Ask someone today why they enjoy reading novels and they will likely say it allows them to escape real life and immerse themselves in a different world. This escapism is seen as positive, but for centuries novel reading was thought to corrupt readers for precisely these reasons.

This year is the UK’s National Year of Reading – a government-led campaign “to help more people (re)discover the joy of reading and make it part of their everyday lives”.

The campaign seeks to reverse declining levels of reading for pleasure, explored in two reports: Children and Young People’s Reading in 2025 and The State of the Nation’s Adult Reading 2024. It does not promote novels exclusively, but they are inevitably a popular choice for many readers.

Beginning from the premise that reading “expands worlds, sharpens minds and fuels creativity”, the campaign echoes ongoing research into the relationship between novel reading and personal wellbeing. For example, a 2023 study carried out at the University of Edinburgh recently showed that reading fiction promotes positive emotions, connection with others and personal growth.

At a time when we are being encouraged to read more, it is striking to consider how attitudes towards novel reading have evolved since the genre began to develop during the 18th century. In Britain, early examples were written by Daniel Defoe and Samuel Richardson. But the novel ultimately emerged from an earlier European tradition and was heavily influenced by nonfictional forms, including letters and histories.

Novel reading as guilty pleasure

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the novel was generally considered low-brow literature, often being described by critics (in some cases seriously and in others more jokingly) as a kind of poison, waste or disease.

Around the turn of the 19th century, the novel’s reputation reached an all-time low. One reason for this was that more novels were being written in Britain than ever before. This was the Romantic period – best remembered today for giving us the novels of Jane Austen, Walter Scott and Mary Shelley, who gave the world Frankenstein.

But it was also a period in which a whole raft of other novels by now-forgotten authors were produced en-masse. Austen alludes to this in Northanger Abbey (1817) when, making fun of the idea that all novels are bad, she refers to “the trash with which the press now groans”.

The number of people reading novels also increased dramatically during these years, meaning that the dangers posed by novels seemed even more threatening. Novel reading was thus a kind of guilty pleasure – people knew that it was disapproved of, but still they indulged – much like fast food or trash TV today.

In the introduction to her 50-volume book The British Novelists in 1810 – one of the earliest attempts to canonise the novel – the poet Anna Laetitia Barbauld recognises this tension:

A collection of novels has a better chance of giving pleasure than of commanding respect […] but their leaves are seldom found unopened, and they occupy the parlour and the dressing-room while productions of higher name are often found gathering dust upon the shelf.

But why was novel reading considered so disreputable?

Evolving attitudes

As Barbauld suggests, novel reading was deemed frivolous and not nearly as valuable a use of time as reading, say, a work of history or moral philosophy, which offered new knowledge and ways of understanding the world.

There was also a concern that novel readers would become so immersed in fiction that they would either no longer be able to distinguish it from real life or neglect their daily duties. In Marriage (1818), a novel by Austen’s Scottish contemporary Susan Ferrier, the heavily satirised housewife Mrs Gaffaw “reads novels” and is therefore “above managing her house”.

Within Romantic-period novels, including those by Austen and Ferrier, numerous examples can be found of readers who become overly absorbed in fiction. The consequences of this are invariably bad – often including sexual misconduct and moral decay – thereby providing warnings to other readers.

Today, a different view is taken. As one young reader cited in a recent article on the wellbeing benefits of reading fiction put it, novels provide an opportunity to “calm down and just get away from the world”. Getting lost in a novel is a good thing – one that allows time for quiet and reflection.

The same message underpins our summer reading lists, such as the one in Condé Nast Traveller magazine, in which the mark of “a great holiday read is its ability to transport and immerse you into a completely different world”.

In this sense, we have come full circle. The escapism that made novel reading so dangerous 200 years ago is now craved by 21st-century readers and hailed as a means of necessary self-regulation. Regardless of personal reading preferences, it is clear that debates on the value of fiction, and how we engage with what we read, remain central to popular culture.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org; if you click on one of the links and go on to buy something, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

Boredom is something many of us will do everything we can to avoid. We fill our time with social media, books and TV programmes and keeping our schedules packed with plans.

But boredom doesn’t always need to be seen as something negative. Boredom may, in fact, be good for you – but only if you effectively tap into its full potential.

