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Reading for pleasure plummets by 40% in the US

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Re: Reading for pleasure plummets by 40% in the US

#81

Post by foxyv »

leethomas wrote: post #12

> The paper also noted that although reading with children is rare, it has not changed much over time. This part really got to me, reading to one's children is rare? That's so sad. My toddler loves reading with me.

I have been shocked by the monstrous neglect that is heaped on many children. A significant number of parents keep kids like worthless livestock. They do the bare minimum to not lose them to CPS and then kick them out at the first opportunity.

Spending as much time as it takes to read to your children every night is WAY more than these parents are willing to do. Children are lucky if they can eat more than one meal a day, sleep in a clean bed and have clean clothes to wear. Usually there are abused and neglected animals that will foul the household and bite the children. Money is spent on nicotine products, alcohol, fast food, and gambling. Any money spent on children is done so hesitantly.

This is why social services like daycare and public schools are so important. It is often the only chance many children will have to get the care and attention they need to survive until adulthood without huge mental and physical health issues.

Re: Reading for pleasure plummets by 40% in the US

#82

Post by ethbr1 »

croon wrote: post #77
ethbr1 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based on the above list, you all might also enjoy His Dark Materials https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials , Redwall https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwall , and The Dragonriders of Perth https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonriders_of_Pern When reading progression is ready for more depth, The Dark Is Rising https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Is_Rising_Sequence or Earthsea https://en.m.wikipedia.o…

His Dark Materials was already in my post, but at least it's a testament to the precision of your list, so I'll look into the other ones, thank you!

That's what I get for posting pre-coffee. Point!

Re: Reading for pleasure plummets by 40% in the US

#83

Post by sotajensede »

renjimen wrote: post #24

There's a large difference between reading a book and reading social media posts or news articles: books require hours of concentration to consume, have long-spanning arcs of plot or other structure, and require significant use of our imagination (particularly fiction). You just don't get those three things from any other form of written media.

Signed in just to a agree with this. Over the years, I have seen many people bring up some trite form of online reading in an attempt to raise it to the level of what we typically think of when referring to book reading. It's a stance I really can't take seriously, both as a concept and due to personal experience. "The C Programming Language" did not give me vivid dreams or boost my writing skills, general creativity, and vocabulary when I first read it. A mid-level sci-fi book from the 80s, when I haven't done any for-fun reading in a while, does. There is clearly a cognitive difference between the very act of consuming each of these. In comparison, social media posts or news articles are far closer on the broad spectrum of reading to the the like of road signs and subscriber agreements. The mechanical act of reading is simply not equivalent over the broad range of content that can be read, and so its effects on the mind are also not equivalent. Related? Sure, but only by the fundamental understanding of symbols and language. Apologies for the rant.

Re: Reading for pleasure plummets by 40% in the US

#84

Post by mathiaspoint »

leethomas wrote: post #12

> The paper also noted that although reading with children is rare, it has not changed much over time. This part really got to me, reading to one's children is rare? That's so sad. My toddler loves reading with me.

My dad read to me and my brother every night. When I became a teenager I read his (fairly complete) sci-fi collection for fun and we spent a ton of time discussing it together. It's surprising how similar our tastes are, I don't know if that's genetic or epigenetic but I suspect it doesn't matter and many people could have a similar experience.

I've been maintaining my own collection in the hope that I could give my own children (if I have any, which is looking increasingly less likely) the same experience.

Re: Reading for pleasure plummets by 40% in the US

#85

Post by RyanOD »

jmcphers wrote: post #23
RyanOD wrote: post #10

I flew from Detroit to Seattle last night. I used that time to read 170 pages of Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad (easy, entertaining read). Though I obviously didn't walk the entire plane, looking around from my seat / when walking to the restroom, everyone I saw was watching a movie.

I read for pleasure every day and watch very few movies, but on an airplane I often wind up watching a movie. I think it's because it helps distract my senses from the grubby discomfort of modern air travel (people packed in tightly, loud jet engines, etc.), and because in my everyday life I'm always obligated to consider others' preferences for a film -- the airplane is one of the only places I can watch something I…

Yes, being able to choose a movie you (and only you) want to watch is a definite win.
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