2025 as the Year of the Reader
Why I think people will be hitting the books more than ever in 2025
Prologue
This idea came to me when I was reading Lindsey Louise's article on the rising of conservative trends in pop culture and how people might rebel against those trends in 2025. It’s a very interesting article that kind of tells a lot about how conservatism has slowly being reintroduced into mainstream culture, but I wanted to focus on one of the ideas Lindsey wrote about as to how people might combat this culture with the idea that reading is going to be so in for the upcoming year.
For context, her article talked about how she predicted the downfall of podcasts in 2025 and that reading/books would most likely take the place due to being able to connect more with a person’s voice and story than you would a podcast. I’m not that big of a podcast person to begin with (only listening to a handful of podcasts from time to time), but I do think there’s relevance to this idea.
Reading as Escapism and Protest
Like many readers, reading has always been a source of comfort and necessary refuge during really difficult times in my life, and I can see how more people might take up on the offer for a tiny bit of respite from the turmoil surrounding everyday life. At the same time, I can see people try to educate themselves on the issues that matter and books are a great resource to look into. Insert whatever cause or issue people would protest about and there’s a slew of book recommendations to go alongside it so people can learn more about the history of whatever movement they’re supporting and how to best support it.
Along with the fact that censorship efforts might go more extreme in 2025 due to the attitudes of the incoming administration and books being seen as a form of low-cost entertainment in an unstable economy, I can see how you might see a real surge of readership in 2025. We can’t be sure on how much so due to varying factors regarding library access and anti-intellectual efforts in 2025, but I do see how a lot of people might be hitting the books come 2025.
Doing the Work
With this, it kind of inspired my main goal/theme of my reading in the new year: being intentional. And I’m not just saying that as some vague, slightly performative thought point with not much substance to have it stand. I’m saying this as this kind of process to really reflect on the books I consume as well as continuing to make sure my platform uplifts and promotes marginalized stories by marginalized authors.
That means I want more books written by BIPOC authors featuring BIPOC characters. I want more books written by LGBTQIA+ authors featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. I want more books written by disabled and neurodivergent authors featuring disabled and neurodivergent characters.
You could say that part of what I’m describing is that I want to read more banned books, and you’re right about that. Stories and books like the ones I’ve described above are the kinds of stories and books that are often the targets of censorship by book banners all across the country. That means we as readers have the work this year of making sure these stories are protected so that the folks who need these stories can access them.
I don’t know what this new year might bring, but I do know that I want to make a difference as a result of my love for reading. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do on this platform.
And I hope you decide to join me in doing the hard work.
Let’s Do Good with Books today and everyday.