I’m in a weird rut. I used to be a die hard kindle girl – but lately I’ve found myself buying more and more books. I’m mostly thrifting books and going to my local library whenever I can cause I guess .. I missed the smell of books which was why I fell in love with reading in my early teens in the first place. Sitting with a book in hand till your fingers start to hurt but you can’t put it down because you’re so immersed in the story.
My love for reading developed from watching people around me REALLY loving books, where you could open any one of the books from their library and you’d find little notes all around which weren’t aesthetically appealing but it was raw.
Ive started enjoying reading again but I also can’t help being sucked into overconsumption content my algorithm has been pushing me into. “This is what you need, this is what you must read”
I’m looking for creators to follow ( if any) who talk about reading in the anti-overconsumption sense( idk if it makes sense but basically who treat reading like a hobby instead of a race of “ 50 book challenge “ etc)
People who don’t care about different colored sticky tabs and a 1000 different pens and best ways to annotate books but simply take a pen/pencil and annotate whenever or wherever they feel like.
Or people who aren’t afraid of cracking a spine, letting the pages yellow and loving books for years and talking about them instead of jumping on to the next best trending book.
This is a long shot and no shade to anyone who does any of this. Ig I’m just looking for people I grew up watching around me that liked books for what they had to offer instead of stocking their library with pretty covers and the next trending book.
by Advanced_Reaction596
45 Comments
Hah, you want to consume content about how to not over-consume content?
The real solution here is to reduce your social media time. Influencers exist to hype you up to buy things you probably don’t need, because other than advertising, that is how they make money.
YouTube will generally give you more thoughtful book content than Instagram or TikTok due to the nature of the media form, but it’s still influencing at the end of the day.
If you still really want to find book content that isn’t the whole booktok reading as an aesthetic thing, it’s probably better to get as hyperspecific as you can in terms of taste. Find someone who not only specializes in your specific genre(s), but also your specific tastes within that genre. And make sure they’re discussing the books, not just listing tropes and showing you their haul of the month.
I forgot her name, but there is a girl on YouTube who makes anti consumerist book content.
I think the video was called „deinfluencing booktok“
Generally if you look up booktok critique you‘ll get to that kind of content quickly.
You need to get off tiktok and instagram reels. I did and switched over to youtube, the book content is way better. But other than that, do whatever you want with your books. Nobody’s watching you or judging you about what you choose to do with your books or your reading habits. If you know you are buying more books when you don’t need to be, then you’re just going to have to be more mindful and work towards breaking that habit.
there is this trend on youtube, something like read it or unhaul it, youtube is full of them videos. maybe that will inspire to go through all your physical TBR. I don’t think overconsumption of books is inherently bad as long as it has purpose and not just buying for the sake of buying.
I am listening to the Kris and Mads podcast (they are also on Youtube) and last year they made a,challenge to only read books they own. In one of the recent episodes they talked about how it influenced them not to over consume and instead focus on what they have and truly want.
I can also recommend read or unhaul videos like Emily Fox does them or the plantbasedbride. There are a few more creators who do this
Probably the only real and effective solution to this is to simply not go on social media, which is designed to feed you fragmented content that encourages you engage and buy. Even creators who don’t explicitly participate in that kind of predatory algorithm-optimisation are still doing it subconsciously simply because that’s the only way to get ahead.
Of course, complete cold turkey disengagement is not feasible, so I’d suggest instead using platforms which aren’t *as* geared towards short-form content, like Youtube. The best book Youtuber I have personally come across is To Readers It May Concern. He rarely has a video under 20 minutes, and mostly they’re closer to half an hour. His quiet, chill demeanour is really refreshing compared to the more over-the-top stuff you’ll find on Instagram or Tiktok. His insights are also just really really good, he always seems to have a really deep understanding and appreciation for what he’s reading. The only thing is he generally doesn’t cover the more mainstream, popular books you’ll see trending on social media, so the books he talks about may not be your specific taste.
Other book-related Youtubers in this vibe are Bookish, Café au Livre, etc.
Plant based bride on YouTube, she has a read it or unhaul series and personal curriculum video to potentially help with brain rot.
TikTok wise, you need to be hitting not interested or block a couple of them so the algorithm stops recommending you those videos.
black lit Geek on YouTube, he does buy alot of books but he is buying them from estate sales and such, very old books.
