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Nobody reads books anymore. Why is that?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville, Colorado

This is not a tweet.  This is not a Facebook update.  Not a txt msg.  Not an email with a bunch of happy face icons.  I am not sending you a viral video on YouTube.  And IMHO, I not LMAO!  This is serious, no one is reading books anymore.

We are becoming a "screen" based society.  All day and night we are looking at some screen or the other.  I was on Pearl Street the other day and I noticed how many people walk and look at their smartphone at the same time.  And recently I saw a bunch of teenagers hanging out and they were all clicking away on their smartphones and laughing, they weren't talking, they were texting each other.

I am guilty too.  Since I got my iPhone I am addicted to checking my email every two minutes, I don't want to miss anything.  I am constantly hopping on Facebook to see what everyone else is doing--"Just went to Starbucks, pretty crowded, but I got my Latte!"  "Beautiful sunset tonight"  "At soccer games all day, it was fun, we lost, buy kids had fun"  "Just went to the bathroom, man, I shouldn't have had that burrito for lunch."

Screen

I've got a book on my kitchen table that I got from the library last week and I have not opened it yet.  I am busy.  We are all so busy.  Whenever I meet friends or family and ask how they are doing--"I am so busy."  Were people this busy years ago?  I know I am very busy with work, and taking my daughters to all of their activities.  But, it's not a kid thing.  I have colleagues with kids in College and they are "so busy."  Friends and relatives who don't have kids and they are "so busy."  Next time you talk to one of your friends, see how long it is before they say, "I am so busy."

I get scared that my daughters will never actually read books when they grow up and not have the joy of reading real books.  I remember when I was young, I loved to read.  I remember devouring one Agatha Christie book after another and how a whole new world opened up to me.

Have you read any good books lately?

 

Posted by

Mario Jannatpour

RE/MAX Alliance     www.MoveToColo.com/ 

Boulder Area Relocation Expert                                                     

            

Author of the book,

"The Honest Real Estate Agent:

A Training Guide For a Successful First Year and Beyond as a Real Estate Agent " 

Available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/fG61Rx

Spread the word--if you have any friends or relatives considering Real Estate as a career or have recently started, then you need to tell them about this book.  It will help them immensely.  Thanks--Mario

I have also created a new and innovative website for new Real Estate Agents:

http://www.sellinginsite.com/

 

Comments (9)

Carol Zingone
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS

I do read books, just finished Murder In the Himalayas, and have read 18 books so far this year!

Oct 08, 2010 04:18 AM
Ken Keranen
Reverse Mortgage Division of HSL - Carlsbad, CA

For a guy who used to read at least one book per week on average, I too am guilty as charged.  I must have at least 25 books sitting around that I wanted to read but haven't.  Going to have to examine the reason why.

Oct 08, 2010 04:18 AM
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

Still love reading and nothing better than to have some time off and curl up with a good book! 

Oct 08, 2010 04:19 AM
P.J. Virgilio Jr., Realtor 408-568-6578 Selling homes in the Greater San Jose area and South through San Martin, Gilroy
Keller Williams Realty Silicon Valley - Gilroy, CA
San Juan Bautista and Hollister as well!

Too funny, I do agree with your concern but ironically your marketing an "Audio Book" and I'm sure your daughters will be fine.

P.S. I am curious on the AB though!

Oct 08, 2010 04:20 AM
Timothy Mattingly
Louisville Homes Team Louisville KY louisvillehomesreport.com - Louisville, KY
Louisville Homes for Sale

Mario, what is a book? Just kidding.  I find this interesting in that I still read books.  Reading "Your Marketing Sucks" right now, good book so far by the way. I really encourage my children to read real books, but the time will come that paper books will go away and Kindle ect will take over. It will be so much cheaper for publishers to produce e-books and make edits that there will be no real up side to books.  Text books will be the next to next to go.  Good post, thanks for making me think this morning.   

Oct 08, 2010 04:21 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

we are in a go-go world... who has the time??? I think it is a matter of relaxation, and if reading is not relaxing to you, you just wont do it.  My kids both enjoy reading, not sure where they got that from, but I am glad they do! I think we are at the dawn of the E-book, to be able to carry multiple books with you in an easy package is going to help

Oct 08, 2010 04:22 AM
Jose Dias
Home Sellers Help in Scottsdale-Phoenix-Peoria-Glendale - Scottsdale, AZ
Sell Your Home in Scottsdale-Phoenix-Peoria-Glendale-Goodyear

Mario,

Interesting perspective. However I believe you missed the biggest problem - television. I don't have any hard data, but I do think that the television is one of the biggest reasons why people don't read as much as they used to.

I grew up reading lots of books. I love to read. However there was a point in my life when I spent more time in front of the tv than with a good book. We canceled cable when we had our first daughter. We didn't want her watching too much tv. Best thing we did. It lights my heart when she sits next to me on the couch with a book.

Anyway, good post. Cheers.

Oct 08, 2010 04:26 AM
Mario Jannatpour
RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville, Colorado - Louisville, CO
Author of the Book, "The Honest Real Estate Agent"

Carol--that is great :)  I took 7 books on our summer vacation this year and I only read 1, I felt like such a failure.  Thanks for your comment.

Ken--I used to be a big reader as well, but lately I just can't seem to stay with it.  Thanks for posting.

Susan--I agree :)

Patrick--a little bit of irony.  Very funny on your end :)  Thanks

Timothy--I'll have to look into that book, always looking for good info for my business.  Thanks

Robert--great points.  Good that your kids enjoy reading, mine do as well and it makes things a lot easier from a school perspective.  Thanks

Jose--shhh about the cable.  My wife has been threatening to do that as well, but I say "what about football?"  :)  You are so right about TV being a problem for us.  Great comments.  Thanks

Oct 08, 2010 05:14 AM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

I start lots of books but finish very few of them.  Unfortunately, I end up getting pulled in other directions.

Oct 08, 2010 06:04 AM