How many books do you read in a year? - Page 8

jehane · 07-05-2010, 07:06 AM

I typically get through 3-5 novels a week. I read quite fast, live alone and don't watch much tv. Since I got my ereader I have been reading more and watching even less tv. Most of what I'm reading is brain candy - not much deep thought required, although I retain enough of recent (past few years) reads to know from a synopsis whether I've read it before.

aondotri · 07-05-2010, 08:01 AM

Another question for the super readers. Is a fast reading rate something that you ever consciously worked at?

I read at best 25 books per year and know that I have a slow word per minute rate . I find myself re-reading lines and paragraphs because my mind wanders. I thought that I was just a careful reader, not wanting to miss any detail but realise that it may be possible to train myself to read at a faster rate and with better comprehension.

Has anybody trained themselves with books \ software?

jehane · 07-05-2010, 08:46 AM

No specific training for me, but I've read a lot ever since I learnt to read! Just practice I guess. If I'm having to re-read lines it usually* means the book isn't really grabbing me. The time when I would struggle to finish a book is long gone. If it's a struggle, then I usually don't bother to finish it. There are too many other books out there.

* Occasionally it's because the book has made me think, but even then the first read is usually straight through, with a slower more thoughtful second read later.

Sweetpea · 07-05-2010, 09:34 AM

I do read rather fast, just don't have the time I'd love to have...

Some books, I just can't put away (I finished Humans by Robert J. Sawyer in one day, this weekend, Hominids took me a bit longer, as will Hybrids, because I've to work...), others take me some more time, because they're slow at grabbing me. I've always read like this, no conscious effort.

HamsterRage · 07-05-2010, 10:01 AM

I probably read from 60 to 100 books a year.

I did the test, 438 wpm at 100%. I'm probably going to buy that software.

cheerio6414 · 07-05-2010, 10:29 AM

Depends on what i have going on that year i would guess around 30

pdurrant · 07-05-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamsterRage

I probably read from 60 to 100 books a year.

I did the test, 438 wpm at 100%. I'm probably going to buy that software.

That's roughly my result. If you do get the software I'd be interested to hear what you think about it. I find it had to believe I'll get much faster without skimming.

B.Tackitt · 07-05-2010, 12:37 PM

On another site (not sure if it's ok to mention here which site) we started keeping track of the books we read every month. From Oct 2009- June 2010 I have 238. I used to keep track of how many actual kindle locations it was, now I just keep track of the books, but I do include how many locations per book on my list because there are a couple of people who total up everyones numbers in one big pile.
---
edit to add:
Oh and I went to that speed reading site mentioned in this thread... I had 771 wpm/91% comprehension.

Jellby · 07-05-2010, 12:57 PM

That test is no good. I skimmed the first two paragraphs and skipped the rest: 1222 wpm. Then made an educated guess for the answers: 91% comprehension. I definitely do not read that fast, and giving percentages with just 11 questions...

HamsterRage · 07-05-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

That test is no good. I skimmed the first two paragraphs and skipped the rest: 1222 wpm. Then made an educated guess for the answers: 91% comprehension. I definitely do not read that fast, and giving percentages with just 11 questions...

I think test only has validity if you follow the instructions. It's a self-test, so the assumption is that you are looking for results with the most accurate results possible, then you try to stick to the constraints they lay out. The fact that you "cheated" and got silly results does necessarily invalidate the test.

I agree, though, that the questions were easy to guess, which probably skews everyone's comprehension scores high. Although, they should probably have stats from their website on what the average scores are from that test from that website.

Bilbo1967 · 07-05-2010, 02:25 PM

887 wpm at 82% comprehension.

I would have to agree with HamsterRage though that some of the questions were pretty easy to guess rather than actually have absorbed the knowledge to answer.

Quake1028 · 07-05-2010, 09:13 PM

In my glory days I read probably 200+ books a year. Now I'm lucky if I crack 50. I just have so much more stuff pulling for my time now.

Sweetpea · 07-06-2010, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

That test is no good. I skimmed the first two paragraphs and skipped the rest: 1222 wpm. Then made an educated guess for the answers: 91% comprehension. I definitely do not read that fast, and giving percentages with just 11 questions...

