The Witty Reality: Buying Books and Reading Books Are Two Separate Hobbies

In a recent viral video on Imgur, the humorous and relatable struggle of book lovers is hilariously depicted. The video showcases an individual who has created a reward system to motivate themselves to read the books they already own.

The video begins with a simple counting sequence, "7, 8, 9, 10! Alright!" which quickly transitions into a conversation about book reading habits. The person explains, "I'm really focusing on reading the books I already own. So I made this reading books I already own reward chart." The concept is straightforward: every time a book is read, a sticker is added to the chart. After accumulating ten stickers, a reward is earned. When asked about the nature of the reward, the response is both amusing and ironic, "I get to buy some new books." This leads to a witty retort, "Doesn't that kind of add to the problem?" to which the person confidently replies, "Who says I have a problem?"

This video has resonated with many viewers, leading to a plethora of comments that further explore the amusing dynamic between buying books and reading them. One viewer insightfully remarked, "You're not buying the books to read, you're buying the idea of time in your life to read them." Another added, "No, both are completely related. It's just like stocking up for a long winter. Okay, several winters. Okay, retirement, if I ever make it that far... But unlike some games in my Steam library, they'll actually end up being read at some point."

The consensus seems to be that owning books is not inherently problematic. "He makes a very good point. Owning books is not a problem," one viewer stated. Another shared a more practical approach, "If you're buying less than 10 books, you'll eventually finish." The humor continued with a viewer noting, "How silly. Who buys books and doesn't read them. *Sitting in office with 3000+ unassembled miniatures*."

Some viewers even related the system to their own challenges, such as managing their Steam account or organizing shows and movies they've downloaded. One viewer humorously criticized the chart's design, "I hate how he has a row of 11 when the reward is after 10. Just make the row 10!"

Others shared their personal experiences with book management. One viewer recounted, "When I moved, I decided to get rid of all my non-reference books. It took 3 trips in my Prius to drop them all off at the Libraries donation center. I haven’t bought a physical book since. I have a lot of stressors; book storage seems a poor use of stress points." Another found a solution in digital media, "On top of my Audible account, I’ve really been taking advantage of the audio and e-book borrowing apps utilized by my local library system."

The video and its comments reflect a shared experience among book lovers, highlighting the joy, humor, and occasional absurdity of balancing the act of buying and reading books. As one viewer aptly summed it up, "Reading books and buying books are separate but related hobbies."