My favorite YouTuber is lilyreads, she just reads and be intentional on how many books she buys. You won’t see any dedicated book hauls videos from her
I love a creator on Youtube called Malissa (@bewareofpity)! She has a really curated selection of books, mostly buys second hand, and does really in depth reviews of a lot of older novels you would never see on booktok! She still buys books of course, but she culls her collection on occasion to get rid of the old and bring in the new.
Stop listening to other people, obviously. Consider it as a private hobby. You can have a lot of fun coming across random books in second-hand shops
is this satire?
Maybe don’t look for someone to guide you on this and just drop social media completely. Why do you need someone to lead by example, you know you want to consume less so do that. Go to your local library instead of depending on strangers to “influence” you.
This is such an odd world we’re living in
She’s not really a book creator but you might enjoy Hannah Alonzo and her series “influencer insanity”which takes a critical look at overconsumption in a bunch of categories.
I’ve recently discovered Gina Lucia Reads, who doesn’t do traditional booktube content bur does talk about things like overconsumption and other issues impacting reading/publishing.
For more traditional content, without any hauls or hoarding, I’d suggest Murphy Napier. She reads a wide range of genres so there’s probably some overlapping tastes.
I dont have instagram or tik tok (scrolling was destroying my concentration and attention), but Ill watch long form vids on youtube. I really like That Practical Mom, she does recommend books every now and then, but she’s very focused on mindful living, simplicity and practicality but mostly about life. Anti-consumption is a big part of what she talks about while organizing and keeping a tidy home.
Honestly, the best cure isn’t different content, it’s to stop buying books and start using the library. I’ve been guilty of book over-consumption, I had over 200 books, with at least 60 that I’ve never read, many of which I was no longer interested in reading. So I pared down! I’ve donated roughly 50 books and I’m still evaluating and removing. My goal going forward is to only purchase books that I’ve already read and can see myself coming back to for years. It makes my collection feel more valuable when it’s JUST special books that I love, rather than whatever I was recommended.
What do you think people used to do before social media? Every book I read as a child and teen I found by browsing the library. Sometimes I’d find a winner, sometimes I’d find a stinker. But that’s what was fun about it. You never knew what you’d stumble upon.
I just don’t understand why you are even looking to social media for recommendations when you’ve already admitted that it’s causing you to over-consume. You literally do not need the Internet telling you what to read.
I think this will also depend on you. I don’t personally follow people like what you describe but I still feel fomo about missing out on books they’re reading. My friend is a huge annotation person and her videos always show annotated books but she never actually talks about tools etc. But just seeing those books makes me want to get tabs. Even in Booktube I still feel a sense of both of these and have to actively stop myself.
Life long reader who is also put off by some of the behavior in the book community as of late– you gotta get offline. At least get off tik tok and insta. I have my own little community of readers irl that I go to for discussions and such, I would suggest looking for book related events in your immediate area and looking through book content creaters on youtube! The thought of being online and in a community of readers sounds nice but in practice is how we get to where we are now. Not that nice things haven’t come out of the booktok boom but frequently its more issues than necessary.
I must say though people who read a lot in a year and or do reading challenges are not examples of “overconsumption.” Now people who do things like skim books and read summaries (yes people admit to doing this like its great) are could definitely be labeled as overconsumption, though I would say that’s much more an example of the literacy issues in the book community and people treating reading as just as aesthetics game when its a hobby you control how you do it. Imo, overconsumption would be the people who have dozens of copies of the same book, publishers who make dozens of copies of the same book when the difference is something stupid like sprayed edges and there’s nothing actually special about it.
I can agree that some people get extra type A about annotating but there’s nothing wrong with it at the end of the day. Personally I can’t on the first read because it slows me down but if I’m revisiting something I may use a highlighter or pen.
I don’t do YouTube, tiktok, Instagram, or any of that. I just read at least an hour a day. I’m in a book club through work that exposes me to things I wouldn’t naturally pick, but otherwise I just browse the stacks and see what jumps out at me. If I’m buying a book, I tend to decide in advance if it’s a permanent addition to my library or if I’m going to pass it along to friends or donate to the library.
I’d say that your only focus should be on spending time reading. Sometimes I read very short books, and other times I read very long books that take weeks or months to get through. I never think about it in terms of books per year or anything, just time per day.
