How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books • Hacker News Board

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#31

Post by gm-conspiracy » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:09 AM UTC

ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #26

madrox wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks. This is the most mind-blowing thing I've read on HN. It really makes me appreciate generational differences.

I'm around 40 and haven't read a physical book since the Kindle came out. Same goes for most the people around me (including parents and older friends). I think I know one single person who reads physical books, and they're a collector/enthusiast. I don't think it's generational rather just some people "clicked" with ebooks and some didn't. I couldn't live without search, saving passages, device handover, hold-click…

I am about your age, and purchased the very first, original e-ink Kindle (with the free Sprint downloading and memory card slot).

However, I consistently buy "used" books via Amazon and other means, especially technical books.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#32

Post by jstanley » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:21 AM UTC

nsuser3 wrote: post #20

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Screens are even more addictive than books. My 1.5 year old shuts off completely whenever he can get access to a screen, it is amazing and scary. He likes books also, but is much more engaged with them. Screen time is probably a top issue for parenting today.

> is much more engaged with them What do you mean? Isn't he just reading them?

I doubt it, he's 1.5 years old.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#33

Post by chatmasta » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:26 AM UTC

madrox wrote: post #3

lihaciudaniel wrote: post #2

As a full time kid and an ex minecraft player, I think that's a way to get into books. The only way I got into books was by trying hard at first to read on my phone (it was hard and boring for a month I was reading during boring classes at school). But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks.

> But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks. This is the most mind-blowing thing I've read on HN. It really makes me appreciate generational differences.

You must be living under a rock then, because Amazon has sold millions of kindles. They are not all kids buying them.

Kindle causes me to read far more than I would otherwise. A few reasons:

- Hundreds of books fit in a space smaller than a single physical book

- Can read at night without an overhead light bothering myself or anyone else (and without blue light!)

- Can travel (and/or move houses) without books taking up space

- Can download a new book in five minutes vs going to the store or waiting for a delivery. This makes it much easier to start books

- Can come back to a book I bought three years ago while living in a totally different place

Getting a kindle was the best decision I ever made in terms of encouraging myself to read.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#34

Post by mFixman » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:28 AM UTC

madrox wrote: post #3

lihaciudaniel wrote: post #2

As a full time kid and an ex minecraft player, I think that's a way to get into books. The only way I got into books was by trying hard at first to read on my phone (it was hard and boring for a month I was reading during boring classes at school). But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks.

> But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks. This is the most mind-blowing thing I've read on HN. It really makes me appreciate generational differences.

It could also be a national divide.

I pretty much abandoned paper books when I got a Kindle on a vacation. Many years later, after moving to a country where I can find any book I want delivered to my doorstep in 2 days, I abandoned e-books and audiobooks.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#35

Post by ehnto » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:40 AM UTC

madrox wrote: post #3

lihaciudaniel wrote: post #2

As a full time kid and an ex minecraft player, I think that's a way to get into books. The only way I got into books was by trying hard at first to read on my phone (it was hard and boring for a month I was reading during boring classes at school). But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks.

> But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks. This is the most mind-blowing thing I've read on HN. It really makes me appreciate generational differences.

Most the hardcore older readers I know use e-books just because of the sheer number of books they churn through, yet all my mid twenties friends read paper books. For many a book is an escape from technology, having grown up with it 24/7 and working on it for 8 or more hours a day, anything to disconnect is good.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#36

Post by ehnto » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:45 AM UTC

ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #26

madrox wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks. This is the most mind-blowing thing I've read on HN. It really makes me appreciate generational differences.

I'm around 40 and haven't read a physical book since the Kindle came out. Same goes for most the people around me (including parents and older friends). I think I know one single person who reads physical books, and they're a collector/enthusiast. I don't think it's generational rather just some people "clicked" with ebooks and some didn't. I couldn't live without search, saving passages, device handover, hold-click…

I mentioned it in another comment, but it really seems as though the expected outcome (kids have kindles and older people have real books) is exactly the opposite. Every older person I know who reads uses a kinlde or other device, and people that are younger I see either don't read at all or read paper.

It doesn't surprise me, because the younger generation seem to be getting tired of technology. It is something they're expected to be on for fun, social connection, and work, so it's not a stretch to imagine they want some time off.

All of my hobbies were on computers, and it has been a real struggle being in the software industry when my social and leisure time also involves sitting at a computer.

I have taken to grabbing a book, leaving the phone at home and finding somewhere to read.

I agree that's it's probably not entirely generational, but there is something to be said for growing up with 24/7 connectivity being the norm.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#37

Post by earthandmoon » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:45 AM UTC

As a parent I applaud this greatly! Kids with ASD (especially boys) are very into Minecraft. Giving them a tool for getting into reading is very, very awesome and helpful, indeed.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#38

Post by scrollaway » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:47 AM UTC

madrox wrote: post #3

lihaciudaniel wrote: post #2

As a full time kid and an ex minecraft player, I think that's a way to get into books. The only way I got into books was by trying hard at first to read on my phone (it was hard and boring for a month I was reading during boring classes at school). But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks.

> But now a year later I've never read any paper books, all the books I've read are ebooks. This is the most mind-blowing thing I've read on HN. It really makes me appreciate generational differences.

I'm 27, I've only read ebooks in the past couple years as well. And over 6 years I've read maybe... 5-6 paper books.

Paper books are more expensive and I can't easily take them in the plane. I always have my kindle with me (even though I use it far less than I'd like). It has weeks of battery and it's always full of stuff I want to read but haven't. I also take great care not to put stuff in it I don't want to read otherwise it starts looking like my Steam games library.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#39

Post by Waterluvian » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:50 AM UTC

sova wrote: post #5

Minecraft is absolutely not helping in the war on screens. As a former educator I laugh heartily at the proposition. Although, I did use "screen time" as a gift-able and earn-able commodity, and in a small classroom of kids it works great to encourage sharing, participation, group watch / observance, and "can I please share with Timmy now so I can have more screentime later?" [success fist]

I just don't get why screens are a bad thing. Find balance. Don't demonize the screens. Don't underbalance screen time. We hope all these kids will be successful enough that screens become a core of their careers.

Re: How Minecraft is helping kids fall in love with books

#40

Post by Moodles » Sat, Jul 14, 2018, 11:51 AM UTC

sova wrote: post #5

Minecraft is absolutely not helping in the war on screens. As a former educator I laugh heartily at the proposition. Although, I did use "screen time" as a gift-able and earn-able commodity, and in a small classroom of kids it works great to encourage sharing, participation, group watch / observance, and "can I please share with Timmy now so I can have more screentime later?" [success fist]

Reminds me of this xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1227/