Fun Book Recommendations for People Who Don't Like to Read
So here's the thing. I got back into reading recently in order to combat a few things. One was boredom, and the other was insomnia. Also, after calculating every single factor I can imagine, books are by far cheaper than movies, TV subscriptions, video games and most other forms of entertainment (this is only an opinion but I'm right).
But I'm not going to act like it was easy for me to get into reading. As someone who struggled in school, I can confidently tell you that I am not the smartest kid in class. I still believe that I am not a smart person today. My hands like to get fidgety and do stuff which is why video games were always an appealing option. But the video game industry has done its best to become something I despise. Everything has to be constantly connected to the internet, most consoles today are just glorified home routers, and all it takes is the actions of a volatile private holdings company to eviscerate the work of several hundred employees who put countless hours of their lives to something you can witness for only $79.
Books haven't changed that much in the last few centuries. I think you can still get them on paper.
All my rants with the entertainment industry aside, I'm happy to say that books are the easiest and cheapest way to satiate boredom. You don't need to be in a specific place where there's signal or keep a battery handy. Just a book and a light and a safe place to keep your book.
Just a heads up, for this list I will be avoiding recommending an entire series like Lord of the Rings, Dune and Harry Potter. Those are great books with incredible worlds to dive deep into. And they also have great adaptations on film. But you don't need my recommendation to check them out. But I found that honing in on an entire series needs dedication so the recommendations I give here are great one-and-dones that give you a little more of a world to explore if that tickles your fancy.
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams - For the sci-fi lover with ADHD
I know this sounds like a very niche recommendation, but believe me when I say that this is a great way to get into reading. In fact, this is a book series that holds a special place in my heart because this book got me into reading. Yes the book is part of a series, but it works well as a standalone title. And for a pretty old book, the Hitchhiker's Guide still feels pretty refreshing as a science fiction book. It's whimsical in nature with not a lot of drag in its pacing. If anything, I find that it moves around a lot but that's why I think it's a great starting point for people who don't like to read. It hits twofold appealing to the chronically online with short attention spans, in addition to fighting the stereotype that reading books is boring.
Neuromancer by William Gibson - For the cyberpunk fan (and possibly most gamers)
As someone who really likes cyberpunk video games, cyberpunk movies, cyberpunk comic books and electronica music, this one book scratches the itch for all those things. It's basically the grand daddy of all things cyberpunk. Patient zero, if you can call it. I think there's only a couple years difference between Neuromancer and Blade Runner. I will admit that the plot is convoluted and it's easy to possibly get lost in the story. It's probably one of the biggest criticisms of this book. But it more than makes up for the plot with its atmosphere. Neuromancer has world-building in spades. It doesn't surprise me that when people describe a dystopian cyberpunk world, they are easily taking a page from Neuromancer, whether they like it or not.
Neuromancer is the first book in a series called The Sprawl Trilogy, but I only read the first book. It's a nice little encapsulated novel that never overstays its welcome but leaves me thinking about it every time I watch or play something cyberpunk. Each title in the Sprawl trilogy is a standalone story that only mildly references the events of the previous book. I find it's perfectly fine to read Neuromancer and get interested in something else.
Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote - For the person who loves dogs and being outside
Okay, let's break away from sci-fi because some people like to touch grass in their free time. Some people like to be outside and travel somewhere far away from people (amen to that), and some people think dogs are cute and wise (I also agree, 2 for 2). This is the book for those folks that just want a book about the outdoors and dogs that isn't traumatic. Yes the dog dies at the end but that's not the point. It doesn't read like an informative book but I feel like I learned something about dogs and their behavior in a cool way. Merle is like a freethinking surfer dude who isn't built for the city. If I decided bills or obligations weren't my thing. Yes, I'm fully aware that not everyone can live like Ted or keep a dog like Merle. And I'm certain that someone can adopt a dog that can totally adapt into the city. But this memoir is like a window into a life that I will never have.
The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson - For that true crime/murder fan
I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of this one. On my list of things to read when I want to relax, serial killers aren't exactly at the top. But it was a page-turner, and if I can convince someone to check this out instead of the next exploitative regurgitation of someone's tragic murder in a docu-series, then that's okay with me. There are two storylines that run parallel in this one, both taking place in the 20th century during the World's Fair in Chicago. One storyline is a tale of hubris on what was basically the first skyscraper in Chicago. The other storyline chronicles a serial murderer's gristly acts. I don't want to spoil much because the mystery is what really drives this one, but someone will definitely like it.
You Are Worth It by Kyle Carpenter - For literally anyone
This one is my all-time recommendation as far as modern reads go. First off, the author is a stand out role model who is a phenomenal male role model (we seem to have a dearth of that these days). His memoir isn't just a retelling of his incredible life. There's a lot of lessons he manages to teach through a mature, yet accessible, point of view. This is something that truly comes straight from the heart and it shows.
Here's Kyle reading the introduction to the book. Just drop everything and read it.