I was thinking about Andrewmc’s thread asking what books you are reading as well as Steve’s thread about his history books. I used to love to read and would sometimes stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning to finish a good book. When I go on long trips I always have audio books to listen to while I drive.
But some years back I stopped actually reading books. Even magazines were difficult for me to sit down and read all the way through. I’ve thought about it and wonder if it bothers me because I am sitting down and not doing something. Oddly, I can spend a couple of hours jumping around on several websites reading new discussions.
I’ve been thinking that maybe I should start reading some good books and give up reading forums because of the hate, anger and ignorance - but there can be some truly interesting and informative discussions and I wonder if I could actually finish a book anymore.
Anyone else have troubles sitting down to read anymore?
Yes, I blame it on audiobooks, podcasts, etc. I’m watching a lecture series from the Great Courses on Alexander the Great. Just more engaging than reading.
I was thinking about Andrewmc’s thread asking what books you are reading as well as Steve’s thread about his history books. I used to love to read and would sometimes stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning to finish a good book. When I go on long trips I always have audio books to listen to while I drive.
But some years back I stopped actually reading books. Even magazines were difficult for me to sit down and read all the way through. I’ve thought about it and wonder if it bothers me because I am sitting down and not doing something. Oddly, I can spend a couple of hours jumping around on several websites reading new discussions.
I’ve been thinking that maybe I should start reading some good books and give up reading forums because of the hate, anger and ignorance - but there can be some truly interesting and informative discussions and I wonder if I could actually finish a book anymore.
Anyone else have troubles sitting down to read anymore?
Exact same issue. I have a stack of books - a mix of fiction/non-fiction and varying topics - that I specifically set aside in the last week of 2018 to read this year, and despite multiple attempts to start some of them have made zero progress in getting any of them finished. I used to be a voracious reader and would power through good books in hours. Last book I can remember doing that with is Hugh Howey’s “Wool”, which I read on vacation in 2014.
Same issue with magazines too, even the “lighter” ones.
Pretty sure it’s a low-grade form of attention disorder brought on, or exacerbated, by online media because as you also mentioned, reading online forums etc for hours isn’t an issue. I have seen a slight benefit in leaving my phone in another room or on another floor when I want to read.
I had that same problem for a time. I love to read and realized that there was too much distraction when reading on a tablet or with a phone close by.
I switched back to a Kindle and leave the phone in another room. My reading went back to where it was. I can sit a read for hours and not check notifications constantly.
I was getting out of my lifelong habit of reading at night so decided to get a reading list to get back into it. I’m reading the Pulitzer winners in general non-fiction, history and biography. There are a lot of books so I started getting up 1 hour earlier to read with my morning coffee. It’s worked wonders and now that is the highlight of my day.
I have little kids so yes. I might be able to squeeze in 30 minutes at night tops. When I take the park & ride to work I can get in 10-15 minutes there but I have been lucking out on riding my bike into work a lot of days this summer.
But on the other hand I can’t tell you how many times I have had to sit down and read “Green Eggs and Ham” this week.
The only time I get to read is in the 15 minutes between collapsing in to bed at the end of the day and passing out. Usually, I read a few pages, fall asleep, forget what I read, and have to start at the same spot the next night. It can get frustrating.
On Vacation I can burn through a good book with ease. We rarely take vacations though…
I was getting out of my lifelong habit of reading at night so decided to get a reading list to get back into it. I’m reading the Pulitzer winners in general non-fiction, history and biography. There are a lot of books so I started getting up 1 hour earlier to read with my morning coffee. It’s worked wonders and now that is the highlight of my day.
I’m thinking that maybe I should start reading great literature rather than reading (and participating in) incessant arguing that usually devolves.
Anybody know where I can get a paperback copy of Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure? ) Since my son loves history so much, maybe I can find a good historical book for both of us to read and discuss.
I think it comes down to a form of attention deficit disorder. The only time I read paper books these days is when we go to the beach in April/May after the busy season at work.
The other day I was sitting in a rocking chair on on our patio, which has a beautiful view, and I told my wife how it felt so weird and disconcerting to just sit and rock. That I felt this strange compulsion that I needed to be doing something. That is when I decided that we are doing too much internet or tv and need to unplug from the world more. So we are working on doing just that.
I only do at home. If I take time to sit and read a book, regardless of the subject, I nod off. If I try read before bed, I’m out like a light in a few minutes. However, when travelling I can get through entire books in short order.
