Saw this article doing the rounds, decided it was clickbait and not to give it the traffic, so thanks for covering so i actually have an idea what its about buddy.
Speaking only from personal experience, as a straight man growing up in the 90s/00s none of my male friends read books. It was all video games or movies and reading didn't even cross our minds as a possibility. We mainly associated reading with school/homework and why would we want to do school work in our free time! For a while the only books that I was really aware of was either "classics" (too boring!), romance (for girls!), fantasy (for nerds!) and movies based on a book (why would I read the book when I can just watch the movie!). All silly "toxic" masculine rationale. Modern society doesn't have enough touch points to demonstrate to men that reading is "cool." It took my wife bringing her huge collection of books with her when we moved in together to finally realize how many awesome books there are out there, and now I'm full on into reading
Myself As a high schooler I was more into movies than books. But I was the kid who wrote stories and songs in study hall. I graduated in 08 and I could feel nerd culture starting to take over by then. So I understand young guys not reading not necessarily because of Any social thing but a biological thing. If we can introduce them to books that are targeted for them much like myself as they get to their late twenties reading can become a more fun thing.
That article was BAIT written by a female author, for men are bothered by the lack of choices for Men that aren't "Romantasy" as they're calling it now. Quite frankly, Male 46 here, I read everything from Stephen King to the Three Musketeers to Arthur C. Clarke and Steven Erikson. Also Horror and Thriller (authors like: Stephen King, Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, or Dan Brown) I also read heavy amounts of Philosophy, History, and Historical Fiction. Things that teach me how to fix or repair things, because shit isn't cheap to replace anymore are also sought out first. The author just sounds bothered by the apparent lack of (Straight) men who are "okay" with reading they're smut-infused Drivel.
The distinction of _straight_ men in particular is title clickbait; and it nattered on about leisure time and men feeling pressure to be Productive. And an Andrew Tate quote. Problem is, it might just as well ask why straight women don't watch football games. Why don't more men choose reading for pleasure to fill their leisure time? Not much help from the article.
I read the article, and I do think it does make some salient points about a strain of "masculine" thought which puts optimization above all. Thus the emphasis on reading non-fiction books, ostensibly which provide "useful" information, rather than "frivolous" fiction. I've encountered men like this in the past, who really do consider reading fiction to be a waste of time. And sadly this perspective is being echoed by very influential voices online, some of whom were quoted in the article. Thus I do believe it is incumbent upon men who DO see the value in fiction to provide a positive example to boys coming up to counter this. The article may not have presented this idea in the way I would have, but the core conceit is still there if one is not incensed by their book recommendations.
The issue I have even with the valid points that they have raised in the article is. The acceptance for reading Science Fiction and Fantasy has never been higher. Is it accepted by everyone across the board no but nothing ever will be. It also painted it as though people who are hyper goal oriented don't read fiction books. Men and women are just wired differently. I doubt that will ever see men reading at the rates that women do but again it's being more accepted than ever before. Love the feedback thank you for watching!
@@J.R.Carrel I think the reason why sci-fi and fantasy aren’t specified is that while the article didn’t break it down by genre, the articles sources do and point out sci-fi and fantasy are still male dominated. Reason that 80% of fiction is read by women is because of both romance and literary fiction. Maybe we should start getting out of our comfort zones? Maybe we should pick up some more Frederick backman and Mitch albom and less Andy weir?
Thanks for watching and join our discord! discord.com/invite/NUWz4WZQ
Saw this article doing the rounds, decided it was clickbait and not to give it the traffic, so thanks for covering so i actually have an idea what its about buddy.
Thanks for watching. I took the pain of reading it so you don't have to.
@@J.R.Carrel I appreciate it 👍
@@J.R.Carrel Remember that you can read cached versions of web pages so the article doesn't benefit from your view.
@@Lanthirrhos nice
Speaking only from personal experience, as a straight man growing up in the 90s/00s none of my male friends read books. It was all video games or movies and reading didn't even cross our minds as a possibility. We mainly associated reading with school/homework and why would we want to do school work in our free time!
For a while the only books that I was really aware of was either "classics" (too boring!), romance (for girls!), fantasy (for nerds!) and movies based on a book (why would I read the book when I can just watch the movie!). All silly "toxic" masculine rationale. Modern society doesn't have enough touch points to demonstrate to men that reading is "cool."
It took my wife bringing her huge collection of books with her when we moved in together to finally realize how many awesome books there are out there, and now I'm full on into reading
Myself As a high schooler I was more into movies than books. But I was the kid who wrote stories and songs in study hall. I graduated in 08 and I could feel nerd culture starting to take over by then. So I understand young guys not reading not necessarily because of Any social thing but a biological thing. If we can introduce them to books that are targeted for them much like myself as they get to their late twenties reading can become a more fun thing.
That article was BAIT written by a female author, for men are bothered by the lack of choices for Men that aren't "Romantasy" as they're calling it now.
Quite frankly, Male 46 here, I read everything from Stephen King to the Three Musketeers to Arthur C. Clarke and Steven Erikson. Also Horror and Thriller (authors like: Stephen King, Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, or Dan Brown) I also read heavy amounts of Philosophy, History, and Historical Fiction. Things that teach me how to fix or repair things, because shit isn't cheap to replace anymore are also sought out first.
The author just sounds bothered by the apparent lack of (Straight) men who are "okay" with reading they're smut-infused Drivel.
Very well said. To me the article felt less about reading and more about attacks on masculinity in general. Would love to have you on the Discord!
I mean, last time I checked... Yeah. Guess it was a slow news day.
Lol so true
The distinction of _straight_ men in particular is title clickbait; and it nattered on about leisure time and men feeling pressure to be Productive. And an Andrew Tate quote. Problem is, it might just as well ask why straight women don't watch football games. Why don't more men choose reading for pleasure to fill their leisure time? Not much help from the article.
You nailed it right on the head there are innate differences
I read the article, and I do think it does make some salient points about a strain of "masculine" thought which puts optimization above all. Thus the emphasis on reading non-fiction books, ostensibly which provide "useful" information, rather than "frivolous" fiction.
I've encountered men like this in the past, who really do consider reading fiction to be a waste of time. And sadly this perspective is being echoed by very influential voices online, some of whom were quoted in the article. Thus I do believe it is incumbent upon men who DO see the value in fiction to provide a positive example to boys coming up to counter this.
The article may not have presented this idea in the way I would have, but the core conceit is still there if one is not incensed by their book recommendations.
The issue I have even with the valid points that they have raised in the article is. The acceptance for reading Science Fiction and Fantasy has never been higher. Is it accepted by everyone across the board no but nothing ever will be. It also painted it as though people who are hyper goal oriented don't read fiction books. Men and women are just wired differently. I doubt that will ever see men reading at the rates that women do but again it's being more accepted than ever before. Love the feedback thank you for watching!
@@J.R.Carrel
I think the reason why sci-fi and fantasy aren’t specified is that while the article didn’t break it down by genre, the articles sources do and point out sci-fi and fantasy are still male dominated. Reason that 80% of fiction is read by women is because of both romance and literary fiction.
Maybe we should start getting out of our comfort zones? Maybe we should pick up some more Frederick backman and Mitch albom and less Andy weir?
What a ridiculous article lol
I know right!