Recognizing that I am weirdly curious about random facts, I made the choice recently to research the origins of the term bookworm. As I alluded to in the post What Are You Reading, I have always been an avid reader and treasure memories of visits to the library whether it was to discover a favorite author had a new publication or to see which book covers attracted my eye. And oh, the thrill in elementary school when the monthly Scholastic Book Club flyers were delivered, and I could peruse the selections and earn a free poster! In my mind those actions could easily describe a bookworm.
So, why choose a worm to describe someone who loves to read? Yes, worms are great for baiting fish, but what do they have to do with reading? Other than acquiring the knowledge of How to Eat Fried Worms from a book, I just don’t comprehend the connection. Now, I am willing to take a gander that you know what happens next…Google search. How did I ever satisfy my curiosity before access to the Internet?
Evidently, bookworms are indeed real, but are actually insects that eat the mold and pages in books unproperly cared for, so is the term an insult or a praise? The answer will probably depend on who you ask, but I prefer to view being labeled a bookworm as a compliment. After all, if the internet explains that a “bookworm is someone who loves to read” and “If you’re a true bookworm, you’d rather spend Friday nights on the couch with a book than out at a party,” then I accept the moniker as a complement. Who knows what I might discover this week as I delve into Joel C. Rosenberg’s page-turning last days sagas or Daniel Pink’s Drive?
As an academician, maybe bibliophile is a preferred use of vocabulary over the term bookworm, but whichever phrase you settle on is of no concern to me as they both describe a love of books. However, what does concern me are the statistics related to emerging generations and their lack of interest in reading! In addition to Twenge’s statistics that I shared in What Are You Reading, much of my research about Gen Z, along with personal experience with students, is revealing a lack of capacity to read an entire book. This issue creates a struggle for me as I debate about assigning books to read for class (outside of the text) because I am doubtful that the reading will actually take place. However, if the desire is for my students to flourish by developing Habits of Growth, Resilience and Deep Work, reading books is an important step in that process.
What can be done to cultivate the value of reading entire books? Do we just accept that “some people are bookworms from the moment they first learn to read” while others will never find the task enjoyable? Or are there strategies available to educators to grow, if not a love, at least a tolerance, for persevering through an entire book? Two recent resources, Gen Z Learns and Deep Work, continue to nurture the idea that this goal is still attainable, and I will hopefully share some of their ideas for educators in the near future.
I would relish hearing your stories about how reading is important in your life and ways that you have cultivated a desire to read, whether you would define yourself as a bookworm or not! Help me engage and prepare Gen Z by sharing your strategies for encouraging reading in your children and students in the comments below.
References:
Newport, C. (2016). Deep work: Rules for focused success in a distracted world. Grand Central Publishing.
Seemiller, C. & Grace, M. (2019). Generation Z learns: A guide for engaging Generation Z students in meaningful learning. Corey Seemiller and Meghan Grace.
Flourishing @ Life 
Hi MJ! I love to read. Especially fiction because I can literally setup the whole scene and characters in my mind and watch it play out. Nonfiction is tough— which I know is the majority of what you read. Unfortunately, the internet has made it easy as a student to not read a book and then google a quick summary— it’s sad that it’s like that, but reflecting back it seems like in college I was more concerned with hanging out with friends and Grant (lol) rather than reading! Now that I’m older I find joy in laying Benaiah down for a nap and then sitting on the couch to read! This year with extra time on my hands I’ve read more nonfiction and have been surprised how much I’ve enjoyed learning from others experiences… it’s not that I haven’t enjoyed that before but it’s different coming from a book rather than a conversation in person. It has been so encouraging to pickup a book where an author is so raw and genuine that you can feel the emotion while reading! I don’t have a solution for your current students— other than believing that your desire to see them indulge in a book will plant seeds that may not sprout now, but will flourish years down the road! Love you!
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This week in my class with Professor J, Michael Garrett here at Union University, I read On the Reading of Old Books by C.S. Lewis. I also read The Death of Reading is Threatening the Soul by Philip Yancey. I learned some very interesting facts:
* Bill Gates reads 50 books a year.
* Mark Zuckerberg reads at least one book every two weeks.
* Elon Musk grew up reading two books a day.
* Mark Cuban reads for more than three hours every day.
* Arthur Blank, a co-founder of Home Depot, reads two hours a day.
According to Yancey, this sums up in a “5-hour rule”: they set aside at least an hour a day (or 5 hours a week) for deliberate reading.
Our own Dr. Julie Powell here at Union University would have made the above list if Philip Yancey were to update his writing today. I am sure about that!
I myself will attempt to join the 5-hour-rule club (and I hope this is not the commitment made on the spur of the moment!) Warren Buffet said, who himself an avid reader of 500 pages every day, “[reading] builds up, like compound interest.” This resonates well with me, after all, I know a little bit about compound interest as I teach Engineering Economy 🙂
5-hour of deliberate reading (and writing, too) makes a lot of sense. I like this metric as it allows time to absorb wisdom more than others that speed attached to them (such 500 pages a day or 2 books a day…) On the undesirable effects on reading due to electronics and social media, Yancey quoted Nicholas Carr as saying “One I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surfaces like a guy on a Jet Ski.”
I like impactful absorption more than speedy exposure. I will take advantage of people’s wisdom by soaking in the ocean of words, and of The Word.
I like the big pair of eyeglasses on the bookworm. What a beautiful picture for the bookworm, and for the message!
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I love the Nicolas Carr quote in that it captures how many of us approach our days. I heard a message this morning which mentioned the pace of our current lives, and this quote fits nicely with the challenge we were given to slow down.
Julie
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