Current Events > Do you enjoy reading as a hobby?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I hate to read. Complete waste of time.

I could be outside doing something productive. I mean, it takes me two weeks to finish a book, when I can just watch the film based on the book in 2 hours or less, and then be on with my day. Hot Take, I Know.

I used to read all the time. I have nine shelves full of books across my apartment, but I haven't picked one up in close to ten years. My eyesight got so bad and reading hurts, even with the proper glasses, so I gave up on it. I do audiobooks, from time to time, but I find my imagination has a harder time keeping up with spoken word than reading at my own pace.

I didn't even read all the poll options and just picked one.

Dakimakura posted...

I didn't even read all the poll options and just picked one.

Well done.

Kinda. I tend to read on vacation. But that is mostly because when I pick up a book I tend to not put it down until its done. So I can't do stuff like read before bed or else I will stay up to 3 in the morning reading

Because of that I read a few books a year but I do really enjoy reading

I read the title

The last three books I ever read without cheating:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/3/1/AABajLAAEl-j.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/3/3/AABajLAAEl-l.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/3/4/AABajLAAEl-m.jpg

I do, but I feel like I never have the time for it. I've been on Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn for weeks.

(If it's good enough for Sir Christopher Lee, it's good enough for me.)

I read a lot, which costs me more these days as theres a limited number of places to get books in English. Luckily, the best place in the city for it is about 2 minutes walk from my apartment building.

Finding those Goosebumps covers led me to this:

https://www.ranker.com/list/best-goosebumps-books/kate-kavanagh

My books are ranked

1. Deep Trouble (31)
2. Pasedena (47)
3. Egg Monsters (48)

Also it made me realize that I also read this one, which clocked in at #28:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/4/1/AABajLAAEl-t.jpg

I also remember trying to read this one in 4th grade, and then quitting half way through when I found out that I was actually good at playing Football. That was the last book I ever attempted to read:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/4/2/AABajLAAEl-u.jpg

I read some books, but much more into graphic novels/comic books. I sub to a few comic apps and read usually about a hundred a month right now. I have a job with some down time where I can read for potentially hours a day.

Yeah, though I dont read books as much as I used to thanks to smartphones.

Ill probably quit using Reddit on my phone though and just read books instead when they kill the 3rd party apps.

I occasionally read... I think the last books I read though were still video game based...

Usually I just read manga...

I'd like to read more. But the problem is, that other activities/hobbies are even more important to me. Since free time is limited, reading books comes too short. I try to read 2-3 books (500-900 pages) a year at the very least. I'm usually reading them right before I go to sleep.

What do you do outside that's productive?

And why can't reading be productive?

STEROLIZER posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/3/4/AABajLAAEl-m.jpg

This is the first cover in the Goosebumps series that I ever saw, but I never owned or read this book.

Depending on how long they are I average about six books a month.

Ar0ge posted...

What do you do outside that's productive?

Interacting with other people mostly.

• Dating
• Networking
• Gym
• Industry Conferences

And why can't reading be productive?

Youre alone, completely concentrated on that one thing. I like meeting new people and putting myself into situations where sporadic opportunities to do new things can happen to me.

Pretty much if Im content to be inside, then Im content with how my life currently is. Im always reaching for more, everyday spent outside doing something (clubbing, hiking, concerts, theater, comedy halls, boosting aimlessly through the city on my electric board) is an adventure in the making. Doors open up, and they often lead down paths one wouldnt expect.

STEROLIZER posted...

Interacting with other people mostly.

* Dating
* Networking
* Gym
* Industry Conferences

Youre alone, completely concentrated on that one thing. I like meeting new people and putting myself into situations where sporadic opportunities to do new things can happen to me.

Pretty much if Im content to be inside, then Im content with how my life currently is. Im always reaching for more, everyday is a day for adventure.

You can have all of these things in your life and read too.

I often read in cafes then end up meeting people and talking to them. It isnt the barrier you think it is.

STEROLIZER posted...

Youre alone, completely concentrated on that one thing

It's not necessarily about being productive though. If you enjoy doing it, that's what matters

STEROLIZER posted...

boosting aimlessly through the city on my electric board

lmao

Hell nah! I'm glad I'm done with that shit once I got to college and got past mandatory writing classes. Math is the real fun. Reading is for nerds.

