Is all reading good? - Page 2

tompe · 09-20-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I don't think reading is good or bad in itself. I enjoy reading, while other people prefer going to the movie, listening to music, hanging out with buddies, or collecting "friends" on Facebook. Does that make me a better person than they are? I doubt it. I certainly have access to things they are missing on, but I'm also missing on things they enjoy (well, except for the Facebook thing, I'll just pass, thank you very much).

I agree. I also think that this opinion that "it is better to read more" is something that is not true anymore. There are now so many alternative way to be stimulated and get inputs that I have a hard time seeing why reading should be better than other activities.

I do not choose books because they are good for me. I think I mostly read for the same reason I eat good dinners. It is an entertaining activity. And since I mostly read genre books it increases my knowledge of the genre and that leads to more enjoyment in other non-reading activities related to this genre (e.g. going to science fiction conventions).

Sweetpea · 09-20-2009, 07:28 AM

I read mostly as escapism. It's a way to dive into a completely different world and forget my troubles.

I've also read plenty of books that caused me to find out more about what the books was talking about. So, my knowledge got expanded in those areas (like I'm currently reading a book about the Knight Templars).

But in all books, you need to know the overal picture. If I take the example from FlorenceArt, let's see you read Mein Kampf and didn't know anything about Hitler (I've not read that book, so I've no idea how it is written). You are interrested, so you will start looking for other sources (and hopefully find out that Hitler was evil). It would be bad if you took the book on facevalue. But that goes for TV as well.

So, I think, all reading is good, but always believing what an author writes, isn't.

mrscoach · 09-20-2009, 09:48 AM

Having worked in a library, and as a reading teacher, there is no such thing as 'bad reading'. If a student reads a manga, a comic, a below level chapter book, or even an epic novel, its all good. They are reading.

Forcing a student to read is counter productive. I've seen it happen. The school librarian was of the 'lead a horse to water and hold its head in until it drinks' philosophy. She forced the students to read a certain amount, of appropriate material, each grading period, and was astonished when very few actually tried to do so. Five years down the road and most of those students STILL do not read. Tried telling her that a horse won't drink just because it's forced in the water, it will drown. I found the Illustrated Classics to be a good way to introduce the stories, and some students became hooked enough to try the original.

BenG · 09-20-2009, 10:37 AM

Nothing wrong with reading for escapism, though I would not say that it was good for you except for relaxation.
But reading the same type of thing over and over and not exposing yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking is no better for you than watching "Big Brother" on TV.

On the other hand, much of the sci-fi that I read for entertainment as a teenager exposed me to some concepts new to someone growing up in the rural South. Especially the better writers like Heinlein, Delany, Leiber, Ellison, Clarke, et al.

Still, I know educators and librarians are all for any method to get kids to read, but Stephanie Meyers is more likely to lead to Barbara Cartland rather than James Baldwin.

dottedmag · 09-20-2009, 10:54 AM

I use "personalized recomendations" system on (russian) site http://fantlab.ru/ - it has a system of predicting your rating for the books you did not read based on your current ratings for books and others' ratings.

Plus I read several blogs of people who are known to be able to find good books to read somehow.

Blue Tyson · 09-20-2009, 11:12 AM

Even a crappy book can increase your vocab.

kazbates · 09-20-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrscoach

Having worked in a library, and as a reading teacher, there is no such thing as 'bad reading'. If a student reads a manga, a comic, a below level chapter book, or even an epic novel, its all good. They are reading.

Forcing a student to read is counter productive. I've seen it happen. The school librarian was of the 'lead a horse to water and hold its head in until it drinks' philosophy. She forced the students to read a certain amount, of appropriate material, each grading period, and was astonished when very few actually tried to do so. Five years down the road and most of those students STILL do not read. Tried telling her that a horse won't drink just because it's forced in the water, it will drown. I found the Illustrated Classics to be a good way to introduce the stories, and some students became hooked enough to try the original.

