May is celebrated as Get Caught Reading Month, a campaign that promotes reading awareness and helps to get your nose off the Internet and pick up a good book. Technology may be part of the reason fewer people are reading, but it can also be a tool to help you find a novel, magazine, or audiobook that suits your personal tastes. And if you have an Alexa-enabled smart device, you’ve got the next best thing to a knowledgeable librarian. Let’s take a closer look at Get Caught Reading Month, why it matters, and how Alexa can help you find a good book to read this spring.
What is the month of getting stuck reading?
Get Caught Reading is an annual campaign founded by the Association of American Publishers in 1999. The group works to educate the public about the appeal of books and other forms of literature and tries to get as many people as possible to enjoy the form of the old school. May was eventually designated the official Get Caught Reading Month, and a handful of major celebrities have lent their names to the cause, including LL Cool J, Keira Knightley, Alicia Keys and more.
At its most basic, Get Caught Reading Month is about raising awareness of literature and the various ways it can improve your life (not to mention how much fun it can be).
How to turn Alexa into your personal librarian
Alexa is a great personal assistant, but did you know she’s also an aspiring librarian? Finding a new book to read can be a challenge, but Alexa is always up for the task. Here are some great ways you can use Alexa to help you join Get Caught Reading Month.
- Audiobooks: Schedules are hectic this time of year, and not everyone can find time to sit down with a book. If you fall into that category, consider having Alexa read you a book. When cooking dinner or doing some chores, use the command “Alexa, read my Kindle book” to have Alexa pick up where she left off with her latest book.
- Free Audible Audiobook: Who doesn’t like free stuff? Ask Alexa “What’s free on Audible?” and they will look for the last gift in the service and start reading it. It will even notify you of the last date the audiobook will be available, allowing you to plan your listening schedule before it’s gone.
- Recommend me a book: If you’re not sure what to read next, let Alexa choose a title for you. Give the command, “Alexa, recommend a book” to learn about a book that might be of interest to you. You’ll hear a brief synopsis of the title before you have a chance to make a purchase or hear more details.
Must-read audiobooks
Audiobooks are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to experience literature, as you can eliminate other tasks while moving your bookmark. Alexa is full of great suggestions, but we’ve also put together a list of some of the best audiobooks of 2022. And if you have a smart device, you’ve got everything you need to start listening.
- The emperor of all evil
- cloud atlas
- The Wild Beauty series
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
- Slaughterhouse-Five
- cat cradle
- 1Q84
- Dune
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- The Maid
why does it matter
It’s easy to get distracted in today’s hyper-connected world, but it’s important to try to find time during the week to unwind with a good book or audiobook. According to ThinkImpact, 54% of adults in the US read below the sixth grade level and 21% of adults are illiterate in 2022. Reading is just a fun hobby, it’s also a way to hone your critical thinking skills.
So whether you manage to carve out a few minutes each week to snuggle up with a book, or have Alexa read you an audiobook while you cook dinner, getting involved in Get Caught Reading Month is something to put on your schedule.
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