1. It can push you towards positive change

Boredom tends to arise when we want to be mentally engaged but our current activity or environment isn’t providing the level of challenge, stimulation or meaning we need. This can leave us feeling restless – especially if we don’t know how to remedy the situation.

It’s for this reason that boredom can be used to push ourselves towards change and encourage exploration.

But in order to make boredom really work for you, it’s vital to avoid just reaching for the next easy distraction, like scrolling on your phone, online shopping or visiting the pantry for a snack.

Positive change comes not from asking “how do I stop feeling like this?” but asking yourself “what meaningful thing do I need next?” Focusing on doing something meaningful is key to making boredom a bridge to more productive or positive activities.

While determining what’s meaningful will differ for each of us, as a general guide meaningful activities require a bit of effort while still being doable and making us feel like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.

So if you’re someone who enjoys exercise or being in nature, going for a hike is one meaningful way of quelling the boredom.

Or if you prefer creating things or doing crafts, the act of making something can be an opportunity to immerse yourself, which can improve wellbeing.

Sometimes boredom also indicates we need to get out of the house and see friends or family. Connecting with another person can provide meaning, responsiveness and a sense of belonging that doing something alone cannot.

2. It can improve problem solving and creativity

Ever taken a shower and found you’ve come up with a really great idea, or solved a problem that’s been bothering you? This it called the “shower effect” – and the reason it happens has to do with boredom.

The shower gives us a perfect, low-demand environment so our minds can wander. This lets the mind move into a state of “productive mind-wandering”, where attention can drift from the task at hand and thoughts can wander loosely.

When we let our mind wander, the process generates spontaneous thoughts that are random or only tangentially related to the immediate present. But these spontaneous thoughts often become productive ones – such as coming up with novel ideas, making new associations between previously encountered materials, solving problems we’ve been grappling with, consolidating goals or memories and boosting our creativity.

To make the most of mind-wandering’s problem solving capacity, and avoid it turning into a spiral of worry and rumination, preload your mind with good ingredients. If you know you’re going to have a block of time during your day where boredom may arise, engage your mind in advance with an analytical problem, creative project or prompt.

This primes your thinking with lots of stimulating material. That way, when you do let your mind wander, you can get creative and do something positive with your boredom.

3. It can improve memory and learning

Boredom may be unpleasant – but it can be useful in supporting our ability to build memories and retain important information.

Allowing our minds to go “offline” (also known as “wakeful rest”) provides an important buffer to help integrate and consolidate new information. Pausing and doing nothing, staring into space and doodling are all examples of wakeful rest.

New memories do not leap fully formed into our long term storage. Instead, after a novel experience or learning something new, the trace memory must be stabilised and integrated through a process called memory consolidation. Taking some time out of consuming information and letting the brain rest helps with this process.

Even just five to ten minutes of wakeful rest a day can protect fragile new memories from competing with unimportant information. Wakeful rest is also shown to help people better remember what they’ve just learned – even when asked to recall that information a week later.

Another key aspect of wakeful rest is that when the brain gets bored, it doesn’t just switch off, it changes modes.

The brain switches from focusing on external demands and tasks and moves into internal, self-focused processing. This kind of internal processing happens best during down time – such as when we’re bored. It supports us to make meaning, work out our values and who we are.

It also helps us to reflect on our experiences and is involved in processing memories, as well. Including a little wakeful rest in study time or when doing a new activity will not only support you in remembering what you learned, but it will also help you stay focused on who you are and what’s most important to you.

How to be bored

So how can we learn to tolerate boredom? By accepting it as a normal experience – rather than something negative.

You also don’t have to abandon technology entirely to better tap into your boredom – though it will help. Cutting back on the amount of rapid switching between videos, apps and social media platforms may help to improve attention, satisfaction and meaning.

If you manage to reduce switching, the next step is to practice staying with one ordinary experience, such as focusing on your breath. The more you can stay engaged in the present, the better you’ll be able to tolerate boredom.

Leaving space to do nothing and let a little boredom in is good for us – just be sure to make the most of these moments.

North Yorkshire Police said the A170 is expected to remain closed near Pickering until “at least this afternoon (Wednesday, July 29)”.

Wrelton Cliff Road is closed both ways between Pickering and Wrelton after the crash in the early hours of Wednesday.

