Thais read more than you think!

[webfact]

A recent survey revealed that Thais spend around 80 minutes per day reading, mostly electronically, online media that include e-books, e-magazines, articles from online platforms and websites. (Photo by Matias North)

 

Have you read more or less during the pandemic? More and more people have been getting back into reading as a way to unwind and relax during these tough times. And Kwachuen Bangkombang says reading has become a much-needed escape for her family as they are forced to stay at home. 

 

“Reading stories like fantasy and e-cartoon books could keep my daughter’s pandemic stress away,” she says.

She adds the pandemic has impacted her personal reading habits too. 

 

“I’m probably reading more. With more time at home, I have more opportunities to read. I would say that in general, my daughter and I and others I know are reading a bit more than we have in the past.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thais-read-more-than-you-think/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-10-29

 

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[mikebell]

I did a survey of one.  My GF spends 9 hours a day on her phone watching movies; doing Facecloth; chatting.  When out in the car she frequently reads signs in Thai but out loud.  My GF is not named Bangkombang.

[internationalism]

possibly with many times more spend on multimedia.

good excuse - I am stressed, I need to watch another movie, music video clips or slapstick comedy shows

[cyril sneer]

photo had me very confused for a few seconds

 

thought it was a women in a hijab reading a book the wrong way round

[HeijoshinCool]

.

 

Same article from about ten years ago.....

 

Didn't believe it then, either.

 

(And, yes, same goes for most westerners. Netflix and YouTube are King and Queen for them, too.)

 

.

Edited October 29, 2021 by HeijoshinCool

[bobandyson]

"Thais read more than you think!"

 

. . . . and I read more than what Thais can think.

????

[mahtin]

No they don't.

I most certainly think more than Thais read.

 

Get through a couple of novels a week too.

[sharecropper]

Rubbish.

 

In one year I have seen precisely 4 Thais reading book. Aside from my missus, one was a homeless woman on Jomtien beach, and two were on the MRT - and even then one of them was reading a learning English picture-book. 

[toofarnorth]

I Have several books here and some I think I have read 3 times . About 35 books on a quick look over my shoulder . One thing about advancing years is I forget the story line quite easily hence a third read.

[Gandtee]

15 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

I Have several books here and some I think I have read 3 times . About 35 books on a quick look over my shoulder . One thing about advancing years is I forget the story line quite easily hence a third read.

Me too. And I read every night in bed before I sleep. ????

Edited October 29, 2021 by Gandtee
Additional words.

[Neeranam]

31 minutes ago, sharecropper said:

Rubbish.

 

In one year I have seen precisely 4 Thais reading book. Aside from my missus, one was a homeless woman on Jomtien beach, and two were on the MRT - and even then one of them was reading a learning English picture-book. 

So you live in Pattaya and judge all Thais on the women/people you see/associate with there? 

 

Also, you don't know what most Thais do at night before going to sleep. I read, as does my wife.

[KhaoNiaw]

53 minutes ago, sharecropper said:

Rubbish.

 

In one year I have seen precisely 4 Thais reading book. Aside from my missus, one was a homeless woman on Jomtien beach, and two were on the MRT - and even then one of them was reading a learning English picture-book. 

You would never see me reading either but I read a lot. 

[ezzra]

My wife dose indeed a lot of readings, she read everyday where the shopping's specials sales are at and she also read the gossip's column of several social media...

[RafPinto]

Sure. They can read on your face if you have some cash and will part with it.

[RafPinto]

[damian]

5 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

photo had me very confused for a few seconds

 

thought it was a women in a hijab reading a book the wrong way round

Brilliant.

[alyx]

5 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

photo had me very confused for a few seconds

 

thought it was a women in a hijab reading a book the wrong way round

Sorry but the book is definitely not upside down

As for the hijab...I admit it...difficult to discern whether it is or not

I should also point out that it is not certain that the picture represents a Thai woman

I am confused

[alyx]

3 hours ago, RafPinto said:

Sure. They can read on your face if you have some cash and will part with it.

