If you read too much, it’s time to stop.

For those of you out there who feel reading is a harmless and safe pastime, with absolutely no conceivable cons to the pros, I am here to burst your bubble and tell you how very mistaken you are.

It is, in fact, one of the most hazardous and dangerous hobbies… if not the most. Bungee jumping and mountain climbing have nothing over this bad boy.

But how can that be, you ask? Surely I would have known? Or had some idea?

Well, it may be due to the fact that those who learned the truth probably did not survive the perils to tell the tale. Or maybe, they are far too distraught to be able to form words, let alone convince you.

Don’t let yourself become one of those unfortunate souls. Below is a list of the top ten (of the countless many) dangers that threaten you when you read too much. What you choose to do with this valuable information is of course entirely up to you. You have been warned, my friend.

1. You will make poor financial decisions

This type of mental battle is very common among book lovers. Why have that pair of snazzy shoes you spotted on your way home when you can pay the same amount for a couple (ok, maybe three or four) of the next books in your series collection?

Oh, and don’t worry about spending on more clothes, I mean who needs more than one pair of jeans or shirt anyway?

2. You will become infatuated with not so real places and people

Why can’t you find a man remotely as romantic as Mr. Darcy? Or even a fraction as intelligent as Robert Langdon? And why is it seemingly impossible to find Bag End or the Yellow Brick Road? Well, you see, it’s because they don’t exist. Darn real life…

3. Your life priorities will change

Should you buy the eBook or the hard copy? The softback or the hardback? Stay in and read or be dragged out to do that icky socialising thing? How many belongings do you throw out to make more space for your books? Buy more chic bookmarks or continue using scrap pieces of paper? And how can you possibly pick which book to read next?

The struggle is real. Do not underestimate it.

4. You will actually start becoming aware and passionate about bigger issues

Once upon a time, you didn’t have much to say about politics, economics, sexism, war, pixie dust, or dwarfs’ rights. Now, one could hardly keep up with you.

5. All of your friends and loved ones will leave you

That’s right; you will lose many people on this path. It could be at the hands of Voldemort, a death match, or quite possibly an evil curse. Let us not forget the real life folks too –the lack of time and attention will sadly be their end.

I mean, let’s face it, when push comes to shove a true bookworm will choose the book over that silly date or party any day.

6. Sleep? What is that?

“I’ll just read until the end of the chapter.” Says everyone. Stop at the end of the chapter, does no one. It’s almost as if the books are enchanted with a spell to glue your hands to it, so it’s not like it’s your fault.

And besides, even if you do manage to rip it out of your hands, it will instead cling to your mind and decisively lurk around there until the wee hours of the morning. Might as well give up resisting and continue reading, eh?

7. When you read too much, you put your health and wellbeing in danger

Let’s face it, books are incredibly hazardous. Just imagine how many papercuts you could get. Or how badly you could trip and fall over the piles of books scattered across your floor.

Well, let’s say you are organised and pile the books, or shelf them. I still wouldn’t trust them; they could fall any second and give you a concussion or amnesia. Would you want to risk that?

Oh, and why spend precious time cooking a meal when you can buy cheap, greasy takeout and spend more time reading? Better yet, why bother wasting even that much time on food and skip it altogether?

8. Suddenly you need a bigger place

A home library wouldn’t do justice to your marvellous collection – it simply wouldn’t. You can’t possibly fit all your books there! And that doesn’t even count the TBR ones.

Well, it’s a shame you don’t have one, you remind yourself. It looks like your precious books will have to stay on your bed, the bathroom floor and in the kitchen cupboards… anywhere you can fit them for now.

9. You will start thinking

Trust me – you don’t want to be doing that. It leads to other bothersome things that just take you further away from your books. It’s not worth the headache!

10. Suddenly you find yourself actually having opinions

Oh, no. Don’t fall into this trap. Don’ read too much! Opinions are one of those troublesome things that nobody wants you to have – and for good reason. Where will it ever get you? All it does is make you your own person, widen your perspective and give you a more open mind. Who wants that stuff, anyway?

