Does anybody know any non-readers? - Page 5

Salgueiros · 08-30-2011, 03:54 PM

I don't know a lot of people that do not read, but the ones that don't, make me sad.

I cannot help thinking that a book is probably the most important and effective way to make ourselves a little bit more wise and rich, so a person that does not read, nor feels the need to do it, is at a certain level, elusive in some cases, obvious in others, a less pluridimensional person than one that questions herself because of a book, sees her/himself reflected in something he or she reads or simply learns something new. The lack of curiosity, or intellectual restlessness is something that makes me very sad. Of course you can be the least curious people around even when you read books, just look at people who read always the same things, never changing the type of books they choose to read.

I even get bothered by some readers i know because they read rubbish, why should i not be bothered with people who do not read? I truly believe that books have the potential to make people better, so any people who does not read books (and specially good books) is to me a person that, at various degrees, is wasting a bit of his or hers civic, artistic, philosophic or introspective potential.

However, i never let that interfere with my friendships. A individual has a right not to read, but i reserve my judgement on who i find most interesting to talk or be with...

sakura-panda · 08-30-2011, 05:07 PM

I don't ask people whether or not they read; I'm going to assume that I know people that are non-readers and some of them probably even watch reality tv.

ProfCrash · 08-30-2011, 05:19 PM

I read and I watch reality TV.

Frida Fantastic · 08-30-2011, 10:46 PM

I like to think nice things about people who read fiction, but it's just another medium like anything else. We just have our preferred mediums. I like books because it's creative control by one person with almost no compromise, which isn't the case with media that requires more upfront funding e.g. TV and movies. I have respect for all mediums of storytelling, and no medium is inherently better than the other.

My preferred mediums are weird. I like prose, podcasts, and comics... and in that order. I *know* there are good movies out there, and I have a big To-Watch list of movies, but I have to be dragged to a movie theatre or to be in front of a video screen. I've enjoyed plenty of movies, but I just can't seem to put my energy there. It's probably the same case with other people and books. There's so many things to do, and sometimes you just gotta specialize.

Another point I'd like to add is that I'm a science fiction/fantasy genre reader, and there is vastly more SF/F in prose form than in movie/TV form. The only other media where there's as much SF/F media is probably video games. There's so many video games that we don't consider as SF/F, but they actually are.

cfo · 08-30-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I read and I watch reality TV.

Same here. Food Network for me, if that counts as "reality TV."

I do know some non-readers with a twist - they listen to audiobooks.

I will have to say though that TV-watching has helped a lot of international people that I know, especially now that closed captioning is more widely available. They will watch any TV show or movie and put the CC on to learn written English while hearing how to pronounce.

To learn things like American slang or idioms, they watch reality shows. So, in this case, reality TV has somewhat of an educational purpose and it's not completely mind-numbing nonsense like a majority of people make it out to be. I knew a Japanese girl who learned English by watching Scooby Doo and MTV's Real World.

Even a lot of my Chinese colleagues say that it is more helpful to watch American TV or "talk every day to an American" rather than learning from a book.

Different strokes for different folks.

anonymoose · 08-30-2011, 11:24 PM

This weekend I was in a bookstore with a friend of mine. (His idea, not mine.)

He said, "It's great that you read so much. I notice that my vocabulary and other things aren't as good now since I finished school and stopped reading books. You're probably the only one I know who reads a lot."

Then, when I tried to suggest a book or two that he might like, he backed away in horror.

speakingtohe · 08-30-2011, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Then, when I tried to suggest a book or two that he might like, he backed away in horror.

No good deed goes unpunished

RDaneel54 · 08-31-2011, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymoose

This weekend I was in a bookstore with a friend of mine. (His idea, not mine.)

He said, "It's great that you read so much. I notice that my vocabulary and other things aren't as good now since I finished school and stopped reading books. You're probably the only one I know who reads a lot."

Then, when I tried to suggest a book or two that he might like, he backed away in horror.

I have a friend who felt he needed to improve his reading speed and comprehension for work purposes. He was not a reader except for work. He started reading John Grisham novels just to improve his reading speed, etc. He's been retired now for several years. And now he loves reading.

People can change.

crich70 · 08-31-2011, 04:10 PM

I actually feel sorry for those poor souls who don't know the pleasure of reading a good book or short story. You can do things through the written word that you can't do any other way and they deny themselves that.

Of course those same people probably wonder about those of us who do enjoy reading so I guess it all evens out. I think the written word has a sort of magic about it myself. Our ancestors certainly understood that. Even today we ask "how do you spell that?" when we aren't certain of how a word is written. I can go anywhere, do anything and be anyone just by slipping between the covers (electronic or paper) of a book.

alansplace · 08-31-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I actually feel sorry for those poor souls who don't know the pleasure of reading a good book or short story. You can do things through the written word that you can't do any other way and they deny themselves that.