There is a challenge going on right now (mostly on tiktok) called “75 booked” and one of the rules is for the next 75 days they are on a book buying ban
Stop looking online for book influencers. They’re all pushing overconsumption. Check out books from the library! Real or on kindle.
This is why I love libraries. They remind me that books don’t have to be commodities but can be passed from person to person until they eventually fall apart.
Peace is Every Step, The Art of Living, Old Path White Clouds, Being Peace… all books by Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that would be good for you.
I really like the Reading Glasses podcast. Yes, they talk about what books they’re reading and they review book-related products sometimes, but it’s mostly about how to improve your life as a reader. They cover topics like how to deal with someone who thinks your favorite genre is stupid, getting the most out of your library card, how to do a better job of recommending specific books to your friends, stuff like that.
They do have an annual reading challenge, but it’s not about reading more books at all, it’s stuff like “attend a library event”, or “create a two-person book club” and a few things like “read a science book” or whatnot. Definitely very chill.
The Green Wrapper on YouTube does a lot of sewing with old clothes and vintage fabrics, to keep as much stuff as possible out of landfills. Her videos are a breath of fresh air.
And don’t forget: libraries are cheaper than buying every book you want to read AND they still support authors! 🙂
This might sound strange but have you considered just not consuming *any* social media content related to books? To me one of the nicest things about books are that I really don’t need an algorithm, the internet, or even electricity involved to pick up and read a paper book. I myself would absolutely never watch any ‘booktok’ or youtube or whatever about books- while I have no judgment on others, I know for me it would ruin everything. If you don’t know what to read just go to the store or a library and see what looks good without worrying about reviews; or if really in doubt, just start with the classics and forget the modern world entirely (it’s quite nice actually). No one prior to 2 seconds ago consumed internet ‘content’ in the grand scheme of things and people used to read way more in the past on average compared to today.
Another plug for the library! I do mostly ebooks through Libby. Also sometimes the wait time helps me decide whether the book is worth it or not or whether I’m actually interested or just jumping on the hype train.
Rather than creators, I can suggest some *books* I really enjoyed regarding not consuming more:
– Digital Minimalism: Cal Newport is a great author I’ve been following for a couple decades now, he really synthesizes all the information of not consuming more, and once you’re done with that, he has another book called Slow Productivity that’s good as well, a bit similar but also different
– Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki: there’s something about this book that’s so calming and pleasing to read (or listen to in my case). It feels very Zen, fitting since the author is Japanese. He talks about the minimalist philosophy in terms of consuming content digitally, not just items in the physical world.
– Life changing magic of tidying up: the classic Marie Kondo everyone’s heard of by now, she talks not only of physical things but virtual as well, same as Sasaki above.
These books helped me, hope they help you too.
I like Frankie’s Shelf on YT, they’re entertaining and talk about books more or less at random. I follow some IG creators for recommendations as well, but they’re quite niche. (mother.horror – not niche, but I also vibe with little of what she posts; coffeeandcuentos – latin American authors, especially Mexican)
I would suggest not following or connecting with content creators. For me, reading is a private hobby. I’ve never followed any BookTok or Bookstagram folks, and I’m probably better for it.
It’s not exactly what you asked, but I’ve found it really helpful to do a book “no buy” year this year. I used the library so much more, as well as reading books from my own collection I’ve been meaning to read for years. I also read a bunch that a friend lent me.
I did break my no buy a few times – I forgot to cancel a couple preorders I made last year, I went to a giant charity book sale and bought six books – but all of them are part of series I already own – and I was given a gift card for my birthday so I got a new book with that (and was gifted two books.)
But that’s still less than one book a month! Given that I’m on track to read 150 books this year, I think 139 of them being non-purchased is a win.
I plan on doing the same in 2026.
So I haven’t watched too much of his content, but KrimsonRogue does long form content: mostly book reviews and is brutally honest about the good and bad, but also posts posts sporadically – kinda checking that box of not rushing to review something just cause it’s super popular on the internet.
Something else I’d recommend in a similar but different vein: OverlySarcasticProductions. They alternate between history videos and their “Trope Talk” series. The latter dives in to book talk for the sake of analysis instead of chasing trends.
Not sure if either works but best of luck and I hope you find what you’re looking for!
