Books & Culture: What Really Shapes What We Read and Why

When we talk about Books & Culture, the dynamic relationship between what people read and the values, trends, and stories that shape their lives. It's not just about pages—it's about why we pick up one book over another, who decides what becomes a classic, and how reading fits into our daily chaos. This isn’t about collecting titles like trophies. It’s about understanding the quiet forces behind your nightstand stack: the pressure to read 100 books a year, the myth of the "best-selling book of all time," and whether you’re even reading for yourself—or just to keep up.

Reading habits, the patterns people form around when, how, and why they read. Also known as reading routines, they’re shaped by time, attention, and what’s trending on social media or in your friend group. Most people think they should read more, but few stop to ask: What kind of reading actually moves the needle for you? Is it skimming self-help before bed? Re-reading your favorite novel when life feels heavy? Or finally tackling that thick history book you bought on impulse? Your habit doesn’t need to match someone else’s. It just needs to feel like yours. And then there’s best-selling books, titles that dominate sales charts and cultural conversations. The Bible isn’t just a religious text—it’s the undisputed sales king, with over 5 billion copies printed. That’s more than all the Harry Potters, Da Vincis, and Game of Thrones combined. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. Some books sell because they’re assigned in school. Others because they’re whispered about in book clubs. A few because they’re tied to a moment in time—a pandemic, a protest, a new way of thinking. The real question isn’t "What’s the #1 best-selling book?" It’s "Which book changed something for you?"

Then there’s the pressure to hit big reading goals. Reading goals, personal targets for how many books someone aims to finish in a year. Also known as reading challenges, they’re everywhere online. But how many of them are actually helpful? If you’re starting out, trying to read 100 books a year might feel inspiring—until you realize you’re rushing through 200-page novels in two days just to check a box. That’s not reading. That’s consumption. Real progress starts with knowing how much time you actually have, what kind of books keep you hooked, and why you started reading in the first place. It’s not about volume. It’s about value.

Books & Culture isn’t about keeping up. It’s about tuning in—to your own rhythm, to the stories that stick with you, and to the quiet ways reading changes how you see the world. Below, you’ll find real guides that cut through the noise: how to set a reading plan that actually works, what the numbers behind top sellers really mean, and why your reading journey doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. No fluff. Just what matters.