Of course those same people probably wonder about those of us who do enjoy reading so I guess it all evens out. I think the written word has a sort of magic about it myself. Our ancestors certainly understood that. Even today we ask "how do you spell that?" when we aren't certain of how a word is written. I can go anywhere, do anything and be anyone just by slipping between the covers (electronic or paper) of a book.

what he just said,

Xanthe · 09-01-2011, 01:24 AM

Most of my friends don't read for pleasure; they have other interests. It bothers me only because there is no one who shares my particular reading interests so I don't have someone who would enjoy my book recommendations or get a kick out of certain paragraph or turn of phrase in a book. It doesn't make me think any less of them because they don't spend their free time doing what I do, or make me think that I am somehow superior to them because I read more than they do - that would be a silly attitude to hold, IMO.

joenunya · 09-01-2011, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

If so, does it anger you? If you've asked about it, what justification do they give?

Maybe its just my own psychosis but I don't think I could be friends with someone who didn't own books (or an ereader). To me that probably means their knowledge consists of tv or magazines (mind-candy mags, not Popular Science) and thats a headache I don't need lol.

Not that books necessarily make someone more intelligent but reading certainly requires a certain level of brain power and requires more critical thinking than a diet of People magazine or American Idol does.

And no, I don't mean those who are unfortunately illiterate. I mean those who are perfectly able but just don't for whatever reason.

Of those who you approve of because they read, how many read books which challenge their perceptions, ability to reason or ability to accept perspectives far from their own. I believe I rad somewhere that the #1 selling genre on the Kindle is the trash romance novel. I don't see how those are any different from watching the same content of which you do not approve on TV.

Unless one is reading books that stimulate your thinking you might as well be contemplating your navel. That is not to say nobody should read a fun escapist novel because part of the fun of reading is indeed escaping from the daily grind now and then. However, it's likely best if you mix in something of substance now and then.

Like anyone I really enjoy a good story but really need more from an author than the typical contrived content we get in movies and TV today. Seems that sort of content has become the mainstream novel. For that reason I'm no longer certain there is a clear difference between those who read and those who do not.

BTW, I am far more suspect of those who live a sedentary lifestyle by choice over those who don't read. We are NOT sedentary beasts and physical activity is a very necessary thing. Needs not be more than a nice walk every day, but physical activity stimulates you to want to do more, it's actually part of an active mind.

ScalyFreak · 09-01-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joenunya

Of those who you approve of because they read, how many read books which challenge their perceptions, ability to reason or ability to accept perspectives far from their own. I believe I rad somewhere that the #1 selling genre on the Kindle is the trash romance novel. I don't see how those are any different from watching the same content of which you do not approve on TV.

Thank you for pointing that out. Thank you also for giving me an excuse to post a link to a brilliant Dilbert strip.

ProfCrash · 09-01-2011, 04:10 PM

I would guess that brain scans and the like will point to very different level of activity in different parts of the brain when one reads and when one watches TV.

I would guess that the brain is more active reading a trashy romance then watching a fair amount of what is on TV today. That is not to say that there are no quality television shows where the viewer is forced to think or learns new things but to say that there are many TV shows that are remarkably easy to veg out to.

I bounce back and forth between genres. I would say 50% of what I read is Fantasy, not all of it the most challenging, 25% is fiction (I just finished People of the Book, that was a good read), and the remaining 25% is some combo of Science Fiction, Young Adult, and Non Fiction.

I enjoy the Amazing Race, Hell's Kitchen, Master Chef, Top Gear and the like but none of them require the same concentration as reading.

ScalyFreak · 09-01-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I would guess that brain scans and the like will point to very different level of activity in different parts of the brain when one reads and when one watches TV.

I would guess that the brain is more active reading a trashy romance then watching a fair amount of what is on TV today.

Reading is an active thing, the brain imagines what the words are describing. TV provides sounds and images, so the brain doesn't need to work, hence less activity. The brain activity goes back up if the TV watcher grows tired of The Sopranos and switches over to play GTA4, since video games require the brain to be active (analyze, react, solve problems).

08-30-2011, 03:54 PM	#61
Salgueiros Eudaimonia Posts: 898 Karma: 9164418 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vancouver, Canada Device: Sony PRS T2, Sony PRS T3, Sony DPT-RP1	I don't know a lot of people that do not read, but the ones that don't, make me sad. I cannot help thinking that a book is probably the most important and effective way to make ourselves a little bit more wise and rich, so a person that does not read, nor feels the need to do it, is at a certain level, elusive in some cases, obvious in others, a less pluridimensional person than one that questions herself because of a book, sees her/himself reflected in something he or she reads or simply learns something new. The lack of curiosity, or intellectual restlessness is something that makes me very sad. Of course you can be the least curious people around even when you read books, just look at people who read always the same things, never changing the type of books they choose to read. I even get bothered by some readers i know because they read rubbish, why should i not be bothered with people who do not read? I truly believe that books have the potential to make people better, so any people who does not read books (and specially good books) is to me a person that, at various degrees, is wasting a bit of his or hers civic, artistic, philosophic or introspective potential. However, i never let that interfere with my friendships. A individual has a right not to read, but i reserve my judgement on who i find most interesting to talk or be with... Last edited by Salgueiros; 08-30-2011 at 04:00 PM.

