Well said. I’m a reader/writer, and I only haphazardly use my Goodreads account. It does very much seem that most people are skimming a book a day because they want to reach a goal, but reading, and writing, is supposed to be an art form.

So many negative reviews contain comments indicating that the readers have not actually read the book, pointing out a non-existent plot hole they would have understood was not a plot hole at all, but a diversion, had they read carefully.

You are supposed to read carefully in order to appreciate the writer’s choice of words — an attempt at elevating imagery to art.

A good writer who cares about his masterpiece, and potential audience, carefully edits their manuscript, so that something as simple as walking down a street metamorphoses into an experience. A skimmer will never be able to appreciate the art of the story if they are simply trying to reach a goal.

The goal should be to read an experience and cherish it, not hit 20 books in a month. Maybe, Goodreads should limit the challenge or change it to better suit books instead of numbers.

I’d also like to add that this is one of very few Medium articles I enjoyed. Well done.