Naomi Alderman, a novelist and BBC presenter, has created an eight-week training program designed to help people rebuild a sustained reading habit, directly addressing the decline in literacy linked to smartphone use. The plan, inspired by the popular couch-to-5k running app, offers three tracks to accommodate different schedules and goals, with the core aim of getting participants to read for 30 minutes daily by the end of the program.
The Problem: Literacy Decline and Smartphone Distraction
Recent reports highlight a worrying trend: literacy levels have stagnated or declined in most developed countries, according to a 2024 OECD report. Students are arriving at university unable to read a whole book, and the ability to follow complex arguments is diminishing. James Marriott, in his forthcoming book The New Dark Ages, argues that a lack of reading makes people more susceptible to simplistic slogans and gossip, undermining intellectual discourse.
Alderman identifies smartphones as a primary culprit, comparing them to cheap mass-market cigarettes that caused a public health crisis. She notes that during the pandemic, people turned to their phones for connection, and now many find it difficult to focus on longer texts.
The Solution: A Structured Reading Program
Drawing on her experience designing the running app Zombies, Run, Alderman outlined the program on her Substack newsletter, Whatever Works, and received an enthusiastic response. The eight-week plan is structured to gradually increase reading time, starting with just 10 minutes on day one. Participants can choose from three tracks: one for those who want to read 30 minutes daily with longer sessions, one for those with limited time (20 minutes a day), and one for regular readers who want to tackle more challenging material.
Early feedback from participants has been positive. After the first week, many report that their morning routines feel quicker without scrolling, that reading reduces stress more effectively than social media, and that they can enjoy long films without checking their phones. Some have even created their own trackers to stay motivated, and teachers have expressed interest in bringing the program into schools.
Impact and Next Steps
The program is currently running, and Alderman encourages anyone interested to join from the beginning. She emphasizes that the joy of reading is still accessible, urging people to "put down your phone, pick up a book, and read for 10 minutes." The initiative aims to counteract the influence of technology billionaires and restore a habit that is vital for intellectual health.
Details are available at naomialderman.substack.com. With literacy being a public health issue of intellectual well-being, this grassroots approach offers a practical way for individuals to reclaim their reading lives.