Also, my reading speed is completely different for reading novels and for reading boring texts... Novels I'll devour, boring texts I might take a day for just reading one page...

afa · 07-06-2010, 02:58 AM

I actually find I'm the opposite.

Reading a boring article or just some random text is something I do faster, because I don't feel the need to take in anything more than the gist. But with a novel I like I'll read slower because, to quote Steven Tyler, "I don't wanna miss a thing".

*reg* · 07-06-2010, 03:57 AM

Probably around 100 a year.

Before children probably 200 a year.

07-05-2010, 12:37 PM	#113
B.Tackitt Member Posts: 20 Karma: 962 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 2.5.3	On another site (not sure if it's ok to mention here which site) we started keeping track of the books we read every month. From Oct 2009- June 2010 I have 238. I used to keep track of how many actual kindle locations it was, now I just keep track of the books, but I do include how many locations per book on my list because there are a couple of people who total up everyones numbers in one big pile. --- edit to add: Oh and I went to that speed reading site mentioned in this thread... I had 771 wpm/91% comprehension. Last edited by B.Tackitt; 07-05-2010 at 12:47 PM. Reason: went to the speed reading test site

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07-05-2010, 07:06 AM	#106
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	I typically get through 3-5 novels a week. I read quite fast, live alone and don't watch much tv. Since I got my ereader I have been reading more and watching even less tv. Most of what I'm reading is brain candy - not much deep thought required, although I retain enough of recent (past few years) reads to know from a synopsis whether I've read it before.

07-05-2010, 08:01 AM	#107
aondotri Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: none	Another question for the super readers. Is a fast reading rate something that you ever consciously worked at? I read at best 25 books per year and know that I have a slow word per minute rate . I find myself re-reading lines and paragraphs because my mind wanders. I thought that I was just a careful reader, not wanting to miss any detail but realise that it may be possible to train myself to read at a faster rate and with better comprehension. Has anybody trained themselves with books \ software?

07-05-2010, 08:46 AM	#108
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	No specific training for me, but I've read a lot ever since I learnt to read! Just practice I guess. If I'm having to re-read lines it usually* means the book isn't really grabbing me. The time when I would struggle to finish a book is long gone. If it's a struggle, then I usually don't bother to finish it. There are too many other books out there. * Occasionally it's because the book has made me think, but even then the first read is usually straight through, with a slower more thoughtful second read later.

07-05-2010, 09:34 AM	#109
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I do read rather fast, just don't have the time I'd love to have... Some books, I just can't put away (I finished Humans by Robert J. Sawyer in one day, this weekend, Hominids took me a bit longer, as will Hybrids, because I've to work...), others take me some more time, because they're slow at grabbing me. I've always read like this, no conscious effort.

07-05-2010, 10:01 AM	#110
HamsterRage Evangelist Posts: 435 Karma: 24326 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	I probably read from 60 to 100 books a year. I did the test, 438 wpm at 100%. I'm probably going to buy that software.

07-05-2010, 10:29 AM	#111
cheerio6414 Addict Posts: 210 Karma: 36 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle 2	Depends on what i have going on that year i would guess around 30

07-05-2010, 12:57 PM	#114
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,550 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	That test is no good. I skimmed the first two paragraphs and skipped the rest: 1222 wpm. Then made an educated guess for the answers: 91% comprehension. I definitely do not read that fast, and giving percentages with just 11 questions...

07-05-2010, 02:25 PM	#116
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	887 wpm at 82% comprehension. I would have to agree with HamsterRage though that some of the questions were pretty easy to guess rather than actually have absorbed the knowledge to answer.

07-05-2010, 09:13 PM	#117
Quake1028 Guru Posts: 917 Karma: 9155462 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Device: See signature	In my glory days I read probably 200+ books a year. Now I'm lucky if I crack 50. I just have so much more stuff pulling for my time now.

07-06-2010, 02:58 AM	#119
afa The Forgotten Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4689999 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dubai Device: Kindle Paperwhite; Nook HD; Sony Xperia Z3 Compact	I actually find I'm the opposite. Reading a boring article or just some random text is something I do faster, because I don't feel the need to take in anything more than the gist. But with a novel I like I'll read slower because, to quote Steven Tyler, "I don't wanna miss a thing".

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07-06-2010, 03:57 AM	#120
reg Human Posts: 47 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo, iPhone	Probably around 100 a year. Before children probably 200 a year.