The Subjectivity of Reading

Reading experiences are highly subjective and can differ significantly between individuals, influenced by their personal circumstances and what they seek in life. When revisiting past favorites, many might find that books which once seemed transformative appear less impressive in retrospect. This phenomenon occurs because a book may have addressed a pressing need or curiosity at a particular time, filling a figurative gap in understanding. Thus, a book's impact often hinges not just on its intrinsic qualities, but rather on the reader's specific life context during their first encounter with it.