You are harsh and borderline sarcastic....not very nice

The can read (and cash) cheques as well

[alyx]

4 hours ago, toofarnorth said:

I Have several books here and some I think I have read 3 times . About 35 books on a quick look over my shoulder . One thing about advancing years is I forget the story line quite easily hence a third read.

Prop yourself and get ready for a fourth anytime soon ???? 

[Ombra]

When I first met my wife, 35 years ago or so, she was uncomfortable with the fact that I would often sit and read a book. She said that it was anti-social. Her family had no books other than Buddhist texts and it was rare in those days to see anyone in a public place reading a book. She has led a perfectly happy life, though, without books. Each to his own.

[Tarteso]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

mostly electronically, online media that include e-books, e-magazines, articles from online platforms and websites.

… And games 

[bbko]

My wife does a fair amount of reading as she has her own business, and always looking for ways to improve sales, granted it's mostly online reading but at least she isn't wasting hours a day like I am here on this site...555.

[Orinoco]

I think most of the ladies don't get past the label on the Listerine bottle. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

 

But on a serious note

I was having a conversation with the local school teacher the other day, ( all in English ) his English is better than my Thai. We were discussing the importance to the human race of the discovery of the Higgs Boson, but after 10 minutes into the  conversation I realized he thought the Higgs Boson was a new kind of fish, found in the gulf of Thailand. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2021 by Orinoco

[richard_smith237]

I used to read 4 books a week, up until about 10 years ago. 

My Wife used to regularly read (both English and Thai books), up until about 10 years ago.

 

I don’t know why I stopped reading, I just didn’t - I suspect its because I saw no new books which piqued my interest, but really its just because I’ve become lazier and Netflix is easier !

 

 

A few weeks ago took the BTS for the first time in a while, while I wasn’t surprised that nearly everyone had their nose in their phone, I also saw four people reading a regular book. 

 

Many of the others could have been reading an e-book, reading the news, reading forums etc. 

 

The vast majority of these Thai’s were those returning from work.

 

 

I see some of the response so far and wonder if some people meet someone who is very poorly educated projects their limited exposure and assumes all Thais have very poor education and do not like to read or can’t read very well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rwill]

I think more than they read.

[RafPinto]

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I used to read 4 books a week, up until about 10 years ago. 

My Wife used to regularly read (both English and Thai books), up until about 10 years ago.

 

I don’t know why I stopped reading, I just didn’t - I suspect its because I saw no new books which piqued my interest, but really its just because I’ve become lazier and Netflix is easier !

 

 

A few weeks ago took the BTS for the first time in a while, while I wasn’t surprised that nearly everyone had their nose in their phone, I also saw four people reading a regular book. 

 

Many of the others could have been reading an e-book, reading the news, reading forums etc. 

 

The vast majority of these Thai’s were those returning from work.

 

 

I see some of the response so far and wonder if some people meet someone who is very poorly educated projects their limited exposure and assumes all Thais have very poor education and do not like to read or can’t read very well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me too . 13 a week but gave up on it.

 

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

revealed that Thais spend around 80 minutes per day reading

Well I never!!

 

 

Stock Photo — Thailand lottery ticket for sell in market

https://www.123rf.com/photo_62298128_thailand-lottery-ticket-for-sell-in-market.html

Stock Photo — Thailand lottery ticket for sell in marketStock Photo — Thailand lottery ticket for sell in market

Edited October 29, 2021 by Burma Bill
additional information

[zzaa09]

5 hours ago, Neeranam said:

So you live in Pattaya and judge all Thais on the women/people you see/associate with there? 

 

Also, you don't know what most Thais do at night before going to sleep. I read, as does my wife.

An all too common trait. Casting/judging the whole of society from a couple of experiences - limited exposure. 

If three or four are of this nature, then of course this must apply to the broader culture. 

[moogradod]

Ever noticed how extremely rare (if not even non-existent) a well equipped bookstore is or a shop where you can buy classical music ? To be fair, not that I would propose that you could find a very well equipped Morlam CD shop overseas.

Edited October 29, 2021 by moogradod

[Farangus]

My Thai girlfriend reads a lot. There are about 300 books in her room that she bought. Sometimes I think that it would be better if she learned English ????