Replace screens with (fiction) books

Some time near the end of 2022, I decided I wanted to read fiction.

It was a time in my life when I was too connected online, and spending a lot of my time behind screens.

I wanted to disconnect, and I thought “if I can replace 1-2h per day of my screen time, TV or phone, and immerse myself in a book, it would be a great accomplishment.”

Reading a physical book is inconvenient. It’s weight added to you. You can only read it if there’s light. If the book is big, there’s no comfortable way to hold it. It’s usually pricier than the kindle version. You can’t read it on your phone if you’re out and forgot you kindle at home.

That’s exactly what I wanted.

Physical books became my escape.

At first it was about that, but once I got started, there was no way back. There’s just something about the tactility of a physical book…

The cover, the smell, the font, the layout, the sound of the pages flipping, the weight. All of these senses help you connect with the story in a deeper level.

At least for me, it does.

Fast forward to 2024, I have read over 32 books since I made that first decision.

Not only I traded lots of my TV time with paper, I was also introduced to a whole new world of literature—one I was unaware of.

People always say “you should read books”, or that “it’s important to read books”, but they never tell you how fun it is to read.

Hail Mary by Andy Weir introduced me to a whole new concept of alien life, and the troubles that space could bring us. It gave me perspective as to how we, as a species, are absolutely nothing to the universe. It was incredible. Scary. And hopeful.

Dostoevsky taught me I’m not ready for Russian literature—not yet anyway. I’m getting there.

Murakami reintroduced me to lots of Beatles songs I have either never heard before, or haven’t listened to in a very long time. He also introduced me to jazz through Bill Evans, a genre which became the soundtrack of most of my subsequent reads.

Frankenstein gave me some perspective on AI. Yes. A book written in the late 1800s, with nothing to do with computers or AI, gave me perspective on Sama and the responsibilities of AI.

The Picture of Dorian gray introduced me to some of the most beautiful writing I have ever read.

So many of these stories I have never before wanted to read, because I was so used to the Portuguese classics, which are known to be hard to read, and very complex.

I am so glad I read them.

My collection has only increased now, and it will keep on growing as I read more and more.

If you need recommendations, hit me up. Or check out my bookshelf.