How exactly was ReadSG conceptualised

Why do we have to be paid to read now

Is fifteen minutes reading realistic?

Does daily reading create the habit?

Stop calling children "non-readers".

Will a book club get people reading?

What do we lose when we do not read?

The most borrowed book in Singapore.

Book recommendations by the speakers

Would you read regularly if you were paid to do so?

The National Library Board (NLB) is hoping that people will develop a consistent reading habit by giving readers virtual coins that can eventually be exchanged for cash. They need to spend at least 15 minutes on the activity each day.

But why does the library have to incentivise us to read for fun? What do we lose when we no longer read, especially if we’re choosing to doomscroll instead?

In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with:


Associate Professor Loh Chin Ee from the National Institute of Education, who researches people’s reading habits, and


Chris Koh, the programme director of the National Reading Movement

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:47 How was ReadSG conceptualised

3:41 Why do we have to be paid to read?

7:41 Is reading for 15 mins actually realistic?

10:45 Does reading daily create a habit?

19:16 Why we should stop calling kids “non-readers”

21:10 Will book clubs get people reading?

27:39 What do we lose when we don’t read?

32:19 S’pore’s most borrowed library book?

33:34 Book recommendations from Chris, Chin Ee and Natasha

Books recommended in this episode:


Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb


The Complete Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis


Bang My Car by Ann Ang


Ministry of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe


Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai & Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Danson Cheong

Producers: Natasha Ann Zachariah, Elizabeth Law & Zachary Lim

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#tup #tuptrf

Would you read regularly if you were paid to do so?
The National Library Board (NLB) is hoping that people will develop&nbsp;<a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/new-national-reading-movement-wants-people-to-read-15-minutes-a-day-in-exchange-for-cash?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">a consistent reading habit by giving readers virtual coins</a>&nbsp;that can eventually be exchanged for cash. They need to spend at least 15 minutes on the activity each day.
But why does the library have to incentivise us to read for fun? What do we lose when we no longer read, especially if we&rsquo;re choosing to doomscroll instead?
In this episode of The Usual Place, I speak with:
<ul>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Associate Professor Loh Chin Ee from the National Institute of Education, who researches people&rsquo;s reading habits, and
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Chris Koh, the programme director of the National Reading Movement
</li>
</ul>
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:47 How was ReadSG conceptualised
3:41 Why do we have to be paid to read?
7:41 Is reading for 15 mins actually realistic?
10:45 Does reading daily create a habit?
19:16 Why we should stop calling kids &ldquo;non-readers&rdquo;
21:10 Will book clubs get people reading?
27:39 What do we lose when we don&rsquo;t read?
32:19 S&rsquo;pore&rsquo;s most borrowed library book?
33:34 Book recommendations from Chris, Chin Ee and Natasha
Books recommended in this episode:
<ul>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Bang My Car by Ann Ang
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Ministry of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi
</li>
</ul>
Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (<a href="mailto:natashaz@sph.com.sg">natashaz@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Natasha&rsquo;s articles:<a href="https://str.sg/iSXm"> https://str.sg/iSXm</a>
Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: <a href="https://str.sg/8KNT">https://str.sg/8KNT</a>
Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/v6DN">https://str.sg/v6DN</a>
Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai &amp; Hadyu Rahim
Executive producer: Danson Cheong
Producers: Natasha Ann Zachariah, Elizabeth Law &amp; Zachary Lim
Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/5nfm</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/9ijX</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/cd2P</a>
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/icyB?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
--
#tup #tuptrf

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producer: Danson Cheong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producer: Danson Cheong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

The Usual Place

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producer: Danson Cheong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producer: Danson Cheong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media