- If I treated reading like a chore, it would start to feel like a chore.
I'm not being graded. If I start a book and I don't care about the subject or the characters after 50-100 pages or so, it goes in my Goodwill pile. The only decent exception to that for me is Stieg Larsson -- his "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" books take their time getting started without being boring.
- I have a marquee in the window of my apartment. At first it said “read more”. Then I realized that wasn’t adequate so I changed it to “read wider”. What you read matters more than how much, and the best way to tackle that is to read everything, particularly things outside the comfort zone.
- Even worse than reading as a chore, is the compulsory self-expression required when studying these subjects in school. "What do you think about this theme in this book?" How about none of your business, Mr Teacher!
by podgietaru
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- This year I read 30 books. I'm very proud of that fact, HOWEVER.
I set a goal at the start of the year. And definitely at certain points I was optimising for that goal. And it took a lot out of me. I would have to do it rigidly, I would need to read X amount of pages.
I still enjoyed what I did. I still think it was ultimately a worthwhile goal. But this year my goal is to just "read." Not read N Amount. just to read for the pure enjoyment of reading.
by Yodel0914
2 subcomments
- The point about not setting a goal rings true for me. A few years ago I set a book-a-week goal and it definitely had a large influence on the books I chose to read.
I tend to read a lot of books simultaneously, but much I’m not convinced is the best approach (esp for fiction) but I’m undecided yet on if it’s a habit worth changing.
- Last year I read about 3 or 4 books. This year I’m planning to read at least 12 books. I learn more from books than at my university.
by melagonster
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- It gives me a pleasure satisfactory that just comes from reading about how a person formulates their reading list.
- A lot of the stuff she is reading is quite light. Agatha Christie novels can be read within one sitting. She likes her crime fiction.
I was given a pile of Jon Ronson books over Christmas. I had already read one or two of them but I am working my way through the rest. He's fun to read.
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