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“Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

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Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#31

Post by chippy »

rickdale wrote: post #17

Since I am assuming readers will look at this page, can someone explain to me how to hold a book without pain? I didn't read too much as a kid and I wonder if I just didn't build up the right muscles, but now, I like to read big books, but my forearm and fingers start to hurt from holding it. I have looked up different ways to hold books, but I haven't found anything yet that I like. This is what I like the ipad for.…

the trick is not to hold the book, but rest it on something and use your hand just to keep it open.

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#32

Post by [deleted] »

icefox wrote: post #4
drdaeman wrote: post #2

Wonder what's the word for games bought but never played. ;)

Or generically how about a word to describe a customer that buys your stuff, but never opens it? I have been thinking of kickstarting a board game where there will be 500 boxes, 499 contain blank stuff, 1 contains the stuff with the printing materials etc. As long as you leave your copy shrink wrapped yours might be the really valuable one.

[deleted]

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#33

Post by curiousjorge »

mxstbr wrote: post #11
icefox wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or generically how about a word to describe a customer that buys your stuff, but never opens it? I have been thinking of kickstarting a board game where there will be 500 boxes, 499 contain blank stuff, 1 contains the stuff with the printing materials etc. As long as you leave your copy shrink wrapped yours might be the really valuable one.

Schrödinger's Board Game?

"It's the most amazing board game ever yet the most useless one at the same time, depends who opens the box and observes it. In one of the infinite universe, there's one where a hot blonde female android will appear out of the box eager to please."

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#35

Post by rokhayakebe »

rickdale wrote: post #17

Since I am assuming readers will look at this page, can someone explain to me how to hold a book without pain? I didn't read too much as a kid and I wonder if I just didn't build up the right muscles, but now, I like to read big books, but my forearm and fingers start to hurt from holding it. I have looked up different ways to hold books, but I haven't found anything yet that I like. This is what I like the ipad for.…

You probably do not want to hold the book.

Rest it on a flat surface, or use something to incline it if it helps.

Break the book before reading it (Google this).

Use both arms, and both forearms to help you hold the pages flat.

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#36

Post by mxfh »

facepalm wrote: post #19
drdaeman wrote: post #2

Wonder what's the word for games bought but never played. ;)

Humbunds? (99% of these games are being acquired via HumbleBundle...).

At least the EFF gets most of my money where possible, so I can say it's not a total waste.

But more importantly this phenomenon is more about the imagined instant access to something, than it is about owning things. A gaming subscription service would be just the logical conclusion to this.

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#37

Post by deathcakes »

gjkood wrote: post #8

I wish my "Tsundoku" could have been an investment that could generate some passive income. But alas my copy of "Sams Teach Yourself Visual Basic in 24 hours" circa 1995 (or so), is still untouched. Just never got the necessary 24 hours to learn it. Maybe I can sell it by the tonnage sometime. I thought that going the Kindle and digital media route would have saved me from adding to my "Tsundoku", but I am back in co…

C++ but yeah same deal, as unread as the day I bought it!

Having said that I have fallen so hard for the kindle, to the point where I have been known to complain about the really poor ui of books - two hands to operate? Pshah!

I find it helps with the obsessive compulsive, in that I can organise things into collections, which helps, and can more easily binge on a specific author.

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#38

Post by rickdale »

yrro wrote: post #27
rickdale wrote: post #17

Since I am assuming readers will look at this page, can someone explain to me how to hold a book without pain? I didn't read too much as a kid and I wonder if I just didn't build up the right muscles, but now, I like to read big books, but my forearm and fingers start to hurt from holding it. I have looked up different ways to hold books, but I haven't found anything yet that I like. This is what I like the ipad for.…

Where do you normally read, and how do you sit/lie when you do so?

I like to sit in la-z-boy with lamp overhead. I usually hold book in my left hand, but I am liking some of the suggestions here.

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#39

Post by rickdale »

resolutionx wrote: post #25
rickdale wrote: post #17

Since I am assuming readers will look at this page, can someone explain to me how to hold a book without pain? I didn't read too much as a kid and I wonder if I just didn't build up the right muscles, but now, I like to read big books, but my forearm and fingers start to hurt from holding it. I have looked up different ways to hold books, but I haven't found anything yet that I like. This is what I like the ipad for.…

Sorry if this comes across the wrong way, but have you tried building your grip/forearm strength up? It's an easy muscle group to activate. However I'm not sure many muscles are good at being tensed for extended periods. I've always just shifted around the way I hold the book every few minutes.

I actually have tried this. I own the iron mind grippers and can successfully close the second one 3-4 reps. But ultimately I have pain that comes back when I start to hold a book, especially a large one.

Re: “Tsundoku,” the Japanese Word for the New Books That Pile Up on Our Shelves

#40

Post by schoen »

rickdale wrote: post #17

Since I am assuming readers will look at this page, can someone explain to me how to hold a book without pain? I didn't read too much as a kid and I wonder if I just didn't build up the right muscles, but now, I like to read big books, but my forearm and fingers start to hurt from holding it. I have looked up different ways to hold books, but I haven't found anything yet that I like. This is what I like the ipad for.…

I think most books that people read for extended periods of time holding in the air are probably paperbacks, and probably relatively small. Otherwise, you can rest the book on your lap, on a table, or, as one commenter here pointed out, on a book stand!

The book stand has been recommended to me by a physical therapist, who said it reduces all kinds of fatigue and can promote better posture too.

When trying to read a book in bed, I end up rotating myself and the book every few minutes so it kind of goes up-sideways-down-sideways, to reduce arm, neck, and back fatigue. People have also often suggested that the right combination of pillows would fix this problem, but I think part of it is just that other parts of my body get sore easily from so much sitting at a computer.

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