Now that you know all these serious dangers of reading, what do you think? Will you continue to read too much? 😀 Share your thoughts in the comments below!


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This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. Tiffany

    Lmao. I love this post. I’ve been an avid bookworm since as far back as I can remember. Books are the reason I wear glasses lol (according to my optometrist). They were an escape when I needed desperately to disassociate from the painful events in my life. They’ve been my friends when I had known. I’ve cried over fictional characters within then and wished I could live inside the landscape and universe the authors described in such vivid detail. They’ve put words to how I felt when I couldn’t find any. They’ve taken me to places I’d have never hoped to see in my lifetime. My books and I will never part in this life.

    1. Tiffany

      ^^^^Tons of typos. Im on my phone. Auto-correct sucks lol. Great site by the way!

  2. Lisa

    Haha Tiffany. You know if you weren’t such a bookworm you wouldn’t even care about the typos.From a fellow worm.

  3. Kddomingue

    Ahhhhh! Books! I will gladly declutter and toss and Kondo many things in my home but don’t even suggest that I downsize my dragon’s hoard of books! The books are staying right where they are, thankyouverymuch, although YOU might just be invited to not let the door hit you on the way out for even suggesting such an absurd idea!

  4. Oshadi Devi

    So true, So true. Loved this post…would rather spend time in the pages of a book in my hand, than with a dim-witted tech-addicted human.

  5. Anky

    Hey there , I read only articles well too much like every topic that interest me 3hr-4hr . It is much ?. I don’t read any book till now .

  6. WThompson

    Very funny… I don’t buy too many books… I would like to read more… my problem is that I only occasionally buy and read books that seem to pertain to something applicable in real life, like there has to be a goal or a profitable outcome to everything I spend time on… reading for the sake of reading seems pointless… I definitely need to change my outlook on reading.

  7. Savannah M.

    I disgaree with this. Well first of all, instead of buying books you can have it as a eBook or if you want a physical copy than you can go to the library. I mean it is not true for people who actually love books and try comparing themselves. The people who love books put themselves in fictional perspectives to see what’s it like, they can try to make better decisions. Also, I myself am a bookworm and I still have friends that have conversations face-to-face. I can say peoples sometimes need time to themselves and try to fit in their type of world. It’s also good to be aware of problems around you, sometimes you just need to find a solution for peace. Following, your loved ones don’t have to be real unless you love yourself because if someone really loved you than they wouldn’t leave you, you can make up, but if the problem repeats it has to be a decision to make. A decision is also sleep, you get caught up into a book and want to know what happens, so you stay up past midnight. It isn’t bad unless you have school or work the next morning, you can’t judge. Some people also do take care of there body as well, some wake up early or go at sunset for a jog with a bit peace or fresh air. Some try to keep there calories on a minimum balance. From my own experience, I think a lot and it isn’t bad, it’s just the mind being concerned about your actions and feelings or other dangers. Maybe opinions is not good, but everyone has opinion that have to be heard. Anyway, this is my opinion and you can’t judge me for saying what I have to. I’m not trying to take this offensive because this does not sound like someone is saying this off from there experience. I mean, the “article” is full of opinions from what I see and it’s also judging people from there cover and whatever the person believes. Again, I totally disgaree and take this very serious. No hate.

  8. Skye Hunt

    I don’t think reading too much is a bad thing. Just don’t let it take over your health or interactions with others.

  9. Isabelle

    I have always been a book worm (I mean who starts reading harry potter in 1st grade? Me) and I LOVE to read most of the time I am reading multiple books at once but I am not in love with book characters I will cry over the death of a loved character and I will laugh at funny moments but I don’t think that reading really affects your life in fact it might even help you it might give you ideas hope and happy moments and they will also teach you important lessons so that you don’t have to learn them the hard way. So always read and never hesitate to state your opinion.

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