AA Traffic News said the closed road includes the junction for Cropton Lane.

North Yorkshire Police said its specialist crash investigators are carrying out inquiries at the scene.

A force spokesperson urged motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible.

The road is a principal route from the A1 and the A19 to the North Yorkshire coast.

Not all heroes wear capes… our Unsung Heroes series celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary work.

Today, it’s Hafsa Omar, 37, from Moss Side, Manchester, who keeps her community clean and tidy.

What do you do?

I’m founder of the Moss Side Eco Squad (@moss_side_eco). A volunteer group that picks up litter where we live.

How did it start?

On maternity leave, walking around with my baby in the pram, I noticed all the litter I had to dodge around. So, I thought, why not clear it up myself?

What next?

People approached me wanting to help. They just needed someone to organise them. So, I put a time on Facebook and seven or eight people turned up.

How did you fund equipment?

For my birthday, I asked for litter pick sticks and gloves instead of presents.

Where do you litter pick?

All over Moss Side. It’s given me a familiarity with my community. I’ve discovered cafés, shops and parks that I’d never seen before.

Is the social side fun?

We were strangers, now we’re all really good friends. We check on each other when sick, drop off food if needed and celebrate birthdays.

What’s been the reaction?

People often say thanks. We get offered free food from the takeaway. Or people come out of their house with a cup of tea for us. Locals donate bin bags.

Any tricky moments?

Some people assume we are 
ex-offenders doing community service!

What litter do you see most?

Takeaway wrappers. People chuck it out of car windows. I’ve caught them at it.

What happens then?

I ask, ‘Do you do that at home?’ They usually say sorry.

Any weird finds?

A dried-up stingray fish. No idea where it came from. Oh, and decapitated dolls.

What about dangerous items?

We don’t touch any drug paraphernalia. We report it to the council for disposal.

Do you see fly tipping?

Yes. Lots of landlords rent to students here. So people moving in and out every year and dumping mattresses outside.

How many items do you pick up?

We average two bin bags of rubbish per person – so maybe 20 bags each time. Most of us have family to care for and jobs to go to, so we’re all time-poor.

So there’s no pressure to commit

I’ve dipped in and out since we started in 2020, but other people continued.

Are you really tidy at home?

Yes, but not obsessively. I do love the BBC TV show Sort Your Life Out about helping people declutter. My dream job would be reorganising charity shop floors.

Why do you volunteer?

It gives me asense of belonging in the place where I live. I’ve moved around my whole life. This is the first place that really feels like home.

Any hobbies?

Swimming. I help organise the Junior Parkrun in Moss Side every Sunday for kids. And I take part in the adult run.

Become a litter hero for your area with keepbritaintidy.org

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No one was injured after the roof collapsed

A supermarket remains closed after its roof partially collapsed. Emergency services were called to Iceland in High Street, March, just before 3pm on Tuesday (July 28).

The supermarket’s roof had collapsed. No one was injured, but a cordon was put in place and the building next door was evacuated as a precaution.

The store closed on Tuesday and remains closed on Wednesday (July 29). An Iceland spokesperson said: “We are currently working with Cambridgeshire Police and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service following a roof collapse at our High Street store in March, Cambridgeshire. All colleagues and customers are safe, and the store remains closed as a precaution.”

Cambridgeshire Police assisted with the cordon on Tuesday. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue also assisted the police.

A fire spokesperson said: “A crew from Chatteris was called just before 3pm yesterday to assist police colleagues at an incident on High Street in March. Firefighters helped to make the area safe and returned to their station by 8.35pm.”

Fenland District Council has been contacted for more information.

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The summer window is getting very busy as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all continue to chase some major signings. Arsenal may have been offered new hope in their ambitious pursuit of Vinicius Jr, though Real Madrid do not want to sell. The Gunners appear to have finally made a breakthrough over Bruno Guimaraes and have reportedly opened talks over Ivan Fresneda as they close in on another wonderkid in Axel Donczew, with Julian Alvarez also still on their radar.

The sheet is absorbent, but it may have other qualities

That’s also why raspberries are packed into smaller containers

FIFA are attempting to pressure their 211 member associations into backing plans to sell stakes in the World Cup – just hours after the FA voiced deep concerns over Gianni Infantino’s divisive proposals.

