"MAKE AMERICA READ AGAIN"

Oct. 12th 2023 Valentina Baker

Make Reading Cool Again (And Blogs).

Like many of us have come to find, reading has become a bit of a lost art. I found myself buying books that seemed to have just collected dust in my New York City apartment, and instead of reading a physical book when I had downtime, I, like millions of others, resorted to curling up in bed with a good TikTok or doom scrolling. I couldn't concentrate on most books anyways; I found myself drifting off in thought two pages in or having to reread a page because I missed something.

However, on a recent trip of mine, I spent a lot of time with family friends, one of whom is an avid reader. She had managed to finish three mammoth books during the duration of her two-month holiday, and I was impressed. She even got everyone on the trip hooked onto a book series that was particular to the place we were actually staying. The book was called "Snowing in Bali," a book on the drug and party-fueled lifestyle of some of Bali and the world's biggest drug traders. She loaned it to me, and it was the first book in a while that I actually couldn't put down. Now that I've finished it, I've picked up the momentum to read other books. I could definitely see this book getting its own TV adaptation, and the fact that it's based on a true story makes it even more compelling. It was interesting to learn about the dark underbelly of such a beautiful, front-facing tourist destination that I was currently staying at. My friends and I would even try to scout out places near us that we thought could have been the infamous drug dealer's Mansion.

That's all to say that I think there should be a movement within Gen-Z to read content that is actually stimulating, informational, or tells a story. Social media these days can be vapid and draining, and you don't get to curate what you actually want to see, or get to take the time to view things in-depth because everything moves so fast, and so much information is thrown at us. It's important to take time for ourselves to slow down, read, and be at peace and consume content that's engaging, helpful, interesting, and organized. The world is chaotic enough. So with that being said, here is a book list that piques all sorts of interests, from crazy drug cartel stories to fashion and design books. Make America Read Again.

And hopefully, this online "blog" can act as a place where you can enjoy reading and viewing content that has been handpicked and organized in a way that is easily digestible and only features quality products, tips, and information with no strings or marketing ploys attached.

GRÆY AREA'S READING PICKS:

1. Snowing in Bali- Based on a true story, this book includes insider interviews from balis drug lords and how they navigated the Bali Drug Trade

2. Quarter life- A guide on how to navigate your 20s/young adulthood, or the "Quarterlife"—the years between adolescence and midlife.

3. The french art if not trying too hard- Being based in Paris we loved this pick, a book on how to achieve the effortless "give no fucks" french lifestyle.

4. The perfectionist guide to losing control- This book explores the benefits of perfectionism, uncovers its gender biases, and guides us to embrace our strengths without self-criticism.

5. Cold People- In this, Aliens swoop down to the earth and warn the entire population of Earth to make their way to Antarctica within 30 days or perish.

6. The art of thinking clearly- This book aims to illuminate our day-to-day thinking “hiccups” so that we can better avoid them and start making improved choices.

7. Worn in New York- This book pays tribute to the meaning behind the clothes we wear, with detailed accounts and pictures of some New Yorkers prize possessions and the stories behind them.

8. The subtle art of not giving a fuck- Need we say more? it's a book about how to not give a fuck and live more.

9. Everything I know about love- This book is a funny and painfully honest recollection of the author in her early twenties, and all the bad dates, heartbreaks, grimy flat shares, and steadfast friendships.