--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, basically, what I'm good for is…" description: "\"I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot. I think I'll always be more of a reader than a writer, definitely. There are sooo many books ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/helen-oyeyemi-1658_always_i-think-basically-what-i-m-good-for-is-r_2718451.png" --- # I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot… ![“I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot. I think I'll always be more of a reader than a writer, definitely. There are sooo many books in the world I haven't read, sometimes I feel as if they're all piled on top of my head weighing me down and saying, 'Hurry up.'” quote by Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/helen-oyeyemi-1658_always_i-think-basically-what-i-m-good-for-is-r_2718451.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/helen-oyeyemi-1658_always_i-think-basically-what-i-m-good-for-is-r_2718451.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/helen-oyeyemi-1658_always_i-think-basically-what-i-m-good-for-is-r_2718451.png) > “I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot. I think I'll always be more of a reader than a writer, definitely. There are sooo many books in the world I haven't read, sometimes I feel as if they're all piled on top of my head weighing me down and saying, 'Hurry up.'” [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading is a lifelong passion; the sheer volume of unread books can feel overwhelming yet motivating. **In simple terms:** Reading fuels growth despite overwhelm. Key Takeaway Embrace reading, manage overwhelm. Themes reading growth overwhelm Mood curious inspired Type practical reflective When to use this quote - library visits - book clubs - academic research - personal study Key Concepts literature information overload personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize books? - What strategies prevent reading fatigue? A Different Perspective Too much reading can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Definitely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitely/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-reading/) [Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head/) [Hurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurry/) [I feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-feel/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Piled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piled/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Read Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-feel-863128/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Reader Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-writer-872509/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/top/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Weighing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weighing/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We're chipping away at our capacity for wonder. When hologram TVs eventually go on sale, they'll cost £20,000 and be bought only by those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baynham/we-re-chipping-away-at-our-capacity-for-wonder-when-hologram-tvs/) [Peter Baynham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baynham/) > [I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-basically-what-i-m-good-for-is-reading-a-lot/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“Who are they now? They are the simplest version possible of themselves... They are out from under everything ever piled on top of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/who-are-they-now-they-are-the-simplest-version-possible-of-themselves/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [In the 1970s in New York, everyone slept till noon. 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My bedside is piled with books,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/one-of-the-maddening-ironies-of-writing-books-is-that-it-leaves-so/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I had long ago become a creation, a public image made to be consumed, piled on top of a precarious shell of a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-had-long-ago-become-a-creation-a-public-image-made-to-be-consumed/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [The men have piled up in my past, have fallen trenchantly through my life, like an avalanche that doesn't mean to kill but is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/the-men-have-piled-up-in-my-past-have-fallen-trenchantly-through-my/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [My home has a split personality. Some of the rooms are very French antique. Think Aubusson rugs, turquoise ceramic jugs, sandbag pillows, and broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-delevingne/my-home-has-a-split-personality-some-of-the-rooms-are-very-french/) [Poppy Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-delevingne/) > [I have an addictive personality. I was addicted to computer games... and then all that obsessive nature just piled into music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-have-an-addictive-personality-i-was-addicted-to-computer-games-and/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [I still feel very close to the people I wrote shows with and some of the people I toured with. I feel very close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adsit/i-still-feel-very-close-to-the-people-i-wrote-shows-with-and-some-of/) [Scott Adsit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adsit/) > [Italy has piled up huge public debt because the successive governments were too close to the life of ordinary citizens, too willing to please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/italy-has-piled-up-huge-public-debt-because-the-successive/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) > [in the place I am from ... a grave is topped off with a huge mound of loose earth - carelessly, as if piled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/in-the-place-i-am-from-a-grave-is-topped-off-with-a-huge-mound-of/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I never read because I always feel there's something more important to do, despite the fact I never do anything worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/i-never-read-because-i-always-feel-there-s-something-more-important/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) ## More by Helen Oyeyemi > [“Juju is not enough to protect you. Everything you have I will turn against you. I'll turn sugar bitter for you. I'll take your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/juju-is-not-enough-to-protect-you-everything-you-have-i-will-turn/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/marriage-is-no-real-excuse-for-not-loving/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [I do tend to feel more connected to dead writers, perhaps because they have finished their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-do-tend-to-feel-more-connected-to-dead-writers-perhaps-because-they/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“People don’t make too much money around here, but what comes with that is a different definition of what it means to be well-off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/people-don-t-make-too-much-money-around-here-but-what-comes-with-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“He looked honored, extraordinarily honored, seeming to care for that which tore his flesh than he did for the flesh itself, embracing the blade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/he-looked-honored-extraordinarily-honored-seeming-to-care-for-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“White-flowered shrubs thickened around her and so did sleep; it directed her limbs. Lie down now, sleep said sweetly. Lie down. These are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/white-flowered-shrubs-thickened-around-her-and-so-did-sleep-it/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [I don't despise 'Don Quixote,' but it is a book I don't... get. I'll have to come back it. Maybe there'll be a gateway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-don-t-despise-don-quixote-but-it-is-a-book-i-don-t-get-i-ll-have-to/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“I think her favorite thing about our . . . collaboration was her actor and musician friends rubbing shoulders with my academic colleagues, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-her-favorite-thing-about-our-collaboration-was-her-actor-and/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“After half an hour the Senora emerged, short of breath, with flushed cheeks…as uf she'd been seized and shaken like a faulty thermometer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/after-half-an-hour-the-senora-emerged-short-of-breath-with-flushed/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“It was the usual struggle between one who loves by accepting burdens and one who loves by refusing to be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/it-was-the-usual-struggle-between-one-who-loves-by-accepting-burdens/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“Pops says he loves me just the way I am, but not everyone in the world is like my father. Maman, for example. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/pops-says-he-loves-me-just-the-way-i-am-but-not-everyone-in-the-world/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“With boys there was a fundamental assumption that they had a right to be there—not always, but more often than not. With girls, Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/with-boys-there-was-a-fundamental-assumption-that-they-had-a-right-to/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The more forcibly I'm made aware of the fact that I'll never be the kind of storyteller I most admire, the less I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-more-forcibly-i-m-made-aware-of-the-fact-that-i-ll-never-be-the/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The girl was lighter without her heart. She danced barefoot on the hot roads, and her feet were not cut by the glass or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-girl-was-lighter-without-her-heart-she-danced-barefoot-on-the-hot/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“So her missing person's poster features a girl with long hair and dreamy eyes that don't see the fracture coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/so-her-missing-person-s-poster-features-a-girl-with-long-hair-and/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) [Explore all 218 Helen Oyeyemi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot. 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