Quote:
Originally Posted by issybird
Sometimes when I read the posts in threads like this I think of the Lake Wobegon Effect. Even if, by the nature of the site, results skew a bit to reading slightly faster than average, I have my doubts that the mean reading speed here is significantly faster than that of other literate people, even given a few outliers. There are always going to be a few outliers, emphasis on the few.
Speaking of myself, I couldn't begin to say how fast I read and as has been said above, my reading speed varies widely with conditions anyway.  And what difference does it make anyway?
It seems to me the point of these threads is about finding/making time to read and developing strategies in aid of that. Otherwise, I find there's a competitive edge that makes me uncomfortable. We say it's not a contest, but it apparently is. However, the only contest should be against yourself and your goals, if you care to think of it that way. Or just read. 
 Carry on. But the first time someone claims he started reading in utero, I'm going to call foul. |
I think at least for me sometimes I get a wee bit defensive. This isn't against the OP here, but I have gotten comments from folks about how I must not have anything to do, no work, no friends, nobody since I read so much. Maybe part of that is because I read a lot of romance and it tends to get such comments online or even in person. You know, sitting around all day surrounded by cats eating bon bons while reading romance.
So maybe at times its more of a defending ones reading. Not sure why I feel the need. I don't feel any kind of contest of competition with anyone. I am the least competitive person I know, I don't really care how much or little anyone else reads.
I usually try to talk to those folks when I get a wee bit defensive what their hobbies are and now then imagining not doing some of those and reading instead. So they can understand why its not impossible to read a lot when ones priorities and off times are different.
I wonder about reading speeds. I think I read fairly fast, but I think its also more of a matter reading longer session and being into a book more. Pages seem to fly faster that why, then when there are constant distractions. I read while I cook and I know that it takes me longer to read a section there than if I just sat down even for 20 minutes straight. Because I keep having to stop and start while stirring something. I don't read while chopping
. But there is always some minutes here and there while something has to do its thing.
But when I can just read a longer chunk with no disturbance, even if its just 10-20 minutes, I can get a lot more pages read.