It often seems like I can’t browse the aisles of any bookstore or “Young Adult” reading section without cringing. The magenta spines and cerulean blue covers seem to scream, “I have no substance!”...

Sometimes people ask me why I read so much. When they ask this, my response always comes down to, “Because it’s fun.” I must be insane, right? A book is just a bunch of words on a bunch of paper,...