Reading as resistance
March 8, 2026
Hi, I’m Mapu, the writer behind the Substack publication Instead of Doomscrolling—a corner of the internet where you can join me on my journey of mindful media consumption. Over there, I share media roundups and curated media guides, but over here, I’ll be sharing the little things that bring comfort, purpose, and whimsy back into my life every single week. I hope you find some inspiration that sparks the curiosity to experience life beyond the algorithmic ways of the internet :)**
Reading is one of the most accessible, yet impactful forms of resistance because, as we’ve heard a million times, knowledge is power. Taking this sentiment further, though, getting to know ourselves and determining our values, what we stand for, and building hopeful critical thinking skills is even more impactful because knowledge is futile unless we actually take the time to think. I could simply write a reading list of books that have radicalised me, but that would defeat the point that I’m getting at. Instead, I’ll be sharing some of the ways in which I have built, expanded, and persevered throughout my reading journey.
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I believe that reading slumps are an essential phase of the reading experience. Often, the ones unwilling to endure this discomfort are the ones who don’t become readers—getting through one almost feels like an initiation ritual. I used to be terrified of them, dreading the day that my safe place all of a sudden didn’t feel safe anymore. Getting through them, however, made me realize that they have a purpose; they’re supposed to give us direction. Sometimes it’s as easy as switching books; other times, you need to wait until the book makes sense within the context of your life, but often, it’s a matter of getting to the root cause of the discomfort that comes from within.