Let’s be brutally honest for a moment: Not all books are art, and not everyone who reads books can genuinely call themselves a "reader." In a time where people proudly proclaim themselves as readers for finishing the latest Colleen Hoover spicy romance or re-reading Harry Potter for the thousandth time, it's time we have a serious discussion about the degradation of literary standards.
Let’s be clear from the start: Not every work has to be as dense as Dostoevsky or as philosophical as Nietzsche. Literature comes in many forms, and not every book needs to present an intellectual mountain to climb. But at its core, every worthwhile work of fiction should make you think. It should provoke deep thoughts, raise difficult questions, and force you to reflect. A great book makes you debate whether the protagonist made the right choices, whether the outcome was just, or what could have happened differently. The most important aspect of reading is that it encourages self-reflection and mental engagement. It’s about more than just being entertained—it’s about growth.
Colleen Hoover and the Illusion of Relatability
I’m going to say it—Colleen Hoover is not an artist. Her works are nothing more than a commercial product designed to appeal to people who want to feel good about reading without actually putting in the intellectual effort required to engage with real literature. What Hoover does, in essence, is cater to an audience that thrives on emotional escapism, convincing her readers that they’re "relating" to these stories of toxic relationships, betrayal, and over-the-top drama. Here’s the question: How many of these readers actually relate to the glorified cheating, manipulation, and trauma that Hoover’s books glorify? For most, it’s a fantasy.
It's an illusion of relatability, designed to appeal to those who have never truly faced these situations in their personal lives, and yet, they buy into the narrative because it's an easy, digestible escape. You can breeze through one of Hoover’s books in a weekend without ever having to pause, reflect, or challenge your mind. There's no struggle to understand profound human emotions, no philosophical questions about existence or morality. And that's exactly why these books are so popular—they require nothing of the reader except to passively consume drama.
This is not literature. This is a shallow, surface-level experience that leaves the reader feeling something without ever thinking about anything deeper. What’s worse is that these readers walk away calling themselves "readers," when all they’ve done is consumed a glorified soap opera.
Harry Potter and the Infantilization of Adult Readers
And then there’s Harry Potter—the holy grail of "readers" who never grew up. Yes, we all know Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon. Yes, it played a role in encouraging young people to read, and for that, it deserves credit. But let’s be clear: It is not groundbreaking literature. Harry Potter is, at its core, a children’s series. Its themes are simplistic, its characters flat and stereotypical, and its narrative arcs predictable. But what is most alarming is that this series, originally intended for a young audience, is now treated by many adults as some kind of masterpiece.
Here’s a wake-up call for the adult fans who still idolize Harry Potter: It’s time to move on. The idea that grown adults praise this series as if it’s on par with Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings or Herbert’s Dune is not just laughable, it’s embarrassing. While Harry Potter might hold a nostalgic value, let’s not pretend it belongs in the same literary conversation as works that demand intellectual engagement, complex character development, and intricate world-building. J.K. Rowling herself borrowed heavily from classic fantasy tropes, and it shows. The magical boarding school, the chosen one, the fight between good and evil—it’s all been done before, and better.
To those adults who still praise Harry Potter as some revolutionary piece of literature, I ask: Have you ever tried reading something that challenges you? Because it’s easy to remain comfortable with a series you’ve grown up with, but it’s another thing entirely to push yourself into the realms of Tolkien, Dostoevsky, Orwell, or Nietzsche. Try getting through the intricate politics and philosophy of Dune or wrestling with the moral dilemmas in The Brothers Karamazov. These works are not designed to make you feel good or provide an easy escape—they’re designed to make you think.
The Cheap Appeal of Mediocrity
What frustrates me most about the popularity of books like Colleen Hoover’s and Harry Potter is how they serve as a crutch for people who want to seem intelligent without ever putting in the effort to actually become intelligent. These books are easy, unchallenging, and ultimately shallow. They provide an illusion of accomplishment without requiring any real intellectual growth.
And let’s face it, for many people, that’s the appeal. They don’t want to wrestle with the complex themes of The Lord of the Rings or engage with the philosophical depth of Nietzsche. They don’t want to face the harsh realities Dostoevsky presents in his exploration of human suffering. Instead, they want something easy—a book they can finish quickly, a story that makes them feel good about themselves without ever making them think.
Let’s Call It What It Is
Here’s the hard truth: If you’re reading Colleen Hoover or still holding onto Harry Potter as an adult, you’re not a reader. You’re a consumer. You’re participating in a passive form of entertainment, no different from watching reality TV. You might feel emotional, you might feel attached to the characters, but that’s not the same as engaging with art.
Books are supposed to challenge you. They’re supposed to push you out of your comfort zone, force you to question your beliefs, and offer new perspectives on life, love, and the human condition. Real readers—those who engage with Tolkien, Orwell, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, and Herbert—understand this. They understand that reading is not just about feeling good, but about intellectual and emotional growth.
So, if you want to call yourself a reader, put down the Harry Potter wand and the Colleen Hoover drama and pick up a real book—one that will challenge you to become a better, smarter, and more thoughtful person.
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