As an elementary level teacher, I couldn't agree more. I even tell parents to let the kids read the cereal box while they are eating their breakfast. Any reading will help build a child's vocabulary. If they ask questions about what they're reading, all the better. Letting them read material that they find interesting will foster an interest in reading. If a child likes sports, find reading material centered around a sports theme, if they have a hobby, find books about that hobby, etc. It's all good!

Personally, I read for pleasure or as an escape. The books I choose are not considered intellectual, I read a lot of romance. They may not be on the level that some consider "worthy" by my brain is engaged much more than if I were watching some inane sitcom or reality show on television.

pilotbob · 09-20-2009, 12:07 PM

Ok, here's my two cents:

Yes, all reading is good...

'nuff said.

BOb

FlorenceArt · 09-20-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dottedmag

I use "personalized recomendations" system on (russian) site http://fantlab.ru/ - it has a system of predicting your rating for the books you did not read based on your current ratings for books and others' ratings.

I use those systems too, and they are useful, but the problem is that they will keep showing you books that are similar to the ones you've been reading. You can end up running in a circle rather fast: you buy more similar books because they were recommended, and the system will keep proposing the same kind of book, which you buy...

A few months ago I was visiting Librarything to add a book that I had just finished (and found rather interesting). I noticed the "will you like it?" button and tried it, and Librarything told me that I would absolutely, definitely and without a doubt hate that book. Just because it was different from what I had been adding to my library on that site

FlorenceArt · 09-20-2009, 12:25 PM

I can confirm that reading books is great for your vocabulary. I learned most of my English reading books. I remember that the first word I learned this way was "sword". Very useful when you arrive at the airport

Steven Lyle Jordan · 09-20-2009, 12:41 PM

I read for three reasons: To learn something; to share in an intellectual or emotional experience; and just to escape. Any of these things can be enough reason to read. However, it's the things you don't set out to do... for instance, to find a description for a place you've never been to, that you might now want to visit for yourself... or to learn new words and phrases, or discover the histories behind words and phrases... or to be presented with points of view that you have never imagined before... these are the real gems you get from reading, and often the most lasting memories you can get from a book.

Pablo · 09-20-2009, 12:55 PM

Not all reading is good - but you have to determine what's good and what's bad by yourself.
When I was a child I liked UFO and Bermuda Triangle "books", and it took some time to realise that I was losing my time reading lies.

MobileTechReview · 09-20-2009, 12:59 PM

I read because I'm an ex-English department grad student and I can't help myself

But seriously, I read to learn, to stretch my mind and to escape.

Perhaps the most important for me is seeing the world through another person's eyes.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 09-20-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazbates

They may not be on the level that some consider "worthy" by my brain is engaged much more than if I were watching some inane sitcom or reality show on television.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Ok, here's my two cents:

Yes, all reading is good...

'nuff said.

BOb

Argh! I'm about to post that Kaz & BOb have summed up my thoughts on it, when the more analytical (or annoying, take your pick) part of my brain picks up on the word "good", and asks me whether what I consider good is the same as what other people might consider good.

Personally, I think all reading is good - be it the latest Dan Brown (I can't stand his writing, but I'd sooner hear people talk about that than what was on Brother's Got Strictly X-Factor or whatever) or one of the "classics" of literature.

But I can also see situations where some people would think that some reading is bad - because it gives people the wrong ideas, gives them ambition, gives them information about the world at large, out of fear that once they've read something they'll become corrupted by it and go on to enact what they've read etc. None of these are viewpoints I support (in fact they're viewpoints I try to challenge), but I understand that others might have them.

As for choosing my reading material, I choose it based on how interesting it sounds to me. As simple, or as complex, as that. That does mean at times I've bought pbooks in enough of a range of subjects and/or genres that the cashier has assumed I'm buying for multiple people

ShortNCuddlyAm · 09-20-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I can confirm that reading books is great for your vocabulary. I learned most of my English reading books. I remember that the first word I learned this way was "sword". Very useful when you arrive at the airport

Did they let you through?

