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Do you read?

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Re: Do you read?

#31

Post by ojbyrne »

danteembermage wrote: post #18

I read and I read fiction for the most part. I want to make the case though that fiction is not necessarily non-educational and is rather uniquely educational or educates in a unique way. One common excuse for fiction reading is to suggest you learn passive facts about the setting as you progress pleasantly through the story, but that's not a particularly strong argument in favor or reading fiction. Sure I could pick…

I personally tend to look down on people who read only non-fiction (though obviously not as much as people who don't read at all). It suggests a lack of imagination. And I think perhaps that's the self-improvement aspect of fiction - it exercises the imagination.

Re: Do you read?

#32

Post by known »

When I was in Phoenix,AZ I used to spend 8 am to 5 pm reading books at Barnes and Noble every Saturday and Sunday.

Re: Do you read?

#33

Post by decode »

danteembermage wrote: post #18

I read and I read fiction for the most part. I want to make the case though that fiction is not necessarily non-educational and is rather uniquely educational or educates in a unique way. One common excuse for fiction reading is to suggest you learn passive facts about the setting as you progress pleasantly through the story, but that's not a particularly strong argument in favor or reading fiction. Sure I could pick…

Here's the problem with learning through fiction: the only thing you can learn about through fiction is the mind of the author. When you read a Rand novel, you don't learn anything about how objectivism works, you only learn about Rand's imagination of how it works. Similarly, sentience may in fact be mutually inclusive or exclusive of understanding; just because you can describe a circumstance in which something is true doesn't mean it can ever be true.

This doesn't mean that fiction is useless for learning about the world. It just means that fiction does not contain the tools necessary to decide if something is true (or accurate, or possible). Fiction may spark an idea or make an argument, but you must go outside of fiction to see if those ideas have merit.

Re: Do you read?

#34

Post by pistoriusp »

I read a lot. Everyday. I mostly enjoy fantasy books -- My girlfriend forced me to read "The Magician" and it's probably the best book I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

Re: Do you read?

#36

Post by jpavlik »

I try to read a novel a week. All fiction writers should strive for at least this much, and many times I feel like I should be reading more. I also try to read books about my career field and personal growth material. I used to have three books going at a time (one of each), but have reduced it to two. It's much more manageable that way.

Re: Do you read?

#37

Post by yters »

ojbyrne wrote: post #31
danteembermage wrote: post #18

I read and I read fiction for the most part. I want to make the case though that fiction is not necessarily non-educational and is rather uniquely educational or educates in a unique way. One common excuse for fiction reading is to suggest you learn passive facts about the setting as you progress pleasantly through the story, but that's not a particularly strong argument in favor or reading fiction. Sure I could pick…

I personally tend to look down on people who read only non-fiction (though obviously not as much as people who don't read at all). It suggests a lack of imagination. And I think perhaps that's the self-improvement aspect of fiction - it exercises the imagination.

I think so, it teaches us to form complete views of the world in our head - which allows us to see the world as it is, and as it could be, much more comprehensively.

Re: Do you read?

#38

Post by fortes »

I read about a book a week, more if I'm traveling.

Currently, I read while working out on the elliptical for an hour every weekday. This has me going through a lot of books (I have a Kindle, and many friends who are avid readers as well, so I get new books that way).

Favorite book, if I had to pick one: Guns, Germs & Steel or Omnivore's Dilemma.

Is it worth it? Yes and no. I think it definitely has expanded my knowledge and given me interesting perspective, but I've definitely had diminishing returns quickly (did I really need that fifth book on linguistics?)

Re: Do you read?

#39

Post by mrtron »

As a kid I probably read 20+ hours a week, half fiction half non-fiction. I even worked at a library when I was younger.

That dramatically slowed during late high school and university, probably only a few hours of reading a week (other than coursework).

I am back to reading 10+ hours a week, but all non-fiction. I have basically stopped reading fiction. I just have too many books I want to get through to have time for fiction these days.

Re: Do you read?

#40

Post by hardik »

ajkirwin wrote: post #11

Right now, I am chewing through The God Delusion. I both read and buy a lot of books. Infact, most of my funny money goes on books, as I go through them fast. I have a reading speed of around 6 ppm for fiction and 3-4ppm for non-fiction. $100 of books barely lasts a few days :(

do they have second hand book shops where you live? :)
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