Content, as in to consume?
I still think the best advice is to bias towards action. Whether you’re buying or borrowing a book doesn’t matter. Social media is a topic in itself, but you can’t exclude reddit from that pile either.
Honestly the best anti-overconsumption thing to do is getting off socials. Part of the algorithm is posting as often as possible. A channel about books is bound to have a very high rate of going through books.
Another thing to consider is that overstimulation is linked to your consumption, not their posting.
Id suggest being more strategic in the way you use socials. Its going to feel much less like a chase when youre only watching a few videos/reviews when youve finished reading a book and want to find a new one.
I just read for the enjoyment. No challenges, no annotations.
you might like leena norms on YouTube
she does book reviews and some other stuff
It’s a book, not online content, but you may be interested in a book called So Many Books by Gabriel Zaid. It’s a thoughtful interesting piece about the overconsumption/overcreation of books. It’s a slim little read, may help you rethink a few things.
Hey OP, I’m sorry that people are giving you such a hard time in this thread! I guess for some people it’s rather alien to engage in their reading hobby in the way that you’re talking about. To me you just sound like someone who loves literature and wants to engage with deeper discourse on it. I don’t find it strange at all! So many people love to deep dive on their hobbies like this; over on the autism subs that I visit, this would be considered totally normal!
I don’t know of any content creators like this, but I was thinking that maybe you could look to some of the (more reputable) papers for their book reviews, if you felt like reading instead of watching or listening. The Times Literary Supplement is something that might interest you. I know they do a podcast, but I have never listened to it so I cannot recommend it, but it might be worth checking out.
I know that there are some universities that do free online lecture series, you might find some based on literature. I know YouTube has already been suggested, but if you look for lectures on literature there you will find lots of long-form talks on all kinds of literature (including modern, it’s not just all about the classics).
Good luck, I hope you find what you’re looking for! X
Don’t know any creators but I do have some thoughts. I’m an avid reader and a mood reader at that, I do get into reading slumps. Which unfortunately means I haven’t read all the books on my shelf. But I’m also a re-reader so sometimes I’ll read my faves 3+ times.
My buying guide is more or less this (keeping in mind that I like to have physical books because of digital eye strain):
1) Do I like the author or is it a concept I’ll always (almost) enjoy? If yes, I don’t feel too bad getting the book. Lesbian pirates? I’ll probably buy it.
2) Is it on sale? More likely to buy if yes.
3) Did I love the book in digital and know I want it physical to re-read? Then buy it. Same goes for special editions. If I’ve read a book 6+ times I’m okay letting myself get a special edition (especially! if it’s from an indie author). I get extra copies of books I love. To loan them out, have one I can annotate, etc. Of course, getting the “well-loved book” look normally means reading one book over and over.
4) Content that I’m worried could be banned? Look at banned books week and consider if any of those books or books you’re interested in with similar subjects or themes might get banned? Get a physical copy if it feels important to you.
Other thoughts:
1) library cards. Your public library is a great start but there are several libraries that anyone can get library cards for. Despite my collection, I also read lots of books from libraries. Lots of libraries also let you donate books! Or you could put books you’re no longer interested in in a little free library so someone else can love it, or try a used bookstore. If it’s a hardcover book, maybe see if you have a bookbinding friend around who could use the hardcase to make you a journal.
2) when it comes to annotating, I’d suggesting trying to do something simple first. Just a pen or pencil. See if you even enjoy annotating before buying colored fancy tabs or fancy pens. Then you can adjust your tools based on what you feel you need. Maybe you’d like a pen that feels nicer on the paper. Or try to think of other uses for those tabs/pens in the case that you find annotating tedious or not for you.
3) other book gadgets. Totally depends on your need. I like a nice lamp more than any booklight I’ve ever had (they’re never dim or warm-toned enough, just blind me). You probably don’t need those “read laying down” glasses unless you struggle with constant neck and back strain issues. Another bookmark? I get multiple because i read multiple books at once and read several anthologies I’ll want to pick up in several months, but i don’t get them often. Most of the bookmarks I have are gifted, free, or made. Can’t think of other gadets rn but most of the time you don’t need them, or you could avoid a purchase by asking for reviews.