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09-20-2009, 07:28 AM	#17
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I read mostly as escapism. It's a way to dive into a completely different world and forget my troubles. I've also read plenty of books that caused me to find out more about what the books was talking about. So, my knowledge got expanded in those areas (like I'm currently reading a book about the Knight Templars). But in all books, you need to know the overal picture. If I take the example from FlorenceArt, let's see you read Mein Kampf and didn't know anything about Hitler (I've not read that book, so I've no idea how it is written). You are interrested, so you will start looking for other sources (and hopefully find out that Hitler was evil). It would be bad if you took the book on facevalue. But that goes for TV as well. So, I think, all reading is good, but always believing what an author writes, isn't.

09-20-2009, 09:48 AM	#18
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	Having worked in a library, and as a reading teacher, there is no such thing as 'bad reading'. If a student reads a manga, a comic, a below level chapter book, or even an epic novel, its all good. They are reading. Forcing a student to read is counter productive. I've seen it happen. The school librarian was of the 'lead a horse to water and hold its head in until it drinks' philosophy. She forced the students to read a certain amount, of appropriate material, each grading period, and was astonished when very few actually tried to do so. Five years down the road and most of those students STILL do not read. Tried telling her that a horse won't drink just because it's forced in the water, it will drown. I found the Illustrated Classics to be a good way to introduce the stories, and some students became hooked enough to try the original.

09-20-2009, 10:37 AM	#19
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Nothing wrong with reading for escapism, though I would not say that it was good for you except for relaxation. But reading the same type of thing over and over and not exposing yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking is no better for you than watching "Big Brother" on TV. On the other hand, much of the sci-fi that I read for entertainment as a teenager exposed me to some concepts new to someone growing up in the rural South. Especially the better writers like Heinlein, Delany, Leiber, Ellison, Clarke, et al. Still, I know educators and librarians are all for any method to get kids to read, but Stephanie Meyers is more likely to lead to Barbara Cartland rather than James Baldwin.

09-20-2009, 10:54 AM	#20
dottedmag OpenInkpot co-founder Posts: 410 Karma: 845 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Oasis	I use "personalized recomendations" system on (russian) site http://fantlab.ru/ - it has a system of predicting your rating for the books you did not read based on your current ratings for books and others' ratings. Plus I read several blogs of people who are known to be able to find good books to read somehow.

09-20-2009, 11:12 AM	#21
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Even a crappy book can increase your vocab.

09-20-2009, 12:07 PM	#23
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Ok, here's my two cents: Yes, all reading is good... 'nuff said. BOb

09-20-2009, 12:25 PM	#25
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	I can confirm that reading books is great for your vocabulary. I learned most of my English reading books. I remember that the first word I learned this way was "sword". Very useful when you arrive at the airport

09-20-2009, 12:41 PM	#26
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I read for three reasons: To learn something; to share in an intellectual or emotional experience; and just to escape. Any of these things can be enough reason to read. However, it's the things you don't set out to do... for instance, to find a description for a place you've never been to, that you might now want to visit for yourself... or to learn new words and phrases, or discover the histories behind words and phrases... or to be presented with points of view that you have never imagined before... these are the real gems you get from reading, and often the most lasting memories you can get from a book.

09-20-2009, 12:55 PM	#27
Pablo Guru Posts: 974 Karma: 4999999 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rosario, Argentina Device: SONY PRS-T2, Kindle Paperwhite 11th gen	Not all reading is good - but you have to determine what's good and what's bad by yourself. When I was a child I liked UFO and Bermuda Triangle "books", and it took some time to realise that I was losing my time reading lies.

09-20-2009, 12:59 PM	#28
MobileTechReview eBook Reader Junkie Posts: 136 Karma: 19205 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Device: Kindle Oasis 3	I read because I'm an ex-English department grad student and I can't help myself But seriously, I read to learn, to stretch my mind and to escape. Perhaps the most important for me is seeing the world through another person's eyes.