News broke on Tuesday that FIFA boss Infantino was considering selling parts of the tournament to private investors and forming a new company in a deal that could be worth around £15billion, which the governing body later confirmed in a hastily-issued statement.

In a letter to the associations, Infantino says member nations must decide on the proposal by September 19 and explains the financial benefits of approving the project.

He says that a funding package around £35.5million per nation will become available if associations sign up, but if they reject it their earnings will be almost 75 per cent less.

The letter from Infantino says: ‘The decision on whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you. Should you wish to proceed this $10billion package will become available as of January 1, 2027, ushering in the next phase of our journey together.

‘Should you wish to retain the status quo and reject this proposal we still have our planned expansion of the Forward programme [development money] of $2.7billion as previously presented.

‘In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of January 1, 2027 each member association will have the possibility of access up to $40million per member association under this proposal.’

The report added that Infantino could become the commissioner of that company once his role at FIFA ends in 2031, although FIFA claim that has not been discussed.

Investment bank J.P. Morgan is FIFA’s financial advisor on the project while Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital is expected to lead the proposed investor group. Kushner is the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared. The Trump administration is understood to have been consulted.

FIFA hope to raise more than £3 billion for the venture from a diversified, global investor group. The group is thought to include sovereign wealth funds.

Should their plans be successful, FIFA intend to give each of their 211 member associations a stake in the company – which they can choose to keep or sell – worth £15million each.

The FA, meanwhile, have deep concerns over FIFA’s leaked plans to sell stakes in the World Cup.

In a statement, an FA spokesperson confirmed they had been left in the dark over the controversial proposals which have sparked outrage amongst the football community.

The statement said: ‘We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached.

‘Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved.

‘When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear, and comment further.’

European Football Clubs, who represent over 800 European clubs, have also voiced their opposition. Crucially, the body is chaired by PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Qatar Sports Investments, who are owned by the Qatari state. Al-Khelaifi has been touted as a potential leadership challenger to Infantino. 

‘European Football Clubs (EFC) notes with serious concern the sudden, unilateral media briefings and announcement by FIFA about a potential new corporate structure for the commercialisation of certain football competitions,’ the statement read.

‘As an institution that represents over 850 football clubs – whose member clubs, their players and communities are fundamental participants in football worldwide, not least in FIFA’s competitions including all the international club competitions – it would be wholly appropriate for EFC to be fully consulted on a proposal of such magnitude. EFC learned about this proposal in the same way as most global football stakeholders – without warning and through the media.

‘EFC always seeks to work collaboratively and supportively with all stakeholders – FIFA, UEFA and all confederations, national associations, leagues, player and fan associations. In that vein, we urge for calm and thorough consultation on all topics affecting the football ecosystem, together with more rigorous and transparent governance processes put in place to protect the game for the long term. Only in this way can we build the right institutional frameworks and relationships required to promote the true success, stability and sustainability of football.’

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also voiced opposition to the proposition.

‘Let me say this very directly,’ Burnham posted on X. ‘Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.

‘The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell.

‘Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.’

The plans would see FIFA set up by FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new company responsible for the ‘operational delivery of FIFA tournaments’ – including both the men’s and women’s World Cup.

FIFA claim their plans would help advance the FIFA Forward development programme, which distributes capital to member associations. The governing body hopes to increase funding from £6m to £15m for the 2027-30 international cycle.

FIFA would need approval from the FIFA Council and majority support from the FIFA Congress (the 211 member associations) to launch the new enterprise.

UEFA have already opposed the plans, while Concacaf and now the FA have raised concerns about the lack of consultation.

There are major concerns over what the proposals could mean for the game, including whether FIFA could increase the frequency of tournaments to create more opportunities for financial backers to see a return on their investment.

The Club World Cup and men’s World Cup are currently held every four years. FIFA have previously explored the possibility of staging both tournaments every two years.

FIFA maintain that they have a duty to control the development of this project, with external investors holding only a minority stake in FFE and having no operational role.

‘Concacaf was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release,’ their statement read on Wednesday morning.

‘We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process.

‘We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place.

‘As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, FIFA, the Confederations and every Member Association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport. Every decision we make must be guided by good governance, robust processes and long-term stewardship.

‘This is the framework within which Concacaf operates. We trust that all within the FIFA family will act in the same manner.’