TendoDRM posted...

lmao

Wat?

I really enjoyed reading as a hobby from my primary to secondary days, and I read during the summer in my college days. It's one of the hobbies I miss, but there's too much distraction with technology.

I have a book from the library that I've had for more than 1.5 years. I haven't returned it yet. I feel awful. I do want to finish the book.

I havent read a book since my junior year of college ~20 years ago. I think being forced to do something I didnt like for so many years in school (I get bored reading) killed any motivation to read after I graduated

Yes, though I prefer audiobooks to text.

I read when taking public transit.

i think i wish i liked it more than i do. if i can really get into a book it's enjoyable but that's just difficult to even motivate myself to do. i never want to read when i'm not already reading.

Always loved to read. I voted first option, but i don't really read actual books. I mostly read fanfic and web novels due to them being both free and easily available online. I read enough of it where I felt voting for the first option was justified.

I do want to get back into reading actual books at some point though. Don't really have access to a library.

PMarth2002 posted...

Don't really have access to a library.

huh?

I have a large selection of books from different genres, so yes.

I don't read books that often but whenever I do I get super hooked and basically don't do anything but eat/sleep until I finish them. not sure why I don't read more often since I definitely enjoy it but in terms of effect on my life it's probably for the best I keep it a somewhat rare event

I love reading. Books, graphic novels/manga, audiobooks.

absolutely. i prefer making art and music but i love reading. especially since my gf and i have started reading together which has been nice

Back when I was a (socially awkward) teenager, I read constantly. And back when I was (unhappily) married, I read constantly. Since then I can only read in spurts, as I only seem to read consistently when unhappy with my life.

But this is just me, and I am NOT saying that is why others read. My fiance reads a lot, and she is perfectly happy with her life. She is just reserved and a massive introvert.

I haven't read a lot recently but I've been a reader since I was a kid. Like a lot of others my age, Goosebumps is what first got me interested in reading as a kid.

How much I read kind of ebbs and flows throughout the years. Some years I'll read 25+ books and other years I'll only read a couple.

Some of my favourite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Clive Barker, David Wong, Robert Brockway. I also read some non-fiction stuff like Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Chris Hedges etc.

Ive been reading Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

Ive read it before but its been a couple decades so its fresh to me

I haven't read a book since freshman year of college.

I read articles and occasionally an editorial but never an entire book. I had an experience in 4th grade with accelerated reading that turned me off of fiction.

VampireCoyote posted...

Ive been reading Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

Ive read it before but its been a couple decades so its fresh to me

Great book! I presume you read the Dark Tower series?

I spend more time reading than I probably do any other activity, including work full time, and possibly even sleeping lol

It's gotten almost annoying in the sense that I can't find books I want to read fast enough.

Luckily my father is also a very prolific and fast reader (and we share similar taste) so I can usually go to him for book recs.

I am more into audiobooks, does that also count?

Its been at least 8 years since I read a book, something by da guy dat wrote Fight Club, Chuck Pala-whatever da fuck.

To follow up with my last message. I still read, but the medium has changed. I don't read books as much (I liked sci fiction fantasy and non fiction science when I was younger), but i do read online articles everyday. But I skim a lot.

I get why some people would think it's a waste of time considering there's like so many more distractions and more "fun" things to do, like you said about videogame mediums that involve story and gameplay. I also hate reading snobs who think reading beats every other hobbies our generation enjoys (like videogames, graphic novels, movies and manga)..

But I will say this. I agree with others that reading books is definitely beneficial. It does helps your memory, vocabulary, attention span/focus (imo) and it could help you speak better or articulate your thoughts better. Of course, that will help with writing too. It can also help with curbing technology addiction and sleeping.

Also there are many different kinds of books. Not just Fiction/fantasy, non fiction biographies, and science books. Self help books are underrated.

I honestly envy people who read books everyday as a hobby. I missed when times were simpler and we could escape for a second in a fantasy or expand our knowledge. It beats having an addiction to technology and mindlessly scrolling on social media.