I find that when I start reading a book that I enjoy, it is easily the most gripping form of entertainment, and I can barely put the book down. But, it also takes more effort to get started, so I rarely get into that zone and end up scrolling my phone instead.

I think for me the friction comes from the commitment required to finish the book. If I pick up a book and I’ve not been reading lately, it means I need to commit to picking up that book for weeks.

I know you don’t necessarily need to finish every book, but if I don’t finish then I won’t be able to pick it up again later without forgetting the progress or re-reading the same sections again. Neither are desirable.

It's true for me too. I read fiction for leisure infrequently, but when I do, I'm in the zone if it's good.

This is generally true of anything worthwhile - it always takes some activation energy. Watching a good film vs mindless one, tiktok vs a book, gardening vs tv. Investment of time into things worthwhile vs that immediate dopamine hit is a constant battle.

It makes sense. Flashing colors and noise and people making dramatic expressions is deeply satisfying to the monkey brain versus boring text and abstracted thinking.