Read Another Book
Added by Bilbo Swaggins • Updated 9 months ago by Zach
![ANTIFA logo with the writing ANTI HARRY POTTER ACTION read another book](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/034/102/read_another_book_thumbnail.png)
Type: Catchphrase, Pop Culture Reference,
Tags: harry potter, read a different book, j. k. rowling, books, catchphrase, pop culture reference, hashtag, #readanotherbook, politics, liberals, meme,
Additional References: Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, Urban Dictionary,
![ANTIFA logo with the writing ANTI HARRY POTTER ACTION read another book](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/034/102/read_another_book_thumbnail.png)
Navigation |
About • Origin • Spread • Various Examples • Search Interest • External References • |
About
Read Another Book is an expression used to criticize the overreliance on comparisons to Harry Potter in mainstream politics, particularly by Resistance Twitter users. It can also be used similarly as a catchphrase intended to criticize people who use the Harry Potter series to compare real-world events to that of the books, frequently appearing as a hashtag in such posts across a number of social media platforms online, often by members of the Anti-Harry Potter crowd.
Origin
The use of this catchphrase appears online as early as 2016, though the exact origins are unknown. On November 12th, 2016, one of the earliest examples of such use appears in a tweet from Twitter[1] user imbadatlife (seen below). The tweet, which uses “READ ANOTHER BOOK” alongside several examples of comparisons between Harry Potter and real-world political events, received over 16,300 likes and 7,400 retweets.
![Read Another Book Tweet Luke Bailey @imbadatlife Holy f------ s---. READ ANOTHER BOOK. Literally any other f------ book. Preferably some history but l'd take f------ anything at this point. takeS over tne iviIsuy or vagic and Umbridge is hired to persecute resemblance to voldemort's first visit after the battle of hogwarts muggle borns. Kris Kobach resourceful, to be prepared. Remember that ravens untangle the worst knots. 好 55 21 t3 312 565 Horizontal Latitude Seanan McGuire oearanmogure Gryffindor, get ready. It's time to be brave, to be stalwart, to protect what's yours. Remember that lions roar for the voiceless. @Avuxeni. .@azelin "Un-American Activities Committee" - thats sounds very Harry Potter Hogwarts kind of languge 13 224 360 Seanan McGuire earanmoguire Hufflenuffs oet readv. It's time to be kind. to be](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/855/276/153.png)
Spread
On May 31st, 2017, The Washington Post[2] published an article titled, “If you’re going to use books to resist Trump, pick better ones than ‘Harry Potter,’” which addresses the issue of such overreliance on these comparisons, and also includes the use of the phrase, “Perhaps you could read another book?”
On September 20th, 2017, the Facebook[3] page i’m begging you please read another book was created under the description:
We dunk on people who refuse to get over Harry Potter even though they're actual fucking adults. This includes but is not limited to: comparing current events to the plot of the books, sorting politicians into Hogwarts houses and/or comparing them to characters, hijacking posts with unrelated Harry Potter references, and absurd crossovers. While it's primarily about Harry Potter, it's also a group to post about other books people need to let go of. No, not everything is like 1984, and if you're an adult and exclusively read YA you're no better than Harry Potter stans.
The term was added to Urban Dictionary[4] on June 4th, 2018, by user Martin Luther Cream (shown below), where it received 147 likes and 44 dislikes for the definition, “The appropriate response to any stupid political analogy that uses material from the Harry Potter books as a reference point.”
![Read Another Book Urban Dictionary y f > TOP DEFINITION read another book The appropriate response to any stupid political analogy that uses material from the Harry Potter books as a reference point. HP devotee #1: "When Voldemort is president, Dumbledore's army needs a whole lot of Hermoines!" HP devotee #2: "If the students at Hogwarts can defeat the death eaters, then we can defeat the NRA!" George Takei tweet: "So, are we basically saying now that Senator McCain is Severus Snape?" Normal person: "Seriously? Read another book." #harry potter #read another book #lack of imagination](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/855/275/6d1.png)
Several media outlets also covered the trend in 2018, including The American Spectator[5] who published an article on July 12th, 2018, titled, “Harry Potter and the Reason to Read Another Book.” On December 17th, 2018, The Odyssey[6] also published such an article called, “To The People That Equate 'Harry Potter' Books To Modern Day Politics, Please Read Another Book.”
