How to read more books

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by leebase

Step 1, don’t watch a 37min YouTube video

I'm not a video oriented person, so I tend to avoid YouTube videos. I'm not sure how we got to the point where people seemed to think that it's better to put up a video of them talking than just put up a blog post of text.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by leebase

Step 1, don’t watch a 37min YouTube video

Ditto. I'll read an opinion, but won't watch a long video.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by lumpynose

As far as how to read more, if you have to discipline yourself to read 30 minutes a day I think you're reading the wrong books, unless you have to read War and Peace or Finnegan's Wake for a class. If you read books that are fun and enjoyable you'll finish them in no time at all.

Not necessarily. Some people have to do this in order to get back to pleasure reading. All their reading time is otherwise taken up by work or their time taken up by family, surfing, interruptions, etc. Not to mention, it's a good scenario for someone who finds reading difficult, such as someone with dyslexia. OR as you say, to get through doorstops when you aren't accustomed to them.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by Timboli

...I'm not sure how serious we are really meant to take things, as clearly there is a streak of humor running through the video, and it all seems pretty scripted for entertainment effect, some good reading habits aside maybe. ...

I think that is what some are missing or perhaps not ever able to see ;-).

Interesting reading the YouTube comments, no sourpusses among them and even some who claim the video got them reading again. So I can only assume it was well produced for its target audiences, whether they be prolific readers or not.

[Bookstooge]

How to read more:

Turn off the tv. Get off the internet. Read the feth'ing book!

[lumpynose]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I'm not a video oriented person, so I tend to avoid YouTube videos. I'm not sure how we got to the point where people seemed to think that it's better to put up a video of them talking than just put up a blog post of text.

Sounds like you haven't hung out on forums where there are a lot of young people. On the one that I was on, well over 90% of the time they'd post a supposedly interesting or informative link, to a youtube video. Rarely, if ever, to something written. The other thing that I noticed is that when responding to someone, they loved to use an animated gif, or a static one with text added to it. And they thought doing that was so clever.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by lumpynose

Sounds like you haven't hung out on forums where there are a lot of young people. On the one that I was on, well over 90% of the time they'd post a supposedly interesting or informative link, to a youtube video. Rarely, if ever, to something written. The other thing that I noticed is that when responding to someone, they loved to use an animated gif, or a static one with text added to it. And they thought doing that was so clever.

No, I have seen that as well, I just don't bother going to the video. Yea, I know that some prefer to just post links to videos. Just not my thing.

I'm on a college sports board and apparently the new thing is for recruits to put up videos of them verballing to this school or that. Apparently they can be quite elaborate.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by lumpynose

The other thing that I noticed is that when responding to someone, they loved to use an animated gif, or a static one with text added to it. And they thought doing that was so clever.

I hate those in the book reviews at Goodreads. Just tells me that review is worthless.

Nothing wrong with an occasional humorous image in a forum response though.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by lumpynose

Sounds like you haven't hung out on forums where there are a lot of young people. On the one that I was on, well over 90% of the time they'd post a supposedly interesting or informative link, to a youtube video. Rarely, if ever, to something written. The other thing that I noticed is that when responding to someone, they loved to use an animated gif, or a static one with text added to it. And they thought doing that was so clever.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I hate those in the book reviews at Goodreads. Just tells me that review is worthless.

Nothing wrong with an occasional humorous image in a forum response though.

Occasionally I will look up a book on Goodreads to help determine if I might want to read it - if the reviews are full of gifs and/or photos of actors that the reviewer thinks represent characters in the book, I figure I am not in the book's target demographic!

I don't spend a lot of time on Youtube. I use it primarily for these things:

- Background scenery on my TV via Roku or Chromecast - like a nice beach scene or waterfall with nature sounds.

- Music

- Product reviews -though sometimes I have to start watching and reject several really badly done reviews before finding a useful one. Some people spend way too much time rambling on about random stuff that has nothing to do with the product. Also you have to wonder why someone who posts a lot of product reviews has never bothered to get a tripod or other stand for their camera.

- Help for something I need to do on my smartphone or computer. Though I generally prefer written instructions, sometimes the videos can be useful if well done as they show someone actually going through the steps. Though I HATE if I discover that the help video is nothing but frame after frame of text! Why not just post an article/blog/whatever?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Occasionally I will look up a book on Goodreads to help determine if I might want to read it - if the reviews are full of gifs and/or photos of actors that the reviewer thinks represent characters in the book, I figure I am not in the book's target demographic!

I wouldn't blame the book for the reviewer. In my experience, the reviews with photos tend to be the ones from users who users who treat Goodreads as more of a social club than a book review site.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

In my experience, the reviews with photos tend to be the ones from users who users who treat Goodreads as more of a social club than a book review site.

That's only because it IS a social club and not a book review site (at least not just a review site, anyway). There's a feed and friends, and groups like any other social media platform. I can understand not liking/needing/wanting that, but it's pretty hard to fault users for using the site as the social media experience it's actually intended to be.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I wouldn't blame the book for the reviewer. In my experience, the reviews with photos tend to be the ones from users who users who treat Goodreads as more of a social club than a book review site.

When I come across those gif- and actor-photo-filled reviews I figure I have come across a book aimed at younger readers. I don't assume it's a bad book, just that I am probably not the target audience.

If I read a book and like it, then look on Goodreads to see what others thought, I never find those GIFS.

[cory ryan]

cool, i'll have to check it out

[patrickt]

Lovely bookstores but I have the secret. First, quit working. Working really eats into your reading time. Second, get a divorce. In my experience wives don't want husbands having any interest that doesn't involve them.

Third, is your kids. Read a lot when they're growing up, let them buy books, and you will raise another generation of readers. But, get them out on their own as soon as you can.

Fourth, get a Kindle so you can keep increasing the contrast and font size as you age. I can remember heading to the bathroom and grabbing a paperback of a stack waiting to be donated. When I opened the book my first thought was, "Need to increase the font size." Now that I'm 78 I can read War and Peace in three weeks while I'm peeing.

[Timboli]

From one cat to AnotherCat - I think you are right.

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I'm not a video oriented person, so I tend to avoid YouTube videos. I'm not sure how we got to the point where people seemed to think that it's better to put up a video of them talking than just put up a blog post of text.

To be honest, while I don't mind the odd video, I generally avoid most of the stuff on youTube.

Likewise I'd often rather read, but Johnny is a dull boy if he (or she) just reads all day, and entertainment is entertainment .... usually comes in many flavors. I like to mix it up. You can do that you know ... if you are talented.

It is also my experience as a whole, that many more people can watch a video properly than can read a paragraph of text properly .... even so called bookworms often aren't very diligent. So in my view, video is a better medium in many cases, especially if it leads to others reading more.

P.S.S.T. Don't tell anyone, but I've still only watched that first 6.5 minutes. I've been too busy reading to watch the rest yet .... ha ha ha ha.

P.S.S. Perhaps some of you have been over-watching.