08-30-2011, 10:46 PM	#64
Frida Fantastic SF/F book blogger Posts: 270 Karma: 502030 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Device: Kindle 3	I like to think nice things about people who read fiction, but it's just another medium like anything else. We just have our preferred mediums. I like books because it's creative control by one person with almost no compromise, which isn't the case with media that requires more upfront funding e.g. TV and movies. I have respect for all mediums of storytelling, and no medium is inherently better than the other. My preferred mediums are weird. I like prose, podcasts, and comics... and in that order. I know there are good movies out there, and I have a big To-Watch list of movies, but I have to be dragged to a movie theatre or to be in front of a video screen. I've enjoyed plenty of movies, but I just can't seem to put my energy there. It's probably the same case with other people and books. There's so many things to do, and sometimes you just gotta specialize. Another point I'd like to add is that I'm a science fiction/fantasy genre reader, and there is vastly more SF/F in prose form than in movie/TV form. The only other media where there's as much SF/F media is probably video games. There's so many video games that we don't consider as SF/F, but they actually are. Last edited by Frida Fantastic; 08-30-2011 at 10:49 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Are readers more educated than non-readers?	user_none	General Discussions	71	08-10-2011 12:05 PM
Hello to all readers	wilgru	Introduce Yourself	2	07-24-2011 05:29 AM
Why do you have more than 2 readers?	etoile	General Discussions	60	06-06-2010 05:39 PM
Hi Readers!	LittleMe	Introduce Yourself	7	02-26-2009 09:36 AM
New to E-Readers	Bear100	Which one should I buy?	10	02-23-2009 12:29 AM

08-30-2011, 05:07 PM	#62
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 932 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: Kindle Oasis; 11" iPad Pro (Books, Kindle, Kobo, MapleRead SE)	I don't ask people whether or not they read; I'm going to assume that I know people that are non-readers and some of them probably even watch reality tv.

08-30-2011, 05:19 PM	#63
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I read and I watch reality TV.

08-30-2011, 11:24 PM	#66
anonymoose bookaholic Posts: 108 Karma: 1032718 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura, Kobo Touch, Kobo app on iPhone	This weekend I was in a bookstore with a friend of mine. (His idea, not mine.) He said, "It's great that you read so much. I notice that my vocabulary and other things aren't as good now since I finished school and stopped reading books. You're probably the only one I know who reads a lot." Then, when I tried to suggest a book or two that he might like, he backed away in horror.

08-31-2011, 04:10 PM	#69
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I actually feel sorry for those poor souls who don't know the pleasure of reading a good book or short story. You can do things through the written word that you can't do any other way and they deny themselves that. Of course those same people probably wonder about those of us who do enjoy reading so I guess it all evens out. I think the written word has a sort of magic about it myself. Our ancestors certainly understood that. Even today we ask "how do you spell that?" when we aren't certain of how a word is written. I can go anywhere, do anything and be anyone just by slipping between the covers (electronic or paper) of a book.

09-01-2011, 01:24 AM	#71
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Most of my friends don't read for pleasure; they have other interests. It bothers me only because there is no one who shares my particular reading interests so I don't have someone who would enjoy my book recommendations or get a kick out of certain paragraph or turn of phrase in a book. It doesn't make me think any less of them because they don't spend their free time doing what I do, or make me think that I am somehow superior to them because I read more than they do - that would be a silly attitude to hold, IMO.

09-01-2011, 04:10 PM	#74
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I would guess that brain scans and the like will point to very different level of activity in different parts of the brain when one reads and when one watches TV. I would guess that the brain is more active reading a trashy romance then watching a fair amount of what is on TV today. That is not to say that there are no quality television shows where the viewer is forced to think or learns new things but to say that there are many TV shows that are remarkably easy to veg out to. I bounce back and forth between genres. I would say 50% of what I read is Fantasy, not all of it the most challenging, 25% is fiction (I just finished People of the Book, that was a good read), and the remaining 25% is some combo of Science Fiction, Young Adult, and Non Fiction. I enjoy the Amazing Race, Hell's Kitchen, Master Chef, Top Gear and the like but none of them require the same concentration as reading.

Advert

Advert