Get "Paid" To Read? What Does That Say About Singaporeans?

Stop us if you've already read about this, but did you know that Singaporeans can earn money simply by reading?

The National Library Board (NLB) recently launched the ReadSG Challenge to encourage reading via a simple gamification process.

For those who don't know, here's a quick summary on how it works:

• Register for the ReadSG Challenge.
• Log how much you've read. (Minimum reading time: 15 minutes. Note: you can only log once a day.)
• Earn 20 Coins. 1000 Coins convert to $1, and you can use that to pay at selected merchants.
• You’re not restricted to reading physical books: audiobooks, e-books, comics, magazines, and new articles – even this story – also count.
• You can earn extra bonuses and prizes by taking part in other selected events and challenges.

All you need to do for the ReadSG Challenge is answer these two questions to earn Coins and XP. | IMAGE: READSG CHALLENGE

Of course, some have questioned if the reward is attractive enough. Some wondered about over-reliance on gamification to shape our behaviour.

Yet others asked if public money would be better spent on strengthening the existing institutions that produce reading culture, rather than incentivising individual readers.

But perhaps the bigger question is: does paying people to read miss the point of how reading culture is built?

What does it say about us that the NLB thinks we must be paid to read for Singapore to have a sustainable reading culture?

Is this the only way we can get Singaporeans to do things?

When I first heard about the ReadSG Challenge, I wondered, is this necessary?

I must confess: I love reading. Can't get enough of it. I’ve found so much enjoyment poring through comics, anthologies, novels, and biographies. But that's just me.

"Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no recharging, hours of enjoyment." - Stephen King. | IMAGE: FACEBOOK/EPIGRAM BOOKS

It’s my multiverse portal: I can go to galaxies far, far away; I can plunge the depths of oceans or scale the world’s highest peaks; I’ve seen things beyond my ken – and I don't even need a prepaid Wi-Fi plan.

That said, I’m not opposed to gamification – I regularly use Kakee, Healthy 365 and other apps that promise rewards – so if I can earn a bit of pocket money while doing what I love, I’m all for it.

But what if we don't stop there? What if monetary incentivisation becomes the sole reason for everything we do?

To stop us from littering, pay up. To promote courtesy in our culture, pay up.

I’ll admit that’s extreme, but think about it: we all learnt how to read in school. We’ve also read about the cognitive benefits of reading.

Yet, apparently, it’s come to a point where something like this must be done… to help us focus better?

I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures. But, according to a post by award-winning poet and author Dr Gwee Li Sui, incentivising people to read is “the logical next step in the wrong trajectory."

Dr Gwee Li Sui has penned several books of poetry and non-fiction, a graphic novel and translated classics like "The Little Prince" and Grimm's fairy tales into Singlish. | IMAGE: FACEBOOK/GWEEK

This is because real readers will read anyway, even if they don’t get incentives, added the author of Spiaking Singlish: A Companion To How Singaporeans Communicate. 

“Of those who need incentives,” he continued, “maybe a small number will go on to read regardless. But I'm not convinced ‘dragging’ the rest along will help reading culture – it certainly won't develop it.”

How do we achieve a reading culture in Singapore?

Organisations like the World Literacy Foundation have long advocated that reading must be accessible, social, and a joyful part of everyday life rather than a forced chore.

Other recommendations include inviting “reading spaces” and a diverse range of books to appeal to potential readers.

Perhaps more importantly, we should set aside dedicated time by building consistent, uninterrupted reading periods into daily routines, since consistent encouragement builds lifelong habits.

Well, we already have 28 public libraries all over the island. And taking part in the ReadSG Challenge means we must dedicate time to reading.

So... achievement unlocked? Well, not quite.

An ad for #BuySingLit to promote reading Singaporean literature. | IMAGE: SINGLIT STATION

Gwee has his take. “Knowing us, someone will find a way to game this gamification sooner or later,” he wrote.

I’m also sceptical of how we can accurately measure the true success of this challenge. For instance, people must be honest when logging their reading time – but will they be?

Will Singaporeans make reading a thing?

I believe there can be an upside to this. Do something often enough and long enough, and it becomes a habit, right?

So if it’s a habit that enhances our imagination, improves our focus, and sparks joy in our lives, why not?

If what bestselling and award-winning author Mohsin Hamid (Moth Smoke, The Reluctant Fundamentalist) told me is anything to go by, reading a book can help us endure the trials we face in our lives.

“A woman once told me about how she picked up The Reluctant Fundamentalist on the day she began to have birthing contractions,” he recalled.

She had started reading the book to distract herself from the pain, but when the doctor told her to put it down “so that he could induce the baby, she said, ‘Wait, I haven’t finished’," he added.

“After she gave birth, she told her family that she was tired and wanted to sleep, but once they left, she picked up the book and finished it!”

The National Library Board's National Reading Month programme kicked off with a mass reading activity to launch the ReadSG Challenge. | IMAGE: INSTAGRAM/@NLBSINGAPORE

I believe that's the power of reading: it can inspire, it can soothe, it can be a learning tool, you name it.

Will Singaporeans make reading a thing? So far, more than 40,000 people have signed up for the challenge. There’s quite a way to go if the end target is all Singaporeans.

But this is a five-year project; there's still time.

If nothing else, in the time it took you to read this, you would have already clocked enough to earn yourself 20 ReadSG Coins today!

Check out our choice Singlit books you can read for this challenge.

For the latest updates on Wonderwall.sg, be sure to follow us on TikTok, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook. If you have a story idea for us, email us at [email protected].