On Reddit, two different subreddits were created referencing the catchphrase, with r/readanotherbook[7] created on February 7th, 2018 (17,500 members), and r/ReadADifferentBook[8] on April 20th, 2018 (2,100 members).
Twitter users can also be frequently seen using the hashtag #ReadAnotherBook in such posts mocking Harry Potter comparisons. On March 25th, 2018, Twitter[9] user Angelheartnight tweeted an example of this (seen below) and received 307 likes and 93 retweets.
![#ReadAnotherBook CATIO Angela Gale Gaylord Night @Angelheartnight QUARANTINE 1) It's REMEMBER. 2) Hogwarts students were armed with wands. 3) HOGWARTS ISN'T REAL! #ReadAnotherBook PARKLAND SANDY HOO LAS VEGA PULS NIU utherland VIRGINI FORT REMEBER: IF HOGWARTS STADENES CAN DEFEAT THE DEATH EATERS US STUDENTS CAN DEFEAT THE NRA! #NEVERAGRIN](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/855/279/5dd.png)
On August 22nd, 2019, Vox[10] published an article in opposition to the “Read Another Book” supporters under the title, “In defense of reading the same book over and over again,” which poses the question, “Is it really that bad to read a single book or watch a single show over and over and over again?”
On May 5th, 2020, Redditor[11] GashcatUnpunished posted a meme version under title, “Read another book,” to the r/PoliticalCompassMemes sub (shown below), where it was upvoted 774 times and commented on 76 times.
![Read another book doomy lee @p I don't know who needs to hear this but: Kim Yo Jong taking over North Korea is literally the same thing as Dolores umbridae taking over gunsandfireandshit blue-oyster-girl The Liberal has Made a Harry Potter Reference!](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/855/278/15f.png)
The Instagram[12] account potterliberals is another example of meme-related content surrounding Read Another Book, posting memes that reference the topic. On May 26th, 2020, one such example depicting J.K. Rowling was uploaded (seen below).
![potterliberals don't call yourself a LIBERAL HARRY POTTER and the Deathly Hallows unless you read J.K.ROWLING BLOOMSRURY THEOR](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/855/277/a20.jpg)
Various Examples
![READ ANOTHER BOOK Hannah Lebovits @HannahLebovits Husband just told me, "watching the federal government deal with COVID-19 is like watching the Ministry of Magic deal with Voldemort's return," and damn if that isn't the best take l've heard this month 20:29 · 05 Apr 20 · Twitter for iPhone >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/855/280/0ed.png)
![No Muggles! only wizards are invited to little timmys birthday party!! (well maybe muggles too ) I have no grasp on reality so I compare my least favorite people to children's books villains your child is dying from cancer? this quote from Harry Potter should sooth your worries bloody muggles!1! I spent $50 on this stick that looks like Harry's wand! I'm a redhead I must be a Weasley! Donald trump? did you mean he who shall not be named? Donald trump is LITERALLY Voldemort let me read your palm. the big line says you're a ravenclaw ever since I've watched hardy potter I've been forming a British accent!!! I'm not lying, it's crazy!!! READ ANOTHER BOOK HUFFLEPU](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/855/281/7df.png)
Search Interest
External References
[1] Twitter – imbadatlife
[2] Washington Post – If you’re going to use books to resist Trump, pick better ones than ‘Harry Potter’
[3] Facebook – i'm begging you please read another book
[4] UrbanDictionary – read another book
[5] Spectator – Harry Potter and the Reason to Read Another Book
[6] The Odyssey – To The People That Equate 'Harry Potter' Books To Modern Day Politics, Please Read Another Book
[7] Reddit – r/readanotherbook – When your only reference for everything is Harry Potter
[8] Reddit – r/readadifferentbook
[9] Twitter – Angelheartnight
[10] Vox – In defense of reading the same book over and over again
[11] Reddit – read another book
[12] Instagram – potterliberals
Entry Editors ( 4 )
Tags: harry potter, read a different book, j. k. rowling, books, catchphrase, pop culture reference, hashtag, #readanotherbook, politics, liberals, meme,
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