lasting. Let us read for comfort, quiet contemplation, and solace. Dwell in a word, a scene, a character. And slowly, the magic will happen.
You might enter a frost-bitten winter or a dystopia crawling with scandalous crime and forget all about the café music playing about you; you might get lost within little worlds of your own.
Eunice Tan
Student Representative, Southern Region, 2023-2024
Theta Omicron Chapter, President
Union University, Jackson, TN
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
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