Yes, this. I’m actually ready to start traveling again for work since I get so much pleasure reading done on airplanes. And I don’t waste my time with Podcasts - I hate listening to them and I hate audiobooks. Only podcast I listen to is Lance Armstrong during the Tour, and I actually watch the video of that.
I was getting out of my lifelong habit of reading at night so decided to get a reading list to get back into it. I’m reading the Pulitzer winners in general non-fiction, history and biography. There are a lot of books so I started getting up 1 hour earlier to read with my morning coffee. It’s worked wonders and now that is the highlight of my day.
I’m thinking that maybe I should start reading great literature rather than reading (and participating in) incessant arguing that usually devolves.
Anybody know where I can get a paperback copy of Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure? ) Since my son loves history so much, maybe I can find a good historical book for both of us to read and discuss.
How old is your son and what era of history does your son like? Nigel Rodgers has a couple easily consumable books on Greece and Rome. And you can add to it by picking up a coin or three from either place. Depending on the coin you can get them for a couple/few dollars. And it is pretty cool to be tossing around something that came from Athens in the time of Socrates while you are studying it or some with Augustus, Trajan, and Hadrian on them while reading about Rome.
When I traveled more for work, I read all the time on the airplanes. Now, if I start reading I’ll fall asleep. It doesn’t matter the subject matter, it’s just the reading kills my eyes and makes me tired.
How old is your son and what era of history does your son like? Nigel Rodgers has a couple easily consumable books on Greece and Rome. And you can add to it by picking up a coin or three from either place. Depending on the coin you can get them for a couple/few dollars. And it is pretty cool to be tossing around something that came from Athens in the time of Socrates while you are studying it or some with Augustus, Trajan, and Hadrian on them while reading about Rome.
He is 21. He’s high-functioning autistic, so he’s a little behind for his age. He seems interested in all periods, though the WWI and II eras are his favorite. But, he loves the Percy Jackson books with their references about the Greek and Roman gods, so he’d eat those books up, especially if he had some coins from that time period. Thanks for the suggestion.
I listen to audio books whilst riding my bike. Usually crime fiction: nesbo, Billingham but I recently finished the great gatsby narrated by gyllenhall and before that the count of monte cristo, adaptive markets, John connolly and the theranos story
I read the last two Winslow and connolly books. Now I’m on city of veils
My problem is interest and time. I’ve got 2/3rds of a shitty academic book to read, all of which I think is pretty much nonsense and I just can’t bear to start it
On the other hand, a good thriller, or a book of interest and I can sit down and crack through it.
My best reading time is travelling or before kids are up
I think it comes down to a form of attention deficit disorder. The only time I read paper books these days is when we go to the beach in April/May after the busy season at work.
The other day I was sitting in a rocking chair on on our patio, which has a beautiful view, and I told my wife how it felt so weird and disconcerting to just sit and rock. That I felt this strange compulsion that I needed to be doing something. That is when I decided that we are doing too much internet or tv and need to unplug from the world more. So we are working on doing just that.
You should read “Living with the Monksâ€. He had the same issue.
I was thinking about Andrewmc’s thread asking what books you are reading as well as Steve’s thread about his history books. I used to love to read and would sometimes stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning to finish a good book. When I go on long trips I always have audio books to listen to while I drive.
But some years back I stopped actually reading books. Even magazines were difficult for me to sit down and read all the way through. I’ve thought about it and wonder if it bothers me because I am sitting down and not doing something. Oddly, I can spend a couple of hours jumping around on several websites reading new discussions.
I’ve been thinking that maybe I should start reading some good books and give up reading forums because of the hate, anger and ignorance - but there can be some truly interesting and informative discussions and I wonder if I could actually finish a book anymore.
Anyone else have troubles sitting down to read anymore?
On most websites you get snippets and overviews, not much lost if you don’t pay attention and just skim over the text althought you seldom get the details, depth. You can move fast and off to the next thing, next click. This is what probably makes lots of people much less patient, fast and short, next thing…Also creates anxiety of what are may be missing. The light from the screen also is a stimulant.
With reading a book or newspapers, you have to sloooow down, immerse yourself, take it easy, you can’t skip and skim over the text or you loose context. I love reading real, paper books. Just chill in the evening.
You North Americans have a lots to learn from us South Europeans in terms of slow down, chill, take it easy, no rush As we say in Croatia, “let the devil take away the rush/hurry”.
down, immerse yourself, take it easy, you can’t skip and skim over the text or you loose context. I love reading real, paper books. Just chill in the evening.