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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Why ‘disgustingly well-read’ is a win for modern literacy

Like most social media trends, the 'disgustingly well-read' trend, too, is without a doubt problematic, performative, and for some, perfunctory

In the past year, TikTok and Instagram have found a new niche aesthetic, being “disgustingly well- read”. After an X user shared her desire to be “disgustingly well-read”.

“I want to be sitting at tables and speaking of books with names that roll off your tongue like an exotic animal’s name,” the woman wrote about her desire to read philosophy and learn cultural theories.

As an avid reader, I, too, lurk in the shadowy underbelly of Bookstagram. Now and then, I browse social media for book recommendations and chime in on the latest goings on within the literary community — a community that is thriving and ever-growing.

Like most things, online, this thirst for knowledge, too, transformed. And the resulting trend was quickly dissected, delved into and declared as “performative” and “elitist”.

Are you ‘disgustingly well-read’?

The choice of the word “disgustingly” is irksome; it diminishes the intent behind the desire to read more.

After trends such as dark academia, goth girl, and sad girl reads, along with books and articles that claim to alter the reader’s brain chemistry, “disgustingly well-read” was supposed to be the balm to the social media chaos; it was meant to make people more aware, knowledgeable and........

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