To conclude:
I don’t personally see most book buying as “overconsumption” unless it’s purely for aesthetic. Like buying special editions of books you have never and will never read.
The amount of books you read in a year probably isn’t overconsumption if you’re still understanding and engaging in the text. Thinking critically. Some books are less dense than others and you may read more of them, that’s cool. If you find yourself mindlessly reading words to “just finish and get to 50” maybe you’re not enjoying that book or need to take time to re-engage with the text. Reading isn’t a competition but some online spaces can feel like that.
Looking for something that strains your wallet less? Libraries.
Very final advice. It’s not for everyone. Not all readers are writers and writers engage with a text they’re writing differently. However, it could be worthwhile to re-read books thinking more about writerly intent or things you’d like to be able to do in your own writing, if you write. Or maybe use something cool an author did to generate a writing prompt for yourself to start writing.
I hope this doesn’t sound rude but have you considered simply not looking for “content” like this, but rather just focusing on the reading itself? I get at some point you have to find new books, but do that by reading other works by authors you already like, ask friends and family who share your taste, talk to librarians, check out the staff recommendations at bookstores, reading Pulitzer winners, etc.
Hi there! Librarian here. I just want you to know that I so understand getting sucked into bookish social media content. TikToks in particular are made to be quick, engaging and exciting. There is nothing wrong with getting your book suggestions from social media. Where I think things start to go awry is when influencers convince you to spend more money than you mean to, or their suggestions are more for the aesthetic or ad money than love for the book.
In terms of how the library can help, we’ve got lots of options in addition to physically coming in and talking to a staff member or looking at a display. At my library we have a service where you fill out a form with past favorites/preferences and we’ll email you a list of 5-6 suggestions. A couple branches have a ‘Bring Your Own Book’ club, where folks bring in whatever they’re reading and recommend it to the group. Many libraries have blogs or podcasts you can follow. You can also checkout a physical/digital copy of reader focused magazines like Booklist Reader or Book Page (or try Booklist magazine, Publishers Weekly, or Library Journal if you want to go full professional 😉) as long as your library has a subscription.
As far as social media goes, I’d suggest following independent bookstores. I get to learn about so many new-to-me titles! Although they’re definitely selling books, I do genuinely feel like they’ve read and loved the items they’re talking about. If you find a seller who matches your interests, so much the better. One of my personal favorites is thedogearedbook. The owner highlights new books every Tuesday, making sure to mention staff picks and occasionally has her mom on to talk about favorite books (so cute).
One last thought – my library’s online catalog has a ‘save for later’ button that’s tied to each person’s account. If you find yourself getting excited about something, stick it there, or on another longterm TBR. Once the need for immediate gratification has died down, I revisit those lists and assess whether it’s something I really want or if it’s just a passing itch.
Anyway, I don’t know if my rambling has addressed your question but I’ve been there and I honor you for getting back to earnest bookish joy. Happy reading!
I’m not on Instagram or tiktok, but a lot of the books that I read are from various book clubs that I’ve joined both online and in person. People in my book club would recommend books to me. Most library have a book club thing. Online book clubs have a social media feel, if that’s what you’re looking for. I also like to look through r/bookclub and see what the community is reading. They have a whole list of options for you. While I don’t really read along with them, I like to look through the discussions once I’m done with the book.
Anti-overconsumption book content seems a bit ironic to me because you are still consuming content, but maybe if you went the book club route, you won’t see a million books being tossed in your face constantly since bookclubs usually read 1-2 books a month.
Removing the word “content” from your vocabulary is a good first baby step place to start; actively stop yourself and ask why youre referring to it as consumable content. Referring to everything as content-this and content-creator that, to be consumed piecemeal on an infinite scrolling buffet is gonna suck the joy out of everything you love.
“Anti-Overconsumption *Content*” is a wild spin of word salad that puts the problem on display
I will join the crowd suggesting the library. They often have book clubs, sometimes multiple. All the books your heart could desire, and sometimes people to wave at, get to know slowly. People who really like books, like you do.
I appreciate that it’s very much in the “Not for everyone” category, but I still read the literature reviews in the newspaper I subscribe to. I’m not saying drop £200 a year on a subscription just for that, but the Guardian is free to access and still runs that section. Traditional media might not be sexy and their recommendations will rarely be out there but they’re professionals giving